Hello All:

More ice and snow as you will see. This one was a bit of fun, getting out on the sea ice with my wife and just goofing around.

Any and all comments will be very welcome.

Brian

Oh, I'm so happy the winter is over here in Norway. I'm freezing when I see your film. But I liked your concept, and it gives a hint of how it is way up north, in the cold. And that hunting is a part of our heritage. As wildlife film makers, we often forget that this is a part of survival, for some.
The ice makes some great sculptures.
Nice work Brian.

Hey Brian,

Enjoyed the film. How long did you guys actually wait for the seal to show? And I gotta ask this...did you get him? Hopefully you will get to enjoy a brief summer soon, before more snow...and more snow...and more snow....

Rick

Thanks for the comments:

Actually we were at that hole for around four hours and to be honest I was bored out of my mind as I tried to depict in the film....then finally I said to Susan "enough is enough just pretend you got one. Yes Geir your right life in our part of the world can be slightly different and as you suggest hunting is a big part of our survival.

Come on UWOL Challenge #4 I want to prove that we do have flowers and tundra.

Brian

Okay. Wasn't sure what the breathing hole was all about, but you definitely conveyed that you live in a cold place. I take it by comments here in this thread, that opening up a hole in the ice presents a hunting opportunity. Have I got that right ? For someone as dense as me, probably need a bit more of an explanation.... Nice film..

Hey Brian,

I think your film demonstrates the epitome of nature filmmaking. Hours and hours of boredom following by a couple frantic moments. :)

I think you really showcased the determination it takes to sit there for hours on end.

Although I have to admit, I'm glad no animals were harmed in the making of your film. :)

Look forward to seeing what you guys have for a Summer up there!

Hello Chris:

Your question is very reasonable when you have never lived in my world. Actually here is how it works, as winter arrives and the ice starts to form on the sea the seals keep breaking the ice and going to the same spots or holes to breath thereby keeping the hole open. The local hunters will find these holes and wait for hours waiting for the seal to pop up and grab a breath of air that's when the hunter will strike with the harpoon... as in the film. The real trick to the game is finding the hole...that's why all the roaming around on the skidoo.

As a point of interest the ice is (as of this weekend) seven feet thick.

Brian

A nice video you made.
Film making and hunting... it's all about waiting for that special moment.
Well done!

Hey Brian,

I think your film demonstrates the epitome of nature filmmaking. Hours and hours of boredom following by a couple frantic moments. :)



that's pretty funny...not to mention true!

can't comment on films til post-judging, but i'm always interested in getting a window on the world as it spins on its axis far from me and my narrow range of experiences.....

Really good storytelling with a great humour - loved it!!! if you're planning on doing a lot of filming from a small moving vehicle, try getting a wide angle ( or even fisheye) adapter- it's great for reducing the effect of camera shake and it allows you to see much more of the vehicle you're travelling in.

Nice effort!

Hi Brian:

Excellent piece. You portrayed the patience and waiting for ice fishing wonderfully. When I started to gather what was coming my heart started beating a bit and I actually had to stop your clip at that critical time before I could muster the courage to see it through to the end (way too much of an animal lover here!). I'm relieved you left it up to our imaginations in the end. I liked it.

Cat

Brian, excellent video and I think you have the most patient wife I ever seen!
Did she manage to catch any seal?

Per:

If she only had that much patients with me LOL. No seal on this day just a lot of fun the two of us out enjoying the great outdoors. Later that same day we saw some seals out suning on the ice, I put on a 300mm lens but the heat waves made the shots useless.

I'll make you a promise Cat I'll never show any animals being harmed in any way...during the shooting of the challeneges. I don't want you to get high blood pressure because of me LOL.

Thanks Brian

At first when I watched this I had a flashback to an earlier entry from you, and thought- wow, it's still winter up there. You are getting very creative with entries involving snow and ice!

I really like this film. The way you have the patience contrasted with the movement in the background- two opposite people, is funny. And you captured some beautiful imagery of the north, with the snow and ice. A great film. And I'm sure you do have at least two weeks of summer there- better hope it coincides with UWOL #4 :)

Ruth

Haha, nice job Brian!

You did look bored to death there. hahaha. :D

So have you guys ever caught one? Or was the gear just borrowed for this?

Whats your guys longitude, like the 16th degree or something? it looks way up there! I use a Magellan Meridian Gold (GPS). Its a nice little unit. Altho, it has died on me in the cold...

Fun film.. I can't wait for your next one!
~Gabriel

Gabriel:

Seal hunting in this way is very boring no question, however it is the traditional way. No the equipment isn't borrowed it does belong to my wife I made it as a christmas gift for her years ago. The spearhead is in the first shot it's called a "sakku" made of brass with a steel blade.

I have the same GPS and like it very much in the cold weather keep it on the inside of your clothing near your skin keeps those batteries warm.

I'm located at 62 49 04 N (deg min sec) 92 05 33 W (deg min sec)

I hope in the next one there will be no snow....said with fingers crossed.

Brian

I am way up north, too Brian: 62.3283/5.2700
But the winter's gone and spring is here.

Isn't it strange almost the same latitude but you get the influence of the unfrozen ocean currents while I get the influence of the frozen solid Hudson Bay so here I am still suffering from the winter blues and your sitting on your patio deck sipping on a cold one. At this very moment its minus six degrees C with light snow flurries.

Not to fear spring will arrive as will the wild swans and geese. I'm hoping to film some this weekend. I took tomorrow off so will spend a long weekend out on the land with camera in hand.

Brian

Brian,

The swans, thousands of them Left here about 10 days ago. they should be there any day!!!

As for ends of all the entries I feel yours and Lucid are my absolute favorites.

Nice to see something filmed in as baron a place as here!!!

I totally enjoyed watching it.

Thanks Dale:

As per your entry I only wish I had the great shots of wildlife to show everyone.

Susan and I will be out the door early tomorrow morning....I only hope the swans are here to visit. This will be my last weekend before the big melt. I leave for meetings in Winnipeg and Toronto and won't be home for two weeks. By then the slush and bare ground will make it impossible to travel on the land by skidoo. We'll have to wait for things to dry up then we can travel by ATV.

When are you coming to visit????

Brian

Brian
I really like your video and sense of humor. Well done. But .... wouldn't she have better luck if you wheren't moving around so much lol.
Well done.

Gordon Hoffman

I also enjoyed your film and the way you told the story. Excellent job, so good in fact I'm sending you an email asking your permission to screen you entry for the Concho Valley Photography Club at our June meeting.

Starting to get hot here finally so we could use a look at your snow and ice.

email asking this favor coming your way.

Brian,

Well, I do not think this summer is a go. Decided to not retire till next June (want to buy an xlh1 before I pull the pin.)
My wife wants to get her float plane license which may also get in the way but I think I could talk her into waiting on that one. (We'd then have to buy a float plane to fly up, don't think that would happen for a while).
this summer we will be flying into lake athabaska doing a video promo for a company, but part of the deal is they got to leave me on the dunes for a week to film falcons.
Heck I gotta pull the pin to get all this stuff done!!

work gets in the way of having fun!! eh?