Hi guys:

Here is my entry. I missed the sign up deadline so it won't be judged this time around but I'm always excited and thankful for comments! Nothing profound to say about this, but like always, I enjoyed myself beyond measure and am so thrilled to be a part of this group.

Thanks for the watch.

Cat

http://www.uwolchallenge.com/challenge4/CR_UC4_waterislife.mov

I thought you had some nice rreflection footage bit I would have to say that it was used a bit to much and you could have used a bit more variety. Quicker changes and more angles would have helped it a lot!!

glad they let you post it!

Hi Dale:

Thanks for the comments. I'm sorry you saw it in this state. It cuts off prematurely and we are trying to work on that. The file has been corrupt somehow, perhaps in the upload. The end was the better part of it. Thanks for the watch, I hope you might take a peek at the end when we have the problems fixed!

Cat

And if it did go to the end, with credits and everything, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THIS!

Hi everyone:

Thanks to Kevin, I now have a working movie at the correct link, so .... rip away as the say!

Cheers,

Cat

The link on the UWOLCHALLENGE site works fine now.
I guess maybe next time Cat won't miss the deadline! :)

Glad the glitch was fixed.

Anyway, back to the film...

I like how the fountain was set inside the koi pond. Very cool. The long dissolves really worked because sometimes I didn't realize we were going into another shot as the flowed seamlessly from one to another.

No matter if your a wasp, a koi or posting on this board, we all need water.

Good job Cat!

Thanks for the review Kevin... boy I tell you, missing the sign up deadline is just bad karma all the way around, hopefully to be avoided from now on!

I looked for and didn't get a review from you in UWOL3, and I was so hoping I'd get one this time. Comments are not freebies, you've got to earn them. Thanks for this one.

Cat

Well let me go back and check out #3 then! :)

Like I said before, my opinion and $6 will get you a coffee at Starbucks!

Oh dear, what was I just saying about bad karma? I didn't expect you to actually go back to uwol3 and watch...

Also, Kevin where is your thread for uwol4? Your film was beautifully done with your time-lapse video and light/dark and color contrasts. You are a master at filming rivers. Did you go to California for the ocean part? PUT UP YOUR UWOL4 THREAD!

Cat

You're just saying that cause I fixed your link! :)

Off to find your UWOL3 thread!

Hey Cat:

Nice video you got here! Was this all shot in your backyard? That would be really cool if it was! I love Koi's, and the fountain was cool.

I am always amazed by your editing! It blows me away! What do you use to edit?

All in all, nice video! I would maybe recommend a Circular Polarizer if you were to do these kinds of shots again, if you have the spare money.
I don't have one, but I sure would like one. They seem to do the job pretty nice..


Like I said before, my opinion and $6 will get you a coffee at Starbucks!

Lol! Okay, this one is going to stay in my head for a long time.. lol!

Look forward to your next!
~Gabriel

Hi Catherine,
Been watching your past entries and always been impressed by your creations.
As always, your editing skills were exceptional in this entry - including the very slow disolves.
Very creative use of the theme (as always) and great use of the fish and water - with the globe to bring home the message at the end.
Nice entry - well done.

Hi Gabriel and Dave:

Oh thanks for the input! I was beginning to think I was off the beaten track and off the comment loop.

Gabe, what is a circular polarizer? It sounds cool, like does it blur things around the edges in a circle? How would you use it if you had one. Thanks for the input and the advice!

Dave, what can I say, I'm humbled by your kind words. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cat

Hi Catherine.
Though you're not competing this time I just have to comment your film.
Nicely done and you're doing some great stuff in the editing prosess.
Specially I liked the wasp :) By the way, I hope it didn't sting you?
It seems to me that you are a "fountain" of ideas and inspiration, at least you are an inspiration to me, so thanks for sharing.
Sorry that you missed the deadline, your film would have been a great contribution. Hope this will be a reminder when uwol5 comes around :)

All the best.

Geir Inge

Hey Cat,
Good stuff, you have a very cool way of using effects with subtlety, which in my eyes adds to their impact. At first I thought it was a little bit random, but I settled down and enjoyed it. I can feel you're building up to something spectacular with this experementation - don't make me wait too long ;-)

Cheers,

Rob

Hi Geir and Rob:

Getting comments from you both is a real thrill because you are both top of the line film makers and producers.

Geir, as always your words are gracious and kind thank you! And no, the wasp and I have become good friends. I see him daily :) I even saved him once out of the water when he got a bit carried away!

Rob I think you are right in that the risk in this one might be that it becomes boring. I was hoping it would be more meditative and relaxing but it takes skill to keep something of this sort spell-binding to the end. Hopefully uwol 5 gives the occasion for a really upbeat interpretation!

Thanks for the watch.

Sincerely,

Cat

Hi Cat.

A circular polarizer is a filter that you attach to the front of your camera, and it spins (almost like a focus ring). By spinning it, it allows you to change the amount of reflections on water, windows, glass - anything.
For example, you could have your camera pointing thru a window. You have it so that there is no reflections on it, you then spin the filter to show yourself and camera (actor, or whatever is seen fit). Its a really nice little filter to have. I wish I had one during this challenge, it would have helped a lot..

Heres (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?shs=circular+polarizer&ci=0&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t) what you come up with when you do a search for them on B&H.

~Gabe

Thanks Gabe!

That's awesome information. You're the best. It sounds like there are infinite possibilities with that kind of filter. Not only am I getting a kick out of your films, I would love to see your photography too, isn't that what you were doing before film?

I forgot to answer your question to me, please forgive! I do 90% of my work in Adobe After Effects. I will be 110 and still be cracking the tip of the iceberg as to what you can do with it. It is very powerful. Like the circular polarizer, if you can afford it, it is very worth the investment.

Cato

I know... - Just kidding.. Hahaha.
Thank you. :) Umm, before I got into DV, I had a Hi8 cam that I used with some friends.. Mostly all improv stuff.. But around that same time, we got a point-and-shoot 2MP camera that I used (and still do).. I would just bike or walk up to a park, and whatever I see interesting, I would take a picture of it, and try to get creative with it. So yes, I did do photography before videography. But before that, I did lock-off madness with a Hi8 video camera. So thank you for the kind words! I should look into posting some more pics on my site.

Ah, very nice. If only I could come close to affording it... In to future someday, maybe I will. :)

~Gabe

Hey Catherine,

Cool video...I only wish it had been edited a little faster and that you had used the reflection transition as a common thing throughout the video.

It was very tranquil and enjoyable...too bad the little koi didn't snap up that pesky yellowjacket :)...that would have been sweet!!!

Good relaxing piece

Jeff

Catherine, cool video I liked it very much. Sorry that you missed the deadline.

Catherine, your film is the first one I watch, so you are my top 1 at the moment, haha.

To make a long comment short, FANTASTIC!
I really like what you made.
The music fits well, the reflections in the water...

Next time we'll make sure you sign up before the deadline! ;-)

Been trying to download this video for 3 days now,but with my lousy bandwidth its been a bit of a mission.Now that I have it downloaded I can see what everyone means by the editing.Its stunning,I have to learn to do that....good work

Hi guys! Thanks for the comments, as always... so very much appreciated!

Trond, you simply crack me up! But I think you're on to something! Simply watch my video first and no one else's and my film will always stay number one on your list! Yeah, I like it! HA!

Jeff, thanks for the watch! I understand, slow moving pieces take real talent to keep them interesting!

John, it's so nice having you a part of the uwol family. Thanks for the kind feed back.

Per, this film must have been a sleeper after the thrill of filming wild bears 100 yards away!

Take care you guys and thanks for watching!

Cato

Cat
To bad you missed the challenge. Some shots may have been a little long for me but over all it was an interesting video. You’re definitely getting better with AE.

Gordon Hoffman

Catherine,

I really like the way the dissolves create a dreamy feel, when you aren't quite sure when one image merges with another. Very creative. The koi were beautiful, are they your fish? The globe spinning at the end was a dramatic touch, you are great at computer editing.

Ruth

Hi Ruth and Gordon:

Thanks for the input, I sincerely appreciate and respect your comments.

Gordon, I agree with you. Overall, I liked how it came out, but to really snag people's attention in a very slow-moving clip takes great talent. Perhaps if I had one more "dimension" to it that would have done the trick. Isn't it amazing how long 3 minutes is in film?

Ruth:

So glad to have you back in the loop! How was your vacation? Welcome back. Thanks for your kind feedback Ruth, I always look for your comments. The koi live at a neighbor's. I had a kick out of adding them into the fountain by special effect. I actually fooled Kevin R who thought they were really in there!

Cat

Trond, you simply crack me up! But I think you're on to something! Simply watch my video first and no one else's and my film will always stay number one on your list! Yeah, I like it! HA!
Cat

Yep, I had to watch your film first to see what you came up with this time.
And you delivered a great film as usual.

Wow Trond:

You are kind, and simply put a real friend. Thanks for looking out for me and giving me the heads up I missed the sign up deadline. I don't think that's really something to notice, I know I wouldn't have if someone missed the deadline! You're the best.

Cat

I hope my fish gets that big, lol