Discovery's Planet Earth at DVinfo.net

Spike Spiegel · March 26th, 2007, 02:19 PM

Discovery and BBC's co production, Planet Earth. Saw a couple of the episodes last night, and thought it was shot very well. Ofcourse, a lot of it was shot in film, amazing footage of the snow leopards, etc.

Its amazing and all, but if you have the network funding and backing, along with 30+ cameramen on location for 5 yrs, you are BOUND to get some astounding stuff. Regardless, it is an excellent mini series, highly recommend it! Whatd you guys think?

Gabriel Yeager · March 26th, 2007, 02:43 PM

Thanks Spike for getting this thread started! I thought about making it last night but I opted to wait for someone else with more information to...

It was an excellent show. I can not wait for next weeks episodes!
The snow leopards and the giant whales are the things that really stuck out in my mind.

Like you said though, with all the money, time, and people, its not too hard of a job. But heck, it still amazed me!

Now is the time that I wish I had Discover HD to watch it on. I have the Visio HD tv already. :)

~Gabriel

Michael Ojjeh · March 26th, 2007, 02:46 PM

It sure was amazing footage, When you have the funding for that many cameramen and some of them were in one spot for 4 weeks just to take a shoot of the dancing bird (2min clip) you better have good footage.
Any one with that much funding on any project will have amazing stuff :)

Per Johan Naesje · March 26th, 2007, 03:21 PM

Yupp and a couple of the camcorders used in the series:
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...o/ibc/022.html
dribble ;-)

I have seen all episodes and there are some amazing shoots there. Really inspiring to view. You can learn much of how to do wildlife camerawork from this series.

Tony Tremble · March 27th, 2007, 04:16 AM

This wonderful series has already been shown in the UK. I can assure eveyone that every episode is spellbinding. The visuals are stunning and of course the content is second to none.

Everyone should see this series. Tell your friends!!! What is good for the avid wildlife film makers are the diary shorts at the end of the programme where they show the lengths that they went to capture the footage. The snow leopard episode is a case in point.

That one series was worth our TV license fee alone. Brilliant.

TT

Jeff Swick · March 27th, 2007, 11:01 AM

Greetings all! I must say that I certainly do enjoy reading on this forum. What an incredible source of knowledge!

In the same vein as "Planet Earth", check out "Galapagos" on the National Geographic Channel. The program consists of three fifty minute segments filmed primarily using the Panasonic Varicam (super 16 used on some of the high speed shots, digital still kits for time-lapse, thermal & infrared imaging as well) and Sony 750 and 900's for underwater. The film was made over the course of 18 months by a team of film makers who had been given free access to the entire archipelago, a first in over 20 years. The film is spectacular!!

Chris C. Collins · April 10th, 2007, 03:13 PM

Very great show, been recently VERY obsessed with it. The shots they get are just mind-blowing. Some absolutely amazing stuff entail in this program, everyone should check it out.

I know I have, TIVO!

Hubert Duijzer · April 11th, 2007, 02:23 AM

Planet Earth is excellent. I bought the DVD-pack from the BBC-site. It is worth every penny!
Really beautiful footage, excellent slo-mo's/moving timelapse, it's all there.

Very inspiring, especially the diary at the end of each show. You can really see how frustated they get after weeks in the wild without getting a good shot. But every time on the last day, they get their 'kill'. :-)

Larry Chapman · April 18th, 2007, 05:47 PM

I've watched all the episodes so far and agree fully that most of the footage is truly stunning. The only thing in the series that bothers me are all the faux sound effects. They're almost cartoonish and, IMHO, detract from the visual content. It would be fun, however, to have the job of trying to create sound to match "worms emerging from holes in the ocean floor in ultra-slow motion" . . .

Ethan Cooper · April 19th, 2007, 02:42 AM

No doubt that this show is beautifully shot, but I've noticed on more than one occasion what seems to be a few effects shots. Once or twice I was almost certain I saw some sky replacements.
I'm glad someone brought up the snow lepard show earlier. I could swear that they faked the intensity of the snow in a few of the shots. Has anyone else noticed these things? Am I just making this up in my own head?

Larry Chapman · April 19th, 2007, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan Cooper

No doubt that this show is beautifully shot, but I've noticed on more than one occasion what seems to be a few effects shots. Once or twice I was almost certain I saw some sky replacements.
I'm glad someone brought up the snow lepard show earlier. I could swear that they faked the intensity of the snow in a few of the shots. Has anyone else noticed these things? Am I just making this up in my own head?

The snow definately had an un-natural look. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and assumed it was just the effect created by using a very long lens combined with large snow flakes.

Larry Chapman · April 19th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubert Duijzer

Planet Earth is excellent. I bought the DVD-pack from the BBC-site. It is worth every penny!
Really beautiful footage, excellent slo-mo's/moving timelapse, it's all there.

Very inspiring, especially the diary at the end of each show. You can really see how frustated they get after weeks in the wild without getting a good shot. But every time on the last day, they get their 'kill'. :-)

How much of the viewing experience is compromised by the SD DVDs?

Mat Thompson · April 20th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Hey come on this should be titled BBC's Planet earth.....:)

Planet earths production came up in a course I did last year. Budget was £1.4 million an hour.....pretty impressive spending huh.

The main difference with this series was due to a hugely expensive helicopter mounted camera rig with massive amounts of reach. So much that the helicopter wouldnt scare the animals and allow a whole new perspective on many different environments and subjects. Its funny when you become aware of that you can really spot its use.

Oh and did you see the Great white breach shots....unbelievable slow mo....Simon king took 3 weeks to get just 10 real time seconds or so......but my god, how breath taking!

Fab stuff........I wonder what's on the drawing board next ????

Hubert Duijzer · April 23rd, 2007, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Chapman

How much of the viewing experience is compromised by the SD DVDs?

I have only seen the SD DVD's, so i can't tell the difference with HD. But SD or not, it looks really good and sharp. At least on my monitor :-)

Marty Hudzik · April 23rd, 2007, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubert Duijzer

I have only seen the SD DVD's, so i can't tell the difference with HD. But SD or not, it looks really good and sharp. At least on my monitor :-)

I have watched in HD (discovery HD)and I have watched it on the regular SD dicovery channel and I think it loses a lot. Surely the shots are just as beautiful and breathtaking either way....but you are acutely more aware that you are watching a video in the SD version. The HD version kinda transports you or makes you feel more like you are there. This is what the extra resolution and clarity of HD is best at.

I must add that I am sure the SD DVDs look much better than the broadcast SD does. Because in my mind it looked pretty lossy as far as detail goes.

March 26th, 2007, 02:19 PM	#1
Spike Spiegel Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 429	Discovery's Planet Earth Discovery and BBC's co production, Planet Earth. Saw a couple of the episodes last night, and thought it was shot very well. Ofcourse, a lot of it was shot in film, amazing footage of the snow leopards, etc. Its amazing and all, but if you have the network funding and backing, along with 30+ cameramen on location for 5 yrs, you are BOUND to get some astounding stuff. Regardless, it is an excellent mini series, highly recommend it! Whatd you guys think?

March 26th, 2007, 02:43 PM	#2
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Thanks Spike for getting this thread started! I thought about making it last night but I opted to wait for someone else with more information to... It was an excellent show. I can not wait for next weeks episodes! The snow leopards and the giant whales are the things that really stuck out in my mind. Like you said though, with all the money, time, and people, its not too hard of a job. But heck, it still amazed me! Now is the time that I wish I had Discover HD to watch it on. I have the Visio HD tv already. :) ~Gabriel __________________ Gabriel Photography

March 26th, 2007, 03:21 PM	#4
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Yupp and a couple of the camcorders used in the series: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro...o/ibc/022.html dribble ;-) I have seen all episodes and there are some amazing shoots there. Really inspiring to view. You can learn much of how to do wildlife camerawork from this series. __________________ - Per Johan

March 27th, 2007, 11:01 AM	#6
Jeff Swick New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midland Park, New Jersey Posts: 10	"Galapagos" series on National Geographic Channel Greetings all! I must say that I certainly do enjoy reading on this forum. What an incredible source of knowledge! In the same vein as "Planet Earth", check out "Galapagos" on the National Geographic Channel. The program consists of three fifty minute segments filmed primarily using the Panasonic Varicam (super 16 used on some of the high speed shots, digital still kits for time-lapse, thermal & infrared imaging as well) and Sony 750 and 900's for underwater. The film was made over the course of 18 months by a team of film makers who had been given free access to the entire archipelago, a first in over 20 years. The film is spectacular!!

April 18th, 2007, 05:47 PM	#9
Larry Chapman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fort Collins, CO Posts: 94	I've watched all the episodes so far and agree fully that most of the footage is truly stunning. The only thing in the series that bothers me are all the faux sound effects. They're almost cartoonish and, IMHO, detract from the visual content. It would be fun, however, to have the job of trying to create sound to match "worms emerging from holes in the ocean floor in ultra-slow motion" . . . __________________ -- Larry Chapman

March 26th, 2007, 02:46 PM	#3
Michael Ojjeh Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 338	It sure was amazing footage, When you have the funding for that many cameramen and some of them were in one spot for 4 weeks just to take a shoot of the dancing bird (2min clip) you better have good footage. Any one with that much funding on any project will have amazing stuff :)

March 27th, 2007, 04:16 AM	#5
Tony Tremble Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 451	This wonderful series has already been shown in the UK. I can assure eveyone that every episode is spellbinding. The visuals are stunning and of course the content is second to none. Everyone should see this series. Tell your friends!!! What is good for the avid wildlife film makers are the diary shorts at the end of the programme where they show the lengths that they went to capture the footage. The snow leopard episode is a case in point. That one series was worth our TV license fee alone. Brilliant. TT

April 10th, 2007, 03:13 PM	#7
Chris C. Collins Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Muskegon, Michigan Posts: 75	Very great show, been recently VERY obsessed with it. The shots they get are just mind-blowing. Some absolutely amazing stuff entail in this program, everyone should check it out. I know I have, TIVO!

April 11th, 2007, 02:23 AM	#8
Hubert Duijzer Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 177	Planet Earth is excellent. I bought the DVD-pack from the BBC-site. It is worth every penny! Really beautiful footage, excellent slo-mo's/moving timelapse, it's all there. Very inspiring, especially the diary at the end of each show. You can really see how frustated they get after weeks in the wild without getting a good shot. But every time on the last day, they get their 'kill'. :-)

April 19th, 2007, 02:42 AM	#10
Ethan Cooper Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 1,400 Images: 5	Effects Used? No doubt that this show is beautifully shot, but I've noticed on more than one occasion what seems to be a few effects shots. Once or twice I was almost certain I saw some sky replacements. I'm glad someone brought up the snow lepard show earlier. I could swear that they faked the intensity of the snow in a few of the shots. Has anyone else noticed these things? Am I just making this up in my own head?

April 20th, 2007, 04:03 PM	#13
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	Hey come on this should be titled BBC's Planet earth.....:) Planet earths production came up in a course I did last year. Budget was £1.4 million an hour.....pretty impressive spending huh. The main difference with this series was due to a hugely expensive helicopter mounted camera rig with massive amounts of reach. So much that the helicopter wouldnt scare the animals and allow a whole new perspective on many different environments and subjects. Its funny when you become aware of that you can really spot its use. Oh and did you see the Great white breach shots....unbelievable slow mo....Simon king took 3 weeks to get just 10 real time seconds or so......but my god, how breath taking! Fab stuff........I wonder what's on the drawing board next ????