New Japan video at DVinfo.net

Douglas R. Bruce · April 25th, 2008, 07:06 AM

Sorry, no funny vending machines this time.
Only a look at a little glen about 40 km from our house.

Shot with a Sony Z1
Tripod used thoughout! Clambering over rocks carrying a camera and a tripod beats any image stabilising in post.
Also better for your health!

Final editing was with Avid Media Composer.
Sound from the Smartsound library.

Choose the "L" for Large file or "S" for Small file at the bottom right of the entry page - "Kikuchi Glen"

http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

Regards,
Douglas

Jay Gladwell · April 25th, 2008, 07:53 AM

Corrected link

http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

from above.

Mark Williams · April 25th, 2008, 07:55 AM

Replace the "," with a "." after "www" in your link. Looked like a great location and very photogenic. Nice to see stable tripod shots. There were a few scenes where I thought the zoom out was a little fast but otherwise very pleasant to watch.

Mark Williams · April 25th, 2008, 07:59 AM

Oops, you beat me to it on the link correction.

Douglas R. Bruce · April 25th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Thanks Mark,
I had a look at your site.
Compared to me you are obviously a specialist in pleasant relaxing videos.

Regards,
Douglas

Ben Lynn · April 26th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Douglas,

Excellent video. Masterful use of composition and lighting. It was worth the effort for the tripod because it allowed the viewer to focus on the content, not your camera work. I liked the music and was ready for a nap after watching it : )

Marks right though, the zoom speed is too fast. After watching it I think that the speed itself isn't the problem, but rather the zoom feels fast when the camera goes from a static shot into a pull. There's no tappering of the zoom speed to ease in the movement. The times that you faded into a zoom that was already in progress, it felt fine. When you started static and made the zoom, it felt too fast. So either fade in all zoom movements, or keep them static.

What do you do with a video like that? Were you hired by the prefecture to produce that, or is it just for enjoyment? I have in-laws live in Amakusa and lower Kumamoto but I haven't really seen much of the area around Kumamoto itself. It was nice to watch your video. It made me want to head back to Japan!

Ben

Lorinda Norton · April 26th, 2008, 08:39 PM

Mmm…that was really pretty, Douglas. Thank you.

My grandparents (dad’s side) came to the States from Japan back in the 20’s. I’ve never been there, but the videos I’ve watched from your site – especially this one – make me want to go. Three months ago I got an invitation from a gentleman who lives near Tokyo, but Kumamoto looks like it’s quite a long distance from there (?). I would really want to see the rural areas and beauty like what you showed rather than the cities.

Douglas R. Bruce · April 27th, 2008, 05:06 AM

Thanks Ben and Lorinda,

The tip about the static to zoom and the fade to a zoom in progress is something I will be thinking about next time I do a similar project.

I feel sorry for all the tourists who come to Japan and only see central Tokyo!
But you don't have to travel to Kumamoto to see rural Japan. However, as a tourist, it is nigh on impossible to get into the reality of what you see in a short fleeting trip.
When you actually live in rural Japan you have more time to gather images and to appreciate the magic that is all around.

Regards,
Douglas

April 25th, 2008, 07:06 AM	#1
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	New Japan video Sorry, no funny vending machines this time. Only a look at a little glen about 40 km from our house. Shot with a Sony Z1 Tripod used thoughout! Clambering over rocks carrying a camera and a tripod beats any image stabilising in post. Also better for your health! Final editing was with Avid Media Composer. Sound from the Smartsound library. Choose the "L" for Large file or "S" for Small file at the bottom right of the entry page - "Kikuchi Glen" http://www.gaijin-eyes.com Regards, Douglas __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com Last edited by Douglas R. Bruce; April 25th, 2008 at 09:41 AM. Reason: Fat fingers on the keyboard..... thanks Jay and Mark for the pointer

April 25th, 2008, 07:55 AM	#3
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Replace the "," with a "." after "www" in your link. Looked like a great location and very photogenic. Nice to see stable tripod shots. There were a few scenes where I thought the zoom out was a little fast but otherwise very pleasant to watch. __________________ Mark videos: http://vimeo.com/channels/3523 Stock: http://www.pond5.com/artist/mark29

April 25th, 2008, 07:59 AM	#4
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Oops, you beat me to it on the link correction. __________________ Mark videos: http://vimeo.com/channels/3523 Stock: http://www.pond5.com/artist/mark29

April 25th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#5
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	Thanks Mark, I had a look at your site. Compared to me you are obviously a specialist in pleasant relaxing videos. Regards, Douglas __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com

April 26th, 2008, 08:39 PM	#7
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	Mmm…that was really pretty, Douglas. Thank you. My grandparents (dad’s side) came to the States from Japan back in the 20’s. I’ve never been there, but the videos I’ve watched from your site – especially this one – make me want to go. Three months ago I got an invitation from a gentleman who lives near Tokyo, but Kumamoto looks like it’s quite a long distance from there (?). I would really want to see the rural areas and beauty like what you showed rather than the cities. __________________ Lorinda

April 25th, 2008, 07:53 AM	#2
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Corrected link http://www.gaijin-eyes.com from above.

April 26th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#6
Ben Lynn Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bloomington, IL Posts: 636	Douglas, Excellent video. Masterful use of composition and lighting. It was worth the effort for the tripod because it allowed the viewer to focus on the content, not your camera work. I liked the music and was ready for a nap after watching it : ) Marks right though, the zoom speed is too fast. After watching it I think that the speed itself isn't the problem, but rather the zoom feels fast when the camera goes from a static shot into a pull. There's no tappering of the zoom speed to ease in the movement. The times that you faded into a zoom that was already in progress, it felt fine. When you started static and made the zoom, it felt too fast. So either fade in all zoom movements, or keep them static. What do you do with a video like that? Were you hired by the prefecture to produce that, or is it just for enjoyment? I have in-laws live in Amakusa and lower Kumamoto but I haven't really seen much of the area around Kumamoto itself. It was nice to watch your video. It made me want to head back to Japan! Ben

April 27th, 2008, 05:06 AM	#8
Douglas R. Bruce Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kumamoto City, Japan Posts: 136	Thanks Ben and Lorinda, The tip about the static to zoom and the fade to a zoom in progress is something I will be thinking about next time I do a similar project. I feel sorry for all the tourists who come to Japan and only see central Tokyo! But you don't have to travel to Kumamoto to see rural Japan. However, as a tourist, it is nigh on impossible to get into the reality of what you see in a short fleeting trip. When you actually live in rural Japan you have more time to gather images and to appreciate the magic that is all around. Regards, Douglas __________________ I was produced in Scotland, edited in Sweden, and am now showing in Japan. http://www.gaijin-eyes.com