UWOL #7 Eufaula. by Bob Safay at DVinfo.net

Bob Safay · February 23rd, 2008, 07:07 AM

Well my adventure was justing getting to do the video. I had to send my Canon in for repair before the challenge opened. So, off I go to San Diego, California for 5 days on buisness...no Camcorder. Then I have to go to Mississippi for 3 days on buisness, again no Camcorder. I get home on the 15th and picked up the Canon from FEDEX. So I drive down to Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in SE Alabama and shoot my entry. Not as good or as strong as I would have liked it, but, as you can see I am NOT in the shark tank. So please watch it and enjoy it. Bob

Meryem Ersoz · February 24th, 2008, 12:19 PM

now i know how you get such great bird footy--what a great location!

that shot with thousands of birds streaming through the frame was amazing! and the audio...wow, it must have been really something, to be there....

you have a knack for capturing the feeling of being alone in the wild and the feeling for why we do this....

Kevin Railsback · February 24th, 2008, 02:15 PM

Bob,

That looks like a great place to shoot! I'll be putting that one down in my book of shooting locations.

I could totally identify with what you were feeling when you were overlooking that pond. Just you and nature. That was awesome. That IS what it is all about.

Some wind noise but it was offset by the tranquility of the pond scene.

Great job!!

Bob Thieda · February 24th, 2008, 03:11 PM

I liked it, liked it a lot....

You did what I tried to do.
You took us to a place of discovery and let us feel the joy you felt.

Your pretty comfortable in front of the camera, also.

Steve Siegel · February 24th, 2008, 05:19 PM

You really captured the feel of a late-winter refuge. The birds warming up their spring songs, the sound of gravel under your tires with no foliage to dampen it. As you walked out to the gazebo, I could almost smell the place.

You nailed this one.

Per Johan Naesje · February 24th, 2008, 05:31 PM

Bob, that seem to be a fantastic place for bird lover like me! Could have stayed there for weeks!
I whish you could have showed us some more close ups of the bird, but as you're telling about your camcorder repair, I know it would have been hard to archieve.
Overall a nice piece.

Markus Nord · February 25th, 2008, 04:19 AM

A perfect spot… good story and good photos, this could be the winner… I just miss some close-ups, u without you big camera I you did a really good job.

Markus

Dale Guthormsen · February 25th, 2008, 10:09 AM

Bob,

You had some real nice compositions throughout. you used available habitat to make them and I thought that stood out. your closer work had excellent clearity to it.

I liked the Red tailed Hawk footage.

I now know where all our birds go in the winter!!!

good job.

Trond Saetre · February 25th, 2008, 11:18 AM

Bob, I have always liked your films, and this is no exemption. You sure know how to tell the story, and make the audience feel we are there with you.
Picture quality, the framing, the VO/story... it was all very good.

Thank you very much for taking me on an adventure to Alabama!

Catherine Russell · February 25th, 2008, 03:42 PM

Hey Bob!

I enjoyed this! The way you interacted with the camera I felt like I was tagging along and standing right there with you! The way you sort of chatted with the camera, I had to hold back the impulse to verbally respond and agree with you that the 1000's of birds was really cool!

Cat

David Gemmell · February 25th, 2008, 09:04 PM

Hey Bob,

Given all the problems you had with your camera, I think you did very well. In particular, I think you are well suited to being in front of the camera talking about your feelings at each of the locations. It is always nice to hear someone express how they are feeling inside, particularly when you can relate to the particular moment.

I really enjoyed your entry - which I always know to be the case, when I watch a movie more than once.

Well done Bob.

Adrinn Chellton · February 26th, 2008, 02:18 AM

How nice, a relaxing adventure. This one had an almost Zen feel to it, in which I think the wind might have actually been a contributor. Oddly when the wind died down I was wondering "where did it go"? Good use of framing throughout, I was impressed.

John Dennis Robertson · February 26th, 2008, 04:32 AM

Hey Bob
Just watching that clip shows that you are no stranger to nature and wild life video.Cant fault anything...Not even close to the shark tank in this round....this is a top 3 out of the video's that I have downloaded so far

Geir Inge · February 27th, 2008, 06:25 AM

Hi Bob.
Great film and great adventure.
You are the perfect host and it suits you to be in front of camera.
Very well editing and the natural sound was great too. Especially of the birds, Blackbirds? Maybe you should have named the species?
Thank you for sharing with us.

All the best
Geir Inge

Bob Safay · February 27th, 2008, 05:55 PM

Thank you for all your replys. And, thank you all for providing such wonderful entries. Every time I enter one of these UWOL challenges I learn so much, not only by pushing myself, but by watching all your videos. I really feel that this UWOL challenge is a true and real Wildlife video school. Because of you, I have become a better videographer and story teller. Bob

February 23rd, 2008, 07:07 AM	#1
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	UWOL #7 Eufaula. by Bob Safay Well my adventure was justing getting to do the video. I had to send my Canon in for repair before the challenge opened. So, off I go to San Diego, California for 5 days on buisness...no Camcorder. Then I have to go to Mississippi for 3 days on buisness, again no Camcorder. I get home on the 15th and picked up the Canon from FEDEX. So I drive down to Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge in SE Alabama and shoot my entry. Not as good or as strong as I would have liked it, but, as you can see I am NOT in the shark tank. So please watch it and enjoy it. Bob

February 24th, 2008, 02:15 PM	#3
Kevin Railsback Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 1,544	Bob, That looks like a great place to shoot! I'll be putting that one down in my book of shooting locations. I could totally identify with what you were feeling when you were overlooking that pond. Just you and nature. That was awesome. That IS what it is all about. Some wind noise but it was offset by the tranquility of the pond scene. Great job!! __________________ --==Kevin==-- http:naturephotostudios.com.com

February 24th, 2008, 03:11 PM	#4
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	I liked it, liked it a lot.... You did what I tried to do. You took us to a place of discovery and let us feel the joy you felt. Your pretty comfortable in front of the camera, also. __________________ Bob T.

February 24th, 2008, 05:31 PM	#6
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Bob, that seem to be a fantastic place for bird lover like me! Could have stayed there for weeks! I whish you could have showed us some more close ups of the bird, but as you're telling about your camcorder repair, I know it would have been hard to archieve. Overall a nice piece. __________________ - Per Johan

February 25th, 2008, 10:09 AM	#8
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Bob, You had some real nice compositions throughout. you used available habitat to make them and I thought that stood out. your closer work had excellent clearity to it. I liked the Red tailed Hawk footage. I now know where all our birds go in the winter!!! good job. __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

February 24th, 2008, 12:19 PM	#2
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	now i know how you get such great bird footy--what a great location! that shot with thousands of birds streaming through the frame was amazing! and the audio...wow, it must have been really something, to be there.... you have a knack for capturing the feeling of being alone in the wild and the feeling for why we do this....

February 24th, 2008, 05:19 PM	#5
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	You really captured the feel of a late-winter refuge. The birds warming up their spring songs, the sound of gravel under your tires with no foliage to dampen it. As you walked out to the gazebo, I could almost smell the place. You nailed this one.

February 25th, 2008, 04:19 AM	#7
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	A perfect spot… good story and good photos, this could be the winner… I just miss some close-ups, u without you big camera I you did a really good job. Markus __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

February 25th, 2008, 11:18 AM	#9
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Bob, I have always liked your films, and this is no exemption. You sure know how to tell the story, and make the audience feel we are there with you. Picture quality, the framing, the VO/story... it was all very good. Thank you very much for taking me on an adventure to Alabama!

February 25th, 2008, 03:42 PM	#10
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	Hey Bob! I enjoyed this! The way you interacted with the camera I felt like I was tagging along and standing right there with you! The way you sort of chatted with the camera, I had to hold back the impulse to verbally respond and agree with you that the 1000's of birds was really cool! Cat

February 25th, 2008, 09:04 PM	#11
David Gemmell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bendigo, Australia Posts: 234	Hey Bob, Given all the problems you had with your camera, I think you did very well. In particular, I think you are well suited to being in front of the camera talking about your feelings at each of the locations. It is always nice to hear someone express how they are feeling inside, particularly when you can relate to the particular moment. I really enjoyed your entry - which I always know to be the case, when I watch a movie more than once. Well done Bob.

February 26th, 2008, 02:18 AM	#12
Adrinn Chellton Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Carlsbad, CA Posts: 195	How nice, a relaxing adventure. This one had an almost Zen feel to it, in which I think the wind might have actually been a contributor. Oddly when the wind died down I was wondering "where did it go"? Good use of framing throughout, I was impressed.

February 26th, 2008, 04:32 AM	#13
John Dennis Robertson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johanesburg South Africa Posts: 217	Hey Bob Just watching that clip shows that you are no stranger to nature and wild life video.Cant fault anything...Not even close to the shark tank in this round....this is a top 3 out of the video's that I have downloaded so far

February 27th, 2008, 06:25 AM	#14
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,343	Hi Bob. Great film and great adventure. You are the perfect host and it suits you to be in front of camera. Very well editing and the natural sound was great too. Especially of the birds, Blackbirds? Maybe you should have named the species? Thank you for sharing with us. All the best Geir Inge __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

February 27th, 2008, 05:55 PM	#15
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Thank you for all your replys. And, thank you all for providing such wonderful entries. Every time I enter one of these UWOL challenges I learn so much, not only by pushing myself, but by watching all your videos. I really feel that this UWOL challenge is a true and real Wildlife video school. Because of you, I have become a better videographer and story teller. Bob