UWOL #9 "New Haven" by Rob Evans at DVinfo.net

Rob Evans · June 23rd, 2008, 09:18 AM

I've tried a few attempts at writing a full script on previous UWOL challenges but they've never really worked out. This time round I had a really strong idea of what I wanted to say, and I shot everything according to that idea, which made the whole process a lot easier!
I filmed the whole thing using a letus extreme 35mm adapter, and canon lenses up to 400mm. It's still a very new filming concept to me, but it seems to be producing results that I'm very happy with.

Thanks have to go to my wife, Louise, who is now almost 5 months pregnant, for stepping in to record the VO when my voice failed after a bout of "man flu"

Vimeo version here:
http://www.vimeo.com/1214053

Chris Barcellos · June 23rd, 2008, 10:02 AM

Hey Rob:

Never seriously considered using my FX1 with an adapter for one of these nature challenges, as I don't have very long lenses for that purpose. Your image are great, and that has changed my mind.

Super job.

Ron Chant · June 23rd, 2008, 01:37 PM

Rob,
First let me congratulate you, Dad to be.

I see you have used the creative camera technique of Focus Pull.
The scrip is well thought through, and your wife has done a great job on the narration. (Roll over Kate Humble)

The Jubilee River, construction in the 1990s I remember watching it’s progress when either passing over on the M4 or A4

Mark Williams · June 23rd, 2008, 03:04 PM

Rob,

Nice work. Some beautiful shots. Editing, music choice and narration were right on the mark.

Dale Guthormsen · June 23rd, 2008, 03:31 PM

Rob,

A very nicely put together film!!!! you had a nice cross section of creatures and i am sure time allowed you would have had more!!! I really liked the images with your letus extreme allowed you to get. Goes to show thow old fd lenses can still do great work.
thanks for sharing!!!

Oh yea the naration was awesome!!

I loved the theme!!!!! great choice, well defined!!! great statement!!

Catherine Russell · June 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM

Very well executed, nicely narrated with a solid script. Congratulations Rob, on both your film and your expected baby!

Cato

Steve Siegel · June 23rd, 2008, 08:44 PM

Rob,
A capivating piece. I especially like what you did with the light as it played on various insects. There is just something about the English countryside and its gentle charm that we can't duplicate over here, and you captured it perfectly. Maybe it was your wife's voice.
I expected to see Ratty and Toad appear on screen. Just loved it.

Mat Thompson · June 24th, 2008, 05:26 AM

Hey Rob.

Nice peice fella! Some lovely use of shallow dof in your piece and that must be tough to control. I really like the use of it on the peid wagtail! I usually find myself fighting to find more dof so using an adapter like that must be tough. I'm not sure it hasn't softened things a lot though. I found quite a bit of the footage soft and a bit washed out. The VO delivery was excellent, your wife has a talent for it! On the whole I found there to be too much infomation though. I thought a bit more breathing space for some of the shots would have helped the piece overall. That said it was informative, interesting and well delivered.

Good work
Mat

David Gemmell · June 24th, 2008, 06:41 AM

Hi Rob,

Well I'm very excited to see what can be done with the Letus Extreme as mine just arrived a few weeks ago (still setting up the support rails). I'm using mine on my Canon HV30. Anyway, back to your entry.

Rob, I just love the use of the shallow DOF - it's got such a nice feel to it. The opening shots with your title work perfectly and also the late afternoon shots - just magical. Whilst some of the shots were a bit soft, I think these were too few to detract too much from the overall piece.

I think Louise has a beautiful voice and she did the vo perfectly. I found the whole story line very interesting and very well researched.

You certainly are very talented with the camera Rob and it always is exciting to see what you will come up with next. Great job with a beautiful overall feel.

Bob Thieda · June 24th, 2008, 08:29 AM

Rob,

Very nicely done...colors and composition were excellent. And I learned something, which I always appreciate in these challenges.

I particularly like the shots right at the end, with the insects flitting about in the setting sun light....

And, as all have noted, your wife did an excellent job with the VO...
I think I'm going to see how my wife can do...

Bob T.

Markus Nord · June 26th, 2008, 02:06 AM

Very well done Rob, very well done. Your lady should record more VO, her voice is perfect.
And with you filmmaking that is a perfect mix. I love the DOF in this film, it’s a perfect way of exposing the right thing in the picture. You know have to handle a camera.
Very well sir…

Lorinda Norton · June 26th, 2008, 09:34 PM

As I’ve told a couple other folks from overseas, watching scenes of the landscape is just as interesting to me as those including wildlife, and this one was no exception. I found the shot of the man-made river with Windsor Castle in the background quite interesting.

Another thing I’ve mentioned more than once is that insects aren’t really my cup of tea; however, their presence in this video made me appreciate the birds even that much more! :)

Nice work, Rob.

Per Johan Naesje · June 27th, 2008, 03:55 AM

Excellent film Rob, much have been said to this already. Your use of DOF was perfect in my eyes! Your wifes narrating was also splendid.
Definitive one of the top entries this round!

Peter Damerell · June 27th, 2008, 05:45 AM

Brilliant.

A top class entry.

Beautiful scenery well presented and some wonderful shots of the reed warblers.

You really created a complete piece here rather than just a collection of nice footage which really raises the bar for the rest of us.

Well done!

Pete.

Marj Atkins · June 27th, 2008, 01:25 PM

An amazing story - a brand new river on the map of GB!
Your information is very well thought out, beautifully supported by your footage and professionally narrated by Louise. A really enjoyable video to watch - another top video.
Congrats too!

June 23rd, 2008, 09:18 AM	#1
Rob Evans Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 390	UWOL #9 "New Haven" by Rob Evans I've tried a few attempts at writing a full script on previous UWOL challenges but they've never really worked out. This time round I had a really strong idea of what I wanted to say, and I shot everything according to that idea, which made the whole process a lot easier! I filmed the whole thing using a letus extreme 35mm adapter, and canon lenses up to 400mm. It's still a very new filming concept to me, but it seems to be producing results that I'm very happy with. Thanks have to go to my wife, Louise, who is now almost 5 months pregnant, for stepping in to record the VO when my voice failed after a bout of "man flu" Vimeo version here: http://www.vimeo.com/1214053

June 23rd, 2008, 10:02 AM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Hey Rob: Never seriously considered using my FX1 with an adapter for one of these nature challenges, as I don't have very long lenses for that purpose. Your image are great, and that has changed my mind. Super job. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

June 23rd, 2008, 01:37 PM	#3
Ron Chant Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West-London - England Posts: 125	Rob, First let me congratulate you, Dad to be. I see you have used the creative camera technique of Focus Pull. The scrip is well thought through, and your wife has done a great job on the narration. (Roll over Kate Humble) The Jubilee River, construction in the 1990s I remember watching it’s progress when either passing over on the M4 or A4 __________________ <')))>{

June 23rd, 2008, 03:04 PM	#4
Mark Williams Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Deep South, U.S. Posts: 1,526	Rob, Nice work. Some beautiful shots. Editing, music choice and narration were right on the mark. __________________ Mark videos: http://vimeo.com/channels/3523 Stock: http://www.pond5.com/artist/mark29

June 23rd, 2008, 03:31 PM	#5
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Rob, A very nicely put together film!!!! you had a nice cross section of creatures and i am sure time allowed you would have had more!!! I really liked the images with your letus extreme allowed you to get. Goes to show thow old fd lenses can still do great work. thanks for sharing!!! Oh yea the naration was awesome!! I loved the theme!!!!! great choice, well defined!!! great statement!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

June 23rd, 2008, 07:11 PM	#6
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	Very well executed, nicely narrated with a solid script. Congratulations Rob, on both your film and your expected baby! Cato

June 23rd, 2008, 08:44 PM	#7
Steve Siegel Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Posts: 840	Rob, A capivating piece. I especially like what you did with the light as it played on various insects. There is just something about the English countryside and its gentle charm that we can't duplicate over here, and you captured it perfectly. Maybe it was your wife's voice. I expected to see Ratty and Toad appear on screen. Just loved it.

June 24th, 2008, 05:26 AM	#8
Mat Thompson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 1,397	Hey Rob. Nice peice fella! Some lovely use of shallow dof in your piece and that must be tough to control. I really like the use of it on the peid wagtail! I usually find myself fighting to find more dof so using an adapter like that must be tough. I'm not sure it hasn't softened things a lot though. I found quite a bit of the footage soft and a bit washed out. The VO delivery was excellent, your wife has a talent for it! On the whole I found there to be too much infomation though. I thought a bit more breathing space for some of the shots would have helped the piece overall. That said it was informative, interesting and well delivered. Good work Mat

June 24th, 2008, 06:41 AM	#9
David Gemmell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bendigo, Australia Posts: 234	Hi Rob, Well I'm very excited to see what can be done with the Letus Extreme as mine just arrived a few weeks ago (still setting up the support rails). I'm using mine on my Canon HV30. Anyway, back to your entry. Rob, I just love the use of the shallow DOF - it's got such a nice feel to it. The opening shots with your title work perfectly and also the late afternoon shots - just magical. Whilst some of the shots were a bit soft, I think these were too few to detract too much from the overall piece. I think Louise has a beautiful voice and she did the vo perfectly. I found the whole story line very interesting and very well researched. You certainly are very talented with the camera Rob and it always is exciting to see what you will come up with next. Great job with a beautiful overall feel.

June 24th, 2008, 08:29 AM	#10
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	Rob, Very nicely done...colors and composition were excellent. And I learned something, which I always appreciate in these challenges. I particularly like the shots right at the end, with the insects flitting about in the setting sun light.... And, as all have noted, your wife did an excellent job with the VO... I think I'm going to see how my wife can do... Bob T. __________________ Bob T.

June 26th, 2008, 02:06 AM	#11
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	Very well done Rob, very well done. Your lady should record more VO, her voice is perfect. And with you filmmaking that is a perfect mix. I love the DOF in this film, it’s a perfect way of exposing the right thing in the picture. You know have to handle a camera. Very well sir… __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

June 26th, 2008, 09:34 PM	#12
Lorinda Norton Wrangler Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Southwest Idaho, USA Posts: 3,066	As I’ve told a couple other folks from overseas, watching scenes of the landscape is just as interesting to me as those including wildlife, and this one was no exception. I found the shot of the man-made river with Windsor Castle in the background quite interesting. Another thing I’ve mentioned more than once is that insects aren’t really my cup of tea; however, their presence in this video made me appreciate the birds even that much more! :) Nice work, Rob. __________________ Lorinda

June 27th, 2008, 03:55 AM	#13
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Excellent film Rob, much have been said to this already. Your use of DOF was perfect in my eyes! Your wifes narrating was also splendid. Definitive one of the top entries this round! __________________ - Per Johan

June 27th, 2008, 05:45 AM	#14
Peter Damerell Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Truro, Cornwall, UK Posts: 51	Brilliant. A top class entry. Beautiful scenery well presented and some wonderful shots of the reed warblers. You really created a complete piece here rather than just a collection of nice footage which really raises the bar for the rest of us. Well done! Pete.

June 27th, 2008, 01:25 PM	#15
Marj Atkins Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Johannesburg South Africa Posts: 768	An amazing story - a brand new river on the map of GB! Your information is very well thought out, beautifully supported by your footage and professionally narrated by Louise. A really enjoyable video to watch - another top video. Congrats too!