UWOL #11 "The oasis and the ducks" by Trond Saetre at DVinfo.net

Trond Saetre · October 22nd, 2008, 02:41 PM

First of all, it is great to finally be back after swimming with the sharks the last 2 rounds.

The theme was really interesting, and several ideas passed by. Some better than others.
And now, over to my video:
I shot it in Trondheim, Norway.
There I found a small park with a little lake in the middle. Everything surrounded by houses, roads and other "man made features".
Every morning, a couple of ducks came to the lake to have their morning bath, so this ended up as my habitat.

For all my other uwol videos, I have always used a tripod.
But this time I did not have access to any tripods, so it is all handheld.

I know the video probably lack a little motion/action and a couple more camera angles would have been better, but no matter what I did, the ducks didn´t seem to care. At least they were not interested in flying away when I was there.

Hope you enjoy, and I look forward to the feedback.

Link to the video:
The oasis and the ducks

Trond

Catherine Russell · October 22nd, 2008, 05:09 PM

Hey Trond:

You are really getting very good! If these shots were all hand held, I'm impressed! And it is nice to hear your voice as well! Nicely done. Music choice, voice over, nice filming. You have it all Trond. In your thread intro you pointed out all that could have been better... you are your own best critic, I wouldn't be able to suggest anything beyond your own insights.

It's nice to be back, eh?

This was pleasing and enjoyable to watch.

Cat

Trond Saetre · October 23rd, 2008, 08:34 AM

Hi Catherine,
Thank you for the nice comments.
The hardest part was the music choice, as always for me.
So I'm glad you liked that score.

Dale Guthormsen · October 23rd, 2008, 09:35 AM

Tronde,

Some very nice water shots! The clearity on the mallards was impressive, and at compressed resolution as well, I am impressed. The shot of the hen was my favorite.

I liked the concept of following the water to the oasis, the pond.

Nice Job!!!

Meryem Ersoz · October 23rd, 2008, 11:13 AM

Glad to have you back in the game, Trond!

Your hand holding is getting pretty good! I missed the tripod on some shots, but not on others, to my surprise, since I'm always a big stickler for stabilization.

A nice mix of shots, considering the simplicity of the subject.

We are always thrilled to see Team Norway come through -- I don't know what UWOL would be without my little glimpse of Norway every other month, it just wouldn't feel right....

What a pretty place....

Trond Saetre · October 23rd, 2008, 11:49 AM

Dale,
I'm glad you like the video.
As for the compression, I try to keep the bitrate as high as possible within the file size limit.

Meryem,
Yes, the tripod would have helped with a couple shots as you mention. No doubt about that.
One of my deleted scenes included an attempt (just for fun) to simulate a jib or crane. I think we both know how that ended. :)
Team Norway is here to stay!
Hopefully I have had my share of computer trouble, so I can participate in every single challenge from now on.

Thank you both for the feedback.

Trond Saetre · October 23rd, 2008, 05:20 PM

Link to the youtube version (lower quality) of the video:
YouTube - The oasis and the ducks

Mihali Moore · October 24th, 2008, 08:59 AM

Trond,

Very impressive handheld work. The close up images of the ducks was lovely. As you said in your post, some more angles would have been nice, but on the whole a well made film.

Finn-Erik Faale · October 24th, 2008, 12:36 PM

First of all, thanks for help in the beginning. I have now the pleasure to be a participant.
You have made a fine film. Good shots of the Mallards, and the neighborhood mirrored in the water. These few pictures tell more than words about this small habitat. I think this duck pond has a great value for the people living around it.

Trond Saetre · October 24th, 2008, 04:43 PM

Mihali:
Thanks for the feedback. Handheld is pretty easy with wide shots. The real tough part is to get the footage steady when zooming in, so I try to avoid that if possible. At most I think I zoomed in to around 400-500mm on my XM2, and this is where I definitely should have had access to a tripod.

Finn-Erik:
Welcome to uwol and Team Norway!
You are right, the lake and the small surrounding park is really popular for the locals.

Chris Barcellos · October 24th, 2008, 07:58 PM

Trond:

Nice soft mood and some relaxing footage to give us a peaceful feeling. I would like to have learned a bit more about the habitat, and how it was preserved in that built up area.

Jeff Hendricks · October 25th, 2008, 01:09 AM

Hi Trond,

I like how you used establishing shots to show us where we were in relation to the ducks. The one that especially comes to mind is the shot of grass and then the bird hidden in the grass.

One of the fascinating things about ducks to me is the detail in their feathers and their eyes and features. Their greatest features lie in the simplest things and I would have like to have seen some real close shots. But I know that is nearly impossible hand held. Nice job and beautiful colors in you images.

Jeff

Trond Saetre · October 26th, 2008, 02:10 AM

Chris:
Thank you for your comment. I agree that more information would have made the video better.

Jeff:
I tried some real close up shots of the ducks' heads, especially the males with their green "glossy like" heads. Those shots went straight to the "deleted scenes."
Too shaky to do hand held. Would maybe have been acceptable results for a home/family video.

Ron Chant · October 27th, 2008, 04:07 AM

Hi Trond,
You did well with the handheld shots, nice natural colours from the XM2.
I liked the open and closing shots of the shallow stream running over the
large cobbles reminded me of younger days when I was lived in Scotland.

Watching the Mallards and listening to the background music was very relaxing.
The oasis and the ducks Nice film Trond.

Bob Safay · October 27th, 2008, 04:18 AM

Trond, great job. As with the others I thought the closeups were wonderful. the reflexion of the buildings and apartments on the water showed how a little bit of nature can improve the quaility of life for those living around a small pond. A really fine story. Bob

October 23rd, 2008, 09:35 AM	#4
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Tronde, Some very nice water shots! The clearity on the mallards was impressive, and at compressed resolution as well, I am impressed. The shot of the hen was my favorite. I liked the concept of following the water to the oasis, the pond. Nice Job!!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

October 24th, 2008, 12:36 PM	#9
Finn-Erik Faale Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porsgrunn Norway Posts: 280	Hi Trond, First of all, thanks for help in the beginning. I have now the pleasure to be a participant. You have made a fine film. Good shots of the Mallards, and the neighborhood mirrored in the water. These few pictures tell more than words about this small habitat. I think this duck pond has a great value for the people living around it.

October 25th, 2008, 01:09 AM	#12
Jeff Hendricks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Carson Valley, Nevada Posts: 248	Hi Trond, I like how you used establishing shots to show us where we were in relation to the ducks. The one that especially comes to mind is the shot of grass and then the bird hidden in the grass. One of the fascinating things about ducks to me is the detail in their feathers and their eyes and features. Their greatest features lie in the simplest things and I would have like to have seen some real close shots. But I know that is nearly impossible hand held. Nice job and beautiful colors in you images. Jeff __________________ www.tahoestarr.com

October 27th, 2008, 04:07 AM	#14
Ron Chant Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West-London - England Posts: 125	Hi Trond, You did well with the handheld shots, nice natural colours from the XM2. I liked the open and closing shots of the shallow stream running over the large cobbles reminded me of younger days when I was lived in Scotland. Watching the Mallards and listening to the background music was very relaxing. The oasis and the ducks Nice film Trond. __________________ <')))>{

October 22nd, 2008, 02:41 PM	#1
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	UWOL #11 "The oasis and the ducks" by Trond Saetre First of all, it is great to finally be back after swimming with the sharks the last 2 rounds. The theme was really interesting, and several ideas passed by. Some better than others. And now, over to my video: I shot it in Trondheim, Norway. There I found a small park with a little lake in the middle. Everything surrounded by houses, roads and other "man made features". Every morning, a couple of ducks came to the lake to have their morning bath, so this ended up as my habitat. For all my other uwol videos, I have always used a tripod. But this time I did not have access to any tripods, so it is all handheld. I know the video probably lack a little motion/action and a couple more camera angles would have been better, but no matter what I did, the ducks didn´t seem to care. At least they were not interested in flying away when I was there. Hope you enjoy, and I look forward to the feedback. Link to the video: The oasis and the ducks Trond Last edited by Trond Saetre; October 23rd, 2008 at 12:57 AM. Reason: Added link to the video

October 22nd, 2008, 05:09 PM	#2
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	Hey Trond: You are really getting very good! If these shots were all hand held, I'm impressed! And it is nice to hear your voice as well! Nicely done. Music choice, voice over, nice filming. You have it all Trond. In your thread intro you pointed out all that could have been better... you are your own best critic, I wouldn't be able to suggest anything beyond your own insights. It's nice to be back, eh? This was pleasing and enjoyable to watch. Cat

October 23rd, 2008, 08:34 AM	#3
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Hi Catherine, Thank you for the nice comments. The hardest part was the music choice, as always for me. So I'm glad you liked that score.

October 23rd, 2008, 11:13 AM	#5
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	Glad to have you back in the game, Trond! Your hand holding is getting pretty good! I missed the tripod on some shots, but not on others, to my surprise, since I'm always a big stickler for stabilization. A nice mix of shots, considering the simplicity of the subject. We are always thrilled to see Team Norway come through -- I don't know what UWOL would be without my little glimpse of Norway every other month, it just wouldn't feel right.... What a pretty place....

October 23rd, 2008, 11:49 AM	#6
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Dale, I'm glad you like the video. As for the compression, I try to keep the bitrate as high as possible within the file size limit. Meryem, Yes, the tripod would have helped with a couple shots as you mention. No doubt about that. One of my deleted scenes included an attempt (just for fun) to simulate a jib or crane. I think we both know how that ended. :) Team Norway is here to stay! Hopefully I have had my share of computer trouble, so I can participate in every single challenge from now on. Thank you both for the feedback.

October 23rd, 2008, 05:20 PM	#7
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Link to the youtube version (lower quality) of the video: YouTube - The oasis and the ducks

October 24th, 2008, 08:59 AM	#8
Mihali Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bristol Posts: 92	Trond, Very impressive handheld work. The close up images of the ducks was lovely. As you said in your post, some more angles would have been nice, but on the whole a well made film.

October 24th, 2008, 04:43 PM	#10
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Mihali: Thanks for the feedback. Handheld is pretty easy with wide shots. The real tough part is to get the footage steady when zooming in, so I try to avoid that if possible. At most I think I zoomed in to around 400-500mm on my XM2, and this is where I definitely should have had access to a tripod. Finn-Erik: Welcome to uwol and Team Norway! You are right, the lake and the small surrounding park is really popular for the locals.

October 24th, 2008, 07:58 PM	#11
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Trond: Nice soft mood and some relaxing footage to give us a peaceful feeling. I would like to have learned a bit more about the habitat, and how it was preserved in that built up area. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

October 26th, 2008, 02:10 AM	#13
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Chris: Thank you for your comment. I agree that more information would have made the video better. Jeff: I tried some real close up shots of the ducks' heads, especially the males with their green "glossy like" heads. Those shots went straight to the "deleted scenes." Too shaky to do hand held. Would maybe have been acceptable results for a home/family video.

October 27th, 2008, 04:18 AM	#15
Bob Safay Trustee Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,558	Trond, great job. As with the others I thought the closeups were wonderful. the reflexion of the buildings and apartments on the water showed how a little bit of nature can improve the quaility of life for those living around a small pond. A really fine story. Bob