UWOL # 15

Bill Thesken · October 31st, 2009, 01:49 AM

Well, it's my first competition so it's great to mix it up. The underwater filming was a trip. Here's a link to the HD version.

YouTube - Monk Dreams

Chris Barcellos · October 31st, 2009, 02:44 PM

Cute.... The black sun is a dream I had when I was a kid. My brother, a brainiac about 4 years older than me, said the sun was going to burn out some day. (10 billion years) I would dream of it from that day on. Looked like your shot there....

Chris Barcellos · October 31st, 2009, 02:57 PM

sorry, double post

Chris Swanberg · October 31st, 2009, 03:03 PM

Bill.. this was one of the most unusual pieces I have seen to date... and I say that in a good way.

As it started out, it was beautiful and interesting, but then started to get a little slow, and then you went into the part about what they dream... and the slow zoom into the brain was effective... THAT's when it started to get really fun...

Beautiful underwater footage. A pleasure to watch... and then....yet again... it started to get a little slow and suddenly ...WHOA... the record scratch and the seal scratching its head.. the VO was hysterical.

A really really fun piece. Thanks

Chris S.

ps. redfish does that to me too.

Finn-Erik Faale · October 31st, 2009, 03:06 PM

Bill,

Your first first entry in UWOL challange is funny and pretty good.
The pictures tell the story. Your way of filming the monk in different scales from the same direction is well done. Sometimes the best way to make a good result is to brake some rules.
I like your first UWOL video.

Bill Thesken · November 1st, 2009, 03:18 AM

Thank you for the kind comments.
That black sun was weird, my kids remarked on it also. I was filming with a very cheap underwater rig in the afternoon, and laid it on the sand with the waves rushing over it pointed towards the sunset. No CC there. The chip must have blocked out the sun.
3 things I learned.
1. Always use the (in this instance) 3 minutes alloted.
2. Voice over is preferred vs. printed material as printed takes the viewer's attention from the visual.
3. Trying to hold a cam steady on a fast moving fish while a wave is crashing on you, and the current is dragging you onto the reef, is... fun.

Mike Sims · November 1st, 2009, 10:06 AM

Bill- I liked the use of titles in the first part. It made for a great contrast with the VO at the end. I would recommend making them much larger next time. Remember the judging is done on the small size files and the small titles can be impossible to read. I think the level of the second piece of music (the Pachelbel) is too loud. It should more closely match the level of the first piece. Very entertaining. A great first entry. Congratulations!

Rich Ryan · November 1st, 2009, 10:30 AM

Bill,
Nice first entry. I am a relative noobie too (this is my second). I hope you continue gracing us with your entries.

Mixing in a bit of humor is always difficult, you did a great job. The sequencing, sound and imagery were very nicely done to end the dream sequence.

I would have preferred a voice over, rather than the use of graphics. But you did a nice job with the graphics.

Mike Beckett · November 1st, 2009, 11:52 AM

Bill,

Seals. Seals! I was hoping for seals in my film, and went to a place that was allegedly renowned for them year-round... and, er, all I could see was a couple of seagulls. Ah well.

Great film, lovely colors and I liked the close-ups. Your "victim" did seem to be very convenient lying on the beach there, you lucky man. Seals really are the most beautiful beasties.

I liked the dream sequence, and the interruption made me laugh. All I would like to have seen was a voiceover for the introduction rather than captions, but that doesn't detract from the quality of your piece.

All in all, a truly excellent first effort for UWOL, and you've made me jealous!

Kevin Railsback · November 1st, 2009, 09:30 PM

Bill,

You totally suckered me in with this one. :)

Was not expecting that ending. :)

Really liked that shot at 01:21. Certainly looked like from a seals perspective.

A very solid first entry. I certainly enjoyed it!

Trond Saetre · November 2nd, 2009, 06:05 AM

Bill,
Welcome to the UWOL family! I expect to see more videos from you in future challenges.

This was interesting to watch. Great transition into the seal's dreams. And I enjoyed your video very much.

Some of the underwater shots were a little shaky, but I guess keeping the camera still is difficult. The partly submerged shots were fun! And the transition from the dream back to the beach again, priceless!!

As it already has been mentioned, I suggest making the text bigger for easier reading.

Well done!
Thank you for sharing.

Bob Thieda · November 2nd, 2009, 10:39 AM

Bill,

First Challenge?? I think you must have been practicing...

At first I was wondering where you would go with this, as the seal sure wasn't doing much...LOL..

But the dream worked and the wake up....funny stuff...

I would have also preferred voice over instead of text, but it still worked.
The audio levels didn't seem even for me....the record scratch effect was very loud...

Nice work...make sure you do more.

Oliver Pahlow · November 2nd, 2009, 02:25 PM

Bill,

I was watching your entry at work (shame on me) and I had the volume turned up a little. Needles to say when the scratch occured it was very loud LOL. Continully learning myself I can say "don't be afraid of the VO". Overall I think you did a great job including the underwater shots.

Dale Guthormsen · November 2nd, 2009, 09:16 PM

Good evening,

this was a real delight to watch. I had a good chuckle when the seal woke up, so to speak.

Perhaps the audio could me more easily blended, but then perhaps your wanted it more abrupt.

Very creative and a pleasure to watch. Good job!!

Meryem Ersoz · November 6th, 2009, 09:27 AM

gets my vote for Most Psychedelic wildlife video...

October 31st, 2009, 01:49 AM	#1
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	UWOL # 15 - Monk Dreams Well, it's my first competition so it's great to mix it up. The underwater filming was a trip. Here's a link to the HD version. YouTube - Monk Dreams

October 31st, 2009, 02:44 PM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Cute.... The black sun is a dream I had when I was a kid. My brother, a brainiac about 4 years older than me, said the sun was going to burn out some day. (10 billion years) I would dream of it from that day on. Looked like your shot there.... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

October 31st, 2009, 02:57 PM	#3
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	sorry, double post __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

November 1st, 2009, 11:52 AM	#9
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Bill, Seals. Seals! I was hoping for seals in my film, and went to a place that was allegedly renowned for them year-round... and, er, all I could see was a couple of seagulls. Ah well. Great film, lovely colors and I liked the close-ups. Your "victim" did seem to be very convenient lying on the beach there, you lucky man. Seals really are the most beautiful beasties. I liked the dream sequence, and the interruption made me laugh. All I would like to have seen was a voiceover for the introduction rather than captions, but that doesn't detract from the quality of your piece. All in all, a truly excellent first effort for UWOL, and you've made me jealous! __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

November 1st, 2009, 09:30 PM	#10
Kevin Railsback Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 1,544	Bill, You totally suckered me in with this one. :) Was not expecting that ending. :) Really liked that shot at 01:21. Certainly looked like from a seals perspective. A very solid first entry. I certainly enjoyed it! __________________ --==Kevin==-- http:naturephotostudios.com.com

October 31st, 2009, 03:03 PM	#4
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Bill.. this was one of the most unusual pieces I have seen to date... and I say that in a good way. As it started out, it was beautiful and interesting, but then started to get a little slow, and then you went into the part about what they dream... and the slow zoom into the brain was effective... THAT's when it started to get really fun... Beautiful underwater footage. A pleasure to watch... and then....yet again... it started to get a little slow and suddenly ...WHOA... the record scratch and the seal scratching its head.. the VO was hysterical. A really really fun piece. Thanks Chris S. ps. redfish does that to me too.

October 31st, 2009, 03:06 PM	#5
Finn-Erik Faale Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porsgrunn Norway Posts: 280	Bill, Your first first entry in UWOL challange is funny and pretty good. The pictures tell the story. Your way of filming the monk in different scales from the same direction is well done. Sometimes the best way to make a good result is to brake some rules. I like your first UWOL video.

November 1st, 2009, 03:18 AM	#6
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	Thank you for the kind comments. That black sun was weird, my kids remarked on it also. I was filming with a very cheap underwater rig in the afternoon, and laid it on the sand with the waves rushing over it pointed towards the sunset. No CC there. The chip must have blocked out the sun. 3 things I learned. 1. Always use the (in this instance) 3 minutes alloted. 2. Voice over is preferred vs. printed material as printed takes the viewer's attention from the visual. 3. Trying to hold a cam steady on a fast moving fish while a wave is crashing on you, and the current is dragging you onto the reef, is... fun.

November 1st, 2009, 10:06 AM	#7
Mike Sims Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 880	Bill- I liked the use of titles in the first part. It made for a great contrast with the VO at the end. I would recommend making them much larger next time. Remember the judging is done on the small size files and the small titles can be impossible to read. I think the level of the second piece of music (the Pachelbel) is too loud. It should more closely match the level of the first piece. Very entertaining. A great first entry. Congratulations!

November 1st, 2009, 10:30 AM	#8
Rich Ryan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 127	Bill, Nice first entry. I am a relative noobie too (this is my second). I hope you continue gracing us with your entries. Mixing in a bit of humor is always difficult, you did a great job. The sequencing, sound and imagery were very nicely done to end the dream sequence. I would have preferred a voice over, rather than the use of graphics. But you did a nice job with the graphics.

November 2nd, 2009, 06:05 AM	#11
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Bill, Welcome to the UWOL family! I expect to see more videos from you in future challenges. This was interesting to watch. Great transition into the seal's dreams. And I enjoyed your video very much. Some of the underwater shots were a little shaky, but I guess keeping the camera still is difficult. The partly submerged shots were fun! And the transition from the dream back to the beach again, priceless!! As it already has been mentioned, I suggest making the text bigger for easier reading. Well done! Thank you for sharing.

November 2nd, 2009, 10:39 AM	#12
Bob Thieda Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 541	Bill, First Challenge?? I think you must have been practicing... At first I was wondering where you would go with this, as the seal sure wasn't doing much...LOL.. But the dream worked and the wake up....funny stuff... I would have also preferred voice over instead of text, but it still worked. The audio levels didn't seem even for me....the record scratch effect was very loud... Nice work...make sure you do more. __________________ Bob T.

November 2nd, 2009, 02:25 PM	#13
Oliver Pahlow Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodridge Illinois Posts: 237	Bill, I was watching your entry at work (shame on me) and I had the volume turned up a little. Needles to say when the scratch occured it was very loud LOL. Continully learning myself I can say "don't be afraid of the VO". Overall I think you did a great job including the underwater shots.

November 2nd, 2009, 09:16 PM	#14
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Good evening, this was a real delight to watch. I had a good chuckle when the seal woke up, so to speak. Perhaps the audio could me more easily blended, but then perhaps your wanted it more abrupt. Very creative and a pleasure to watch. Good job!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

November 6th, 2009, 09:27 AM	#15
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	gets my vote for Most Psychedelic wildlife video...