UWOL 63 - Tales of wonder & woe

[Paul Mailath]

Thought I'd start this early and see if we can encourage more entrants to get over the finish line so to speak.

I usually found my problem to be time slipping away, the theme is released, I come up with a good idea and then paid work distracts me and the next thing I know it's only 3 days to go. I'm semi retires now so I have more time but perhaps we can use these threads to discuss and encourage each other as was originally intended.

[Roger Van Duyn]

And some of us are "pros" at "crastinating!" Wincing as I look in the mirror.

[Trond Saetre]

Paul, thanks for starting this thread and discussion!

Interaction between the players, is always good, and very much encouraged. Pitching ideas, discussion of different filming and editing techniques... these threads are open for it all, as long as it is (remotely) related to the current challenge, or UWOL in general.

[Kevin Railsback]

The last few years I’ve barely picked up my camera and gone out shooting.
For the last challenge I don’t think I went out once.

Not sure what the problem is because when I do get out I’m so happy that I did.
Really need to find a way to make sure I get out for this next challenge.
I’m sure once I do it will be easier to get out more often.

[Trond Saetre]

Crossing the doorstep can sometimes be a big challenge.
Hope you succeed soon, Kevin.

[Kevin Railsback]

I’ve said for a while now that going from the couch to the car is the hardest part.
That’s why I love camping is that I’m right where I can walk out the door and start shooting if the weather cooperates

[Mark Hartopp]

Hi everyone, glad to see I'm not the only one wanting this thread back. I was getting worried that I was becoming a sign-up junkie and doesn't deliver. I'm always fired up and ready to go at sign-up and then stuff happens.

This year you can flame me and call me out. I've just replaced my 12 year of graphic\editing pc. So no more hardware issues for post production. Filming wise I need a drone, everyone is doing drone shots and the look cool. But I'm always crashing my son's toy drone. Don't want to splash out on a big boys toy until I can fly. I also need a good quality mic. My Sennheiser died after 18 years of service. At hthe moment I just have on-board mics.

Look I just jibber jabbering. Just a few hours to go untill theme release.

[Trond Saetre]

The "signing up and then stuff happens" happens for everyone if us, Mark. You are not alone about that.

As for drones, I have only tried one toy drone a few years ago. Found it impossible to handle outdoors if there was any wind at all. No issues with flying my current DJI Mavic 2, or my previous Phantom 3 drones in up to about 8-9 m/s winds.

[Trond Saetre]

How is everyone doing?

[Roger Van Duyn]

I've been going out to the nature reserve near my house regularly. I've been alternating still photography hikes with video hikes. One of the trails has been closed because the alligators have gotten too active. Yesterday a warning and a small tape barrier was strung up by an alligator nest a few feet off another trail that's still open. Most of my concentration the past few weeks has been on the Ospreys and Red-shouldered Hawks. Plus, there are plenty of hatchlings all over, birds, alligators. Raccoons have been raiding all the turtle and tortoise nests. Broken eggs everywhere. I may already have the clips I need, just need to come up with a hook or a treatment. Heat and humidity both are really high now in my part of Florida. In the winter, I seldom carried water. But now, I carry one or two bottles of frozen water to keep another bottle or two cool.

[Trond Saetre]

Seems like you have an exciting (and for me, exotic) idea for your film, Roger.

I haven't filmed anything yet, but I have a rough idea, which for now includes both the sea and mountains.
Got myself a new phone, and my drone wasn't impressed. For some stupid reason the DJI app which controlls the drone, is not compatible with the latest Samsung phones. Everything but live video works, so it is impossible to use for filming. So now I need to carry my old phone with me if I plan any drone filming. Slightly inconvenient...

[Roger Van Duyn]

I haven't invested in a drone yet. But, after my first trip out to the nature reserve in November, I've added hiking boots, arch supports, a new camera backpack, some uv protection shirts in subdued colors, and mosquito repellent. Before closing down my videography business, almost all my jobs were indoors the past five or six years. Now, I film outdoors, and sometimes have to add an external ND filter to my camcorder, JVC-HM170U which only has two built in ND filters. My Canon XH-A1 and A1 S had three.

[Trond Saetre]

I find it very useful to have the three built-in ND filters in my Canon XF300 too. Using them all the time outdoors.

[Paul Mailath]

The 1st thing that comes to mind for me is the cliffs & the sea near home but I'm going to ponder for a while longer to see if I can come up with something out of left field.

[Trond Saetre]

Went out today to film parts of my entry. Attempting handheld filming in 16-19 m/s winds on a mountain, is very challenging. Not sure if any footage can be used.
Notice to self: Do not forget the tripod! (But a full day of hiking was nice)