UWOL#8: Six Miles of Change by Mike Beckett

Mike Beckett · April 24th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Ruth:

Many thanks for the kind words.

The hat is a one off, I rescued it from a charity shop bag. I normally keep it at work and use it as my "thinking cap", but I thought it deserved a day out.

I'm really just an inexperienced amateur with very few finished films under my belt, and I'm viewing this as a great learning experience. I can't wait for the next challenge. Let's hope June isn't a typical Irish summer, i.e. raining non stop for four weeks!

Catherine Russell · April 28th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Mike:

I loved this! Thee cheers for the lucky UWOL hat to bring back the magnificent gray herons! That absolutely brought a smile to my face. You are bringing humor, good wildlife filming, thoughtful insights and narrating to the UWOL community. Well done!

Cat

Mike Beckett · April 28th, 2008, 12:08 PM

Cat,

Thanks for the kind comments. I felt it was about time I tried to give something back, I've been quietly enjoying everybody else's videos for too long now!

Oliver Pahlow · April 28th, 2008, 08:06 PM

Mike,

Great story telling. Your narative along with the visuals is something that I need to try. Sofar I have been letting the natural sound and the music make the tone. But your narative in addition to the images and the sound set the tone. I have once again learned a technic. You have a natural talent.

Regards,

Oliver

Vidar Vedaa · April 29th, 2008, 06:11 AM

Hello Mike

You have some nice entery here,vo and story wery harmonic.
And some greait sekvense.

Nice Work!!!

VJV.

______________

John Dennis Robertson · April 29th, 2008, 08:18 AM

One of the best entries for this round.Great story..great footage ..I enjoyed this one

Amelia Tanttila · April 29th, 2008, 10:39 AM

Hi Mike,
I'll chime in with the others and don't think I have anything really new to add. I simply enjoyed your video. The footage, VO and music all flowed so well together. My favorite shots were the robin, the rack focus at 1:49, and the heron in the tree. Thanks for sharing!!

Amelia

Mike Beckett · April 29th, 2008, 11:38 AM

Oliver, Vidar, John and Amelia - thanks for taking time to comment. It's heartening that I've managed to produce something that seemed to work well.

I felt the best way to go about the UWOL contest was to look for a story and then construct my video. My normal habit of going out and pointing a camera randomly ends up with no structure and four months of editing!

UWOL has inspired me to try to do something the right way for a change.

Geir Inge · May 3rd, 2008, 05:48 AM

Hi Mike.

Great story and first entry.
Also want to say welcome to Irland :)

Just about 60 meters from my house we have a little forrest with round about 30 herons, nesting. It's a great bird and abit odd to see it sitting in the trees.
Your investigating style is great, and so is your VO.
Now I'm just waiting for your next entry in uwol9.

All the best.
Geir Inge

Mike Beckett · May 3rd, 2008, 02:26 PM

Geir Inge,

Thank you so much for your comments, and for the welcome. I could watch those herons all day - and to see 30 in one place of them rather than just one or two, that would be incredible.

It's a bit like when I go to Australia and see flocks of Pelicans on the beach, and the locals are not at all surprised by them!

I hope I will learn some lessons from this round and do things better in UWOL9. Rule #1 is now "don't keep moving the tripod around: stop panning all the time!"

April 24th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#16
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Ruth: Many thanks for the kind words. The hat is a one off, I rescued it from a charity shop bag. I normally keep it at work and use it as my "thinking cap", but I thought it deserved a day out. I'm really just an inexperienced amateur with very few finished films under my belt, and I'm viewing this as a great learning experience. I can't wait for the next challenge. Let's hope June isn't a typical Irish summer, i.e. raining non stop for four weeks! __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

April 28th, 2008, 12:08 PM	#18
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Cat, Thanks for the kind comments. I felt it was about time I tried to give something back, I've been quietly enjoying everybody else's videos for too long now! __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

April 29th, 2008, 11:38 AM	#23
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Oliver, Vidar, John and Amelia - thanks for taking time to comment. It's heartening that I've managed to produce something that seemed to work well. I felt the best way to go about the UWOL contest was to look for a story and then construct my video. My normal habit of going out and pointing a camera randomly ends up with no structure and four months of editing! UWOL has inspired me to try to do something the right way for a change. __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

May 3rd, 2008, 05:48 AM	#24
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,342	Hi Mike. Great story and first entry. Also want to say welcome to Irland :) Just about 60 meters from my house we have a little forrest with round about 30 herons, nesting. It's a great bird and abit odd to see it sitting in the trees. Your investigating style is great, and so is your VO. Now I'm just waiting for your next entry in uwol9. All the best. Geir Inge __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

May 3rd, 2008, 02:26 PM	#25
Mike Beckett Trustee Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Antrim, Northern Ireland Posts: 1,569	Geir Inge, Thank you so much for your comments, and for the welcome. I could watch those herons all day - and to see 30 in one place of them rather than just one or two, that would be incredible. It's a bit like when I go to Australia and see flocks of Pelicans on the beach, and the locals are not at all surprised by them! I hope I will learn some lessons from this round and do things better in UWOL9. Rule #1 is now "don't keep moving the tripod around: stop panning all the time!" __________________ Irish Railway Videos on Youtube

April 28th, 2008, 11:22 AM	#17
Catherine Russell Trustee Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lyons, Colorado Posts: 1,224	Mike: I loved this! Thee cheers for the lucky UWOL hat to bring back the magnificent gray herons! That absolutely brought a smile to my face. You are bringing humor, good wildlife filming, thoughtful insights and narrating to the UWOL community. Well done! Cat

April 28th, 2008, 08:06 PM	#19
Oliver Pahlow Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Woodridge Illinois Posts: 237	Mike, Great story telling. Your narative along with the visuals is something that I need to try. Sofar I have been letting the natural sound and the music make the tone. But your narative in addition to the images and the sound set the tone. I have once again learned a technic. You have a natural talent. Regards, Oliver

April 29th, 2008, 06:11 AM	#20
Vidar Vedaa Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: bergen norway Posts: 235	Hello Mike You have some nice entery here,vo and story wery harmonic. And some greait sekvense. Nice Work!!! VJV. ______________

April 29th, 2008, 08:18 AM	#21
John Dennis Robertson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Johanesburg South Africa Posts: 217	One of the best entries for this round.Great story..great footage ..I enjoyed this one

April 29th, 2008, 10:39 AM	#22
Amelia Tanttila Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 26	Hi Mike, I'll chime in with the others and don't think I have anything really new to add. I simply enjoyed your video. The footage, VO and music all flowed so well together. My favorite shots were the robin, the rack focus at 1:49, and the heron in the tree. Thanks for sharing!! Amelia