UWOL #14: "The Gazebo" - by Victor Wilcox
 

Texas has been suffering from its worst drought in 50 year. That and triple digit temperatures have made things tough for the local wildlife. Sounds like the start of a good weather cycle theme.

OK, here come the excuses again. My backs still keeping me from getting very far, so this one was shot in the yard where I work. The little pond, next to a gazebo, is a great cool spot in our little green zone. Naturally none of the wildlife was thirsty, when I was not working, except for some amorous dragonflies. Now that could be a cycle.

In any event, this video makes it look cool outside. Just wish it was.

I forgot to include a link the HD verion of "The Gazebo".

Wilcox Video Productions - UWOL Challenges

Hi Victor,
Is it hot enough yet? Boy I hope so! You have a nice oasis there. Great shots of the crimson darners. I’ll bet you have lots of things coming in to drink at night. They’ve just made refilling outside water features illegal (for now) around here- even with non-potable water. I have to sneak water out to the birdbath and could catch a hefty fine for doing so. Sure hope this blasted drought breaks soon. Nice work.

Victor, like you I had to stay in my home yard, due to health. But you know what. There is always something out there. Some great shots !

Victor,


there were some terrific images. The dragon fly was spectacular!!! The pan to the left seemed shakey, but I have seen that be caused by compression the odd time.

You would never know you were in a drought.

Boy did that frog set still, eh?

Nice job!!!!

Thanks for the kind words. I can't blame all the jerkiness on compression. I forgot my trusty rubber band.

what gorgeous dragonfly footage...not sure that the images carried the theme, without the text, but still very pretty...

hope your wife's leg is recovered...

Victor,

Some really nice footage. I especially enjoyed the dragonfly sequences. I got a little laugh from the "wildlife" getting relief and the first wildlife we see is a ceramic frog (-:

The music selection fit the video very well.

rich

Hi Victor,

Nice little set up you have there! I liked your dragonfly shots very much. Perhaps another shot from the other side would have been nice? As the others have said, a shame about the little shake on the pan. Good choice of music.

Mihali

Hi Victor.
Love your dragonfly footage.
At around 1:23 when it liftes it's head, how I sooo wish I could see it's front face :)
Just a word about looking-room/rule of thirds.
I think it is at :30, even if it's "only" a frog figure, I think it needs a little space/room in front. Or it's like it is banging its head against the left side. I think this clip could work fine with the frog figure out of focus, and instead focusing on the water in the background.

All the best.
Geir Inge

I love the dragonfly sequences- I've tried this myself, not the great sucess you had, very hard to do.
I guess you know the subject, and where patient to let the camera sit aimed at it's landing spot.

I am also a frog person, and have lots of these statues at home, but never thought to incorporae them, into anything I've done, cool idea.

If my wife sees this video, she will have me build a gazebo, next to the new pond and water fall, she is putting in. I have enough to do, on the "honeydo" list, lol.

What has impressed me the most by this round, is the fact that quite a few of the entries where filmed without leaving home, and they are all great, as you have total control of the area, and your imagination takes off, and you "see" the area in a different light/perspective.

Hi Victor,

WOW to the dragonfly shots! Those were stunning!
To see it from the front would have been awesome, but as it was... very very good!

In the clip beginning at 1:33, maybe it would have been an idea to cut from the wide shot directly to the close up, or to the last part of the "zoom in" to avoid all the small framing corrections before you zoomed in?

Well done! I enjoyed every second.

I think you have made an evocative video from your home area. The shots of dragonfly are beautiful.

Victor,
much have been said to your film already. I especially liked the dragonfly. Wow they was mating too, how could they in front of an audience :-)
I sat waiting for a real close-up of the action and when you start to zoom, I said yes... ...and then they fly away :-(

OK, you had some nice sequences there, think most of the pans was really nice. A couple of blow out pictures, but overall a niece piece, Victor!

Victor,
Nice pan from the small waterfall to the marginal plants but the cream was the various shots from wide to close of the Devils Horse/Dragonfly plus a short mating shot.
did you know that a few million years ago some of these insects had a three foot wing span.

It would be nice to have a bit of your hot weather here in the UK
we’ve had so much rain over the last three summers we are now growing webbed feet.