UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

Watch this Youtube link and not the Vimeo link on the UWOL page. The Vimeo
version is very stuttery.
A couple of months ago we got heavily into astronomy, and with our trusty reflector have
been searching the skies for planets and galaxies. That's where the idea for this abstract
film came from. Imagine you are a visitor from another galaxy, and the first place you happen
upon is a little beach on an island.....

Re: Alien Planet
 

I really liked the surreal feel of this video. The underwater footage of the surfers was amazing. I am assuming (hoping) that was shot with something like a Go Pro, rather than James filming with surfboards plowing towards him?!

The music was very effective, starting with the sci-fi style when the footage was helping us get anchored, to the up tempo feel with the surfing. The various views of water really showed the force of nature in these waves.

Imagine I am a visitor from another state and I would really enjoy that beach....

Re: Alien Planet
 

Great underwater shots and interesting sound track make this a very interesting film.

Re: Alien Planet
 

This was a great and the score fit very well to the mood of the film!

Great job of James, your son? I can just imagine how it was to get the shot at about 1:31, when the huge waves hit his back!

Note: I didn´t notice any stutter through playback of the film!

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

There was some great imagery there, and some of it was very surreal. I guess you have slowed the footage down a bit in some shots?

The transition from clouds to the underwater wave shot at .30 secs is very cool.

I hope James was wearing a hockey helmet or something when those surfers came buzzing over his head! The shot at 1.29 when the surfer passes by on the other side of the wall of water is quite extraordinary. I guess this was all done on a GoPro, I'm pretty sure I recognize those purple lens flares?

Great work, and cool music score.

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

Hi Bill,

Very nice underwater footage! That's always fascinating.

Didn't notice any playback issues.

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

This was shot entirely with the GoPro except for the second shot of the blue sky and clouds with the XHA1.
James just turned 16 so he's pretty quick, however I told him not to let the surfers get too close to him. Some of those shots the surfers were probably inches away from his outstretched hand with the camera, I made a handle for it and showed him how to hold it away with his arm in a locked position to get a steady shot. A little worried about letting him use the camera again unless he really stays clear. Most of the water shots are way slowed down, around 30% with Vegas Pro. For my playback issues I think it's just my old computers, plus I've found if I let the videos load all the way before viewing they run fine in Vimeo.

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

Hi Bill
I was also impressed by some of those shots. The waves have to make it a challenge not to mention how close you have to be with a GoPro. James shows some real talent. I enjoyed it.

Gordon

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

Hey Bill, not your typical Surf video! Spectacular shots, but I think this is a case where less may be more. I think you could trim 20-30 seconds of the repetitive shots for more impact. What a thoughtful interpretation of the theme. Amateur astronomy can be very rewarding. I wish you fair winds and clear skies.

Re: UWOL #23 - Alien Planet
 

Greetings Bill,

Well in all my born days I must have seen miles and miles it seems of surfing footage. But. Nothing ever like this. Your footage was amazing and out of this world. Never before have I seen a surfer from a sharks perspective, from under water. An amazing result. Edited together in a way that unfolded like buterfly wings. I'm impressed.