Chris, maybe the fog interfear with your plans, but fog at night can give some interesting light and shapes out in the terrain.

I'd love to have fog for my plan B idea!

It killed my plan, but it might still help out with Plan C! The ocean gets lit pretty well from the fog/ city light reflections.

Well, I've been shooting for 3 nights now and this gonna be something totally different from what you guys have seen from me in previous entries!
My plan A is developing well, lucky me when I read what others are struggling with.

Well my riverside caravanning did not eventuate, as I spent the whole weekend in hospital visiting my sister.

This coming weekend is also out for me, as I will be in Queensland (not back until 21st) - so, unless I find something nice (of a reasonable standard) in the next few nights, it looks like I will be in the tank.

I really would like to submit something - but I guess sometimes it just doesn't work out. Maybe the local suburban pond has some light I can use....?

It's looking suspiciously like I'll be there with you fighting off those sharks David. Sorry to hear about your Sister.

David,

Hope your sister is doing well. There's nothing more important than family.

Mat,

Hope everything comes through for you so you can keep from getting your feet wet!

I laid down the music for yet another idea last night. Have about 10 seconds of footage so far. Still need allot of stuff to fall into place to keep me out of the thank as well.

Hi Mat & Kevin,

Thanks for your caring words. Yes a bit of a shock - a heart attack at age 43!

Anyway, she got through it and has her operation today. Things could have been worse I guess.

Hang in there Mat. Still some time for a seasoned player like yourself to come through with the goods. Good luck to you too Kevin - we haven't seen your magic for a while!

David, No age is right or good for that. But the fact that she made it through and then had surgery is a good sign as I read it.

Best wishes for a speedy and successful recovery for her.

Woah....that is tough going David, but I'm glad to hear she's doing well fella.

Well I've officially been let down by my collaborator today after over a week of emails...wish I hadn't bothered as its just put me off really. I have another plan now, funny little idea but fun if it works.....if not its the sharks for me.....gulp!

Sorry to hear about your sister David. Best wishes that she will recover 100%.

Just a little report from the west coast.
I always start very enthusiastic about this uwol challenge. But it seems I have to struggle against the weather conditions each time.
Maybe I'll move to Florida, Steven said something about nice weather.
For now it's just been heavy rain and we've had our first winter storm.
I have to change my plan, maybe I'll use my original idea next year.
Did some shoting yesterday though in between some heavy rainstorms and even some shots on board a ferry. Got no pictures to show though and I'm not sure it was all that good shooting either.
Just have to keep on digging for something overwhelming, you'll never know when to hit a great shot :)

Geir Inge

Best wishes to your sister, David...your post inspired a long-overdue phone call to my brother. Better not to take your people for granted....

My daughter and I lit a campfire tonight in our backyard chimenea...didn't shoot any of it, though. Sometimes you just have to let the marshmallows be marshmallows....

Thanks for all your lovely and caring thoughts.

Just had a call and the operation was a great success. My sister is really excited/positive about the future.

The UWOL Community really does have the loveliest people.

My boys and I have just started to clean the swimming pool and I hear a few frogs (somewhere). Maybe I can capture something tonight and get a last minute entry in.

All the best.....to the best

That's great to hear the operation your sister had was a success David, i wish her a speedy recovery.
That's also great to hear that you may well be able to stay out of the shark tank. I'm a big fan of your work, & would miss not seeing an entry of yours this time around!
Best of luck with the frogs,
Bryce

David, good to hear that your sister is getting better. To bad about your camping trip, maybe the frog will do it for you, or maybe head out to a creek and se if a Platypus are swimming by (Please, make a Platypus video… please…)

My dive last week didn’t go so well. Next time I maybe change the battery in the monitor before they run out! (DUMB ASS!!!) And the on land filming didn’t record any sound, so I need to do everything one more time (I hope my friend still got some time of a night for a new night dive.). Un till then… cheers from Sweden

Markus Nord

Thanks Bryce & Markus,

Lovely to hear from you both.

Well I'm just loading the preset (LOWLITE I think Per called it) into the XL H1 and my boys are busy sneaking up on some early croakers (it's still light here). Part of the plan is to at least capture one frog - but I am not sure. Sneaky little things these pool frogs. My wife is also getting ready with the torches (taping them to some light stands). So it's a real family affair - which is great.

Thanks Per for the preset and also the link which gives some low light hints. Your a great help - as always.

Markus, it sounds like your having a few challenging times getting your entry together. Hang in there and good luck to you too Bryce. I am really looking forward to seeing how you both manage this challenging theme.

Oops, better get going, I think the boys have a frog cornered!

David,

Great news about your sister!

Make sure you take some time now for you!

My father had a heart attack and bypass surgery several years back and I can tell you, it takes a toll on the family as well with all the stress that's involved.

Maybe some night filming is just what the doctor would order for you! :)

By the sounds of it its already becoming a family event :-), which is great. Shows just how many people this thing called uwol is effecting!

My dive last week didn’t go so well. Next time I maybe change the battery in the monitor before they run out! (DUMB ASS!!!)

oh my gosh, you ran out of batteries, markus?? that's never happened to me!

i've never ever ever:

forgot the tripod plate
thought i was pushing "stop" when i was pushing "start" or vice-versa
run out of batteries
forgot the batteries altogether
brought the wrong batteries
run out of fuses for my light kit

fortunately, none of these things ever happen to me, and every shoot is a fabulous success, entirely free of stupid moves...


hm, i must be talking about some OTHER video producer!

lotsa "woe" in this business/hobby...the other night, yes night, there was a fox in my front yard, and he was practically striking a pose for me in the porch light. did i even have camera in my house? no not a one! i have four cameras in my arsenal, and they were all at work.

sometimes the magical encounters with wildlife just have to be magical encounters with wildlife.

sometimes i think shooting video is more like fishing than any other activity--there are always the ones that got away.....

david, we are all glad to hear things are going well for your sister.

since i am a 43-year old younger sister to an older bro myself, i'm very glad! strikes a nerve here...

A fox in your back yard, Meryem, and you didn't even have one camera?
That's bad luck. "The fox on a hunting mission at night". Would have been a cool video.
I haven't left the house without my camera the last week. Can't miss that one opportunity, which usually happens when you don't have a camera.
(Of course that didn't show up since I had the camera with me).
I even bring my video gear to work, haha.


David, all the best for your sister.
Hope she recovers well and soon.

And to everyone, GOOD LUCK!
This is the toughest theme I have ever experienced. No wonder it is called a challenge.

oh my gosh, you ran out of batteries, markus?? that's never happened to me!

i've never ever ever:

forgot the tripod plate
thought i was pushing "stop" when i was pushing "start" or vice-versa
run out of batteries
forgot the batteries altogether
brought the wrong batteries
run out of fuses for my light kit

fortunately, none of these things ever happen to me, and every shoot is a fabulous success, entirely free of stupid moves...


hm, i must be talking about some OTHER video producer!

The thing is that I started the dive and it takes about 1 hour to prepare for the dive with everything and my dive buddy was in the water and during a shot for a Pipefish the battery runs out in the UW monitor. So now I got 1 hour dive without know what I'm filming or abort the dive and head home after 5 minutes in the water... I ended up filming without a clue of what I was filming and of course, every shot came out like crap!

During my time in Thailand I did everything except flooding my camera. I can tell you that, if you start the dive and swim quickly down to 30 m (about 100 feet), just to get as much time as possible at that depth and turn you camera on, and you realize that you forgot to change the battery or turn the camera on in side the housing (in may old housing I needed to turn the camera on before closing the housing) you get really upset. Because you know that you got 5-10 paying costumer in the water that want that film and you need to get up to the dive boat, turn the camera on and then back in the water and hunt the group up again to get the shots… that aren’t fun!

I have forgot stuff a couple time but as log as you are in land that ok, but when your in water you really feel like crap (-“do I need to take al my F*****G gear of just for a battery?”). I guess that’s probably the same thing if you are high up in a mountain or deep in a forest…

Anyway, next time I hope I won’t forget the battery…

On my way to work this night (12pm) I must cross a mountain and suddenly a bird flew right infront of my car to a tree close to the road. It was an owl. I stopped and grabbed my camera trying to get some "night owl" on tape. But it flew away before I even got to get the camera out of my car. Now I'm heading for the harbour in a little fishing village (Fosnavaag) where I'm stationed. Not far from the island of Puffins, Runde.

Geir Inge

Last Sunday the clouds scattered a little. So I went to the coast in the evening. But it was completely black, there was no moon. I thought about going on a boat with the fishermen but I easily get seasick, not a good idea.
Yesterday the sky was almost completely blue so after work I went up to the roof of my building. I could see a few stars but no moon. I looked in every direction but she was not there.
I don't think the moon can disappear like that. So I am asking:

WHO STOLE THE MOON?

It's there. I shot it setting tonight. It set soon after sunset though so you have to be quick.

WHO STOLE THE MOON?
The moon has been hiding behind the sun recently :-)
But these days it will be more and more visible, as it's new moon (or what you call it!?).
By the end of this week it has grown to half, deadline for this Challenge is not before monday, hint, hint...

By the end of this week it has grown to half, deadline for this Challenge is not before monday, hint, hint...

Yes but the clouds will be back by Thursday. And the night falls when I am still at work. I don't think I will catch her in time.

When I think I wanted to do this challenge to shoot in the mountains or by the sea. Well, scrap this and that!

Hey, I just saw her when waiting for the bus after work. Mmmmh, maybe I will bring the camera with me tomorrow...

don't forget, NIGHT can still be shot before sun-up and after sun-down--there's still a lot of light during those times, for those of you just learning. in fact, you can get a lot of light in the camera and makes some really unique and beautiful images. think of it as late (or early) magic hour and see what you can do with dramatic blacks, blues, purples, silhouetting, etc.

Can't believe I've actually got an entry in the editing software!
The frog idea failed miserably however, my wife saw a possum in the trees next door yesterday, whilst hanging out the washing. This led to a lengthy stint sitting on our roof last night (with torches and a camping gas light). I hate to think what the neighbours are thinking. All I see is the neighbours curtains slowly closing as I look around.
I need a couple of final shots tonight to finish it off - but very pleased with what I have.
Gee, the UWOL thing is making me do things I didn't think I would ever contemplate. Think I might chap a few doors tonight and try and explain what the hell I am up to.
Hope all your plans are working out.

Hey Meryem,

Send me a tee shirt... just uploaded...:)

I hate to think what the neighbours are thinking. All I see is the neighbours curtains slowly closing as I look around.
Hi, hi, welcome into the club David ;-)

Chris, congrats to you, I think you are the first which has going through all six rounds! Can't wait to view yours and the other entries... ...mine is half to finish shooting, so I have a lot of work to do left.

With all I hear you guys are talking about doing here, I'm sure some great stuff is to come. I wish I had more time for this, but some other things have come up so I had to wrap early !

I have the first version completed now.
Still feel "something" is missing, so I might try to add something later.
I always end up making several changes/different versions of the video before I am happy with the result.

Hi Trond,
I might be able to show you a sample of my version when we meet in Oslo Friday, stay tuned....
Looking forward to our meeting!

Hey David,
That's great to hear you got some footage of some possums, i too have some possum footage to work with. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. I went out tonight, & just missed getting some footage of a Boobook owl. Just got the camera set up & hit record as it flew away. BUMMER!! That was what i have been trying for all this time, so close, & yet so far! Oh well, i have one more night of shooting, then i have to get something together. I am heading up to Brisbane on the weekend for my daughters 18th birthday so won't be editing anything over that time. Might just have time monday night to put any finishing touch's to my entry before uploading.

Best of luck to all,

Bryce

Hi Bryce,
I really feel for you missing out on the Boobook Owl - that would have been a great shot. However, it sounds like the possums have helped us both.
I had my father up on the roof with me tonight and we sat there for hours - with not a hint of a possum! So I have decided to give it one last chance tomorrow night before I also head up to Queensland on Friday for the weekend. I've decided to head back Sunday night, so I might also have one last night before the upload.
I am looking forward to seeing your possum shots. Mine are a bit too grainy as I had the gain set a bit too high. I now have 10m of component cable coming out the back of my camera, then in the bedroom window, then straight into the high def 42 inch TV on the wall. With this setup, I can adjust the controls on the camera and my wife shouts out when it is the sharpest picture - for the available light. Now I just need that possum to come back!
Good luck to you with your entry and have a wonderful weekend with your family.

nice work, chris....our first player to complete all six UWOL films this year. that's a great achievement.

you'll have to settle for a pat on the back, for the moment, chris, our t-shirts are a work-in-progress, but you'll get yours...meanwhile, shoot me an e-mail with your mailing address, and i'll fire up a mailing list for our Year One Hall-of-Fame players!

and nice work in staying out of the tank, david. it ain't over until it's over!

Even if I stay up every night, I have not got very much useful shots on tape yet. My first idea was to film an old Norwegian folk legend, called "Draugen". All was set but sorry, the weather stopped me from doing the required scenes, not just my planned scenes by the seaside but also in the sea (read; wet suit). The story should be well suited for a theme like "Night", but I guess I can use it on some other occasion later in the uwol process. If I'm right I think Meryem will host up some great themes in the future too :)
So now I'm playing around with another idea that involves salmon. I did my first shot last night onboard a ship and will be shooting some more scenes tonight. Friday and Saturday I will be in Oslo for a meeting so that leaves me with Sunday and Monday to edit and finish my contribution. You may ask; Why salmon? Well, I'm not very much into sharks ;)
One thing I'm looking forward to is to meet Per Johan and Trond, Friday evening in Oslo.

Per Johan/Trond:
Showroom is booked to 8pm.

OK, by for now.
Geir Inge

nice work, chris....our first player to complete all six UWOL films this year. that's a great achievement.

you'll have to settle for a pat on the back, for the moment, chris, our t-shirts are a work-in-progress, but you'll get yours...meanwhile, shoot me an e-mail with your mailing address, and i'll fire up a mailing list for our Year One Hall-of-Fame players!

and nice work in staying out of the tank, david. it ain't over until it's over!

Meryem:

Thank you for the pat on the back.... and the work you put into making this Challenge a reality.... Will send address by email.... Had a lot of fun this first year, not having had a lick of experience with nature videography, I can say it was truly a very educational experience for me-- and a very positive support system from all here.

Well, here I go again. Got my shot lined up for this week end and my A1U crashed again. This time the video. Vertical purple and black lines in display and recored video Maybe they will not show up in the dark. So I'm out of the fun again. Wonder how may weeks It will take Sony this time?

Time to Chistmas shop for a FX7 or V1U (I wish).

I look forward to viewing your entries.

Maybe next time.

dagnabbit--i jumped the gun! sorry, chris, upon further review, the first free t-shirt was already won by bruce "quick-draw" foreman! congratulations, quick-draw, no one can out-gun you in the speed-video category.

congrats, bruce. feel free to stick your tongue out at chris and give him the ol' "nyah-nyah"....

...and enjoy the bragging rights!

just a friendly ribbing, chris. anyone who finishes six of these a year is a total rock star!

the t-shirt contender list redux...

Geir Inge
Gordon Hoffman
Brian Mckay
Mat Thompson
Bruce Foreman
Chris Barcellos
Per Johan
Ruth Happel
Dale Guthormsen

who will survive this NIGHT Challenge, mwhahahaha....

and Victor, my friend, we need to pass the hat and get you a camera!

Bruce: I thought I had you beat man..... That was just like my fantasy football this week, the league was misreporting my score, and I thought I won.....

Well, Bruce is on a roll, what can we say......congrats.

This is the most challenging and exiting of all 6 uwol for me.
I'm not sure yet if I'll manage to deliver my contribution. This night I had a deal to film onboard a boat, but it will not arrive before daytime.
Just trying to twist my brain for some "in a hurry" ideas so that I can be one of the few lucky ones to carry one of those uwol T-shirt.
Still some days left before deadline, so where there's life - there's hope I guess.
I've got about 30 min on tape, but none of the scenes seems to fit together, hmm...

Geir Inge

congrats, bruce. feel free to stick your tongue out at chris and give him the ol' "nyah-nyah"....



Can't do that. I may need to ask him for more help on the HV20.



just a friendly ribbing, chris. anyone who finishes six of these a year is a total rock star!



More like "persistent old cuss" or something like that.

Bruce: I thought I had you beat man..... That was just like my fantasy football this week, the league was misreporting my score, and I thought I won.....


Does that mean there's a tee shirt for this too?



Well, Bruce is on a roll, what can we say......congrats.

You might ought to wait till you see the film before you talk about me being on a roll...Well...

...We almost got rolled around by Ma Nature the night we set up with lights and all to shoot the film. One bodacious cold front blew in and the winds kept blowing equipment over and you can hear the metal roof on a canopy nearby sounding like it's going to come apart.

I actually lost a light that night, reflector crumpled and mangled, socket came apart (we wrapped it in tape to continue using it) and the only parts that survived were the light stand and the bulb.

But the fun we had was worth it.

I managed to get Plan C finished and uploaded. Almost bailed but I figured since I signed up I'd get something done... It's certainly not good, I only had today to work on it at all so it's not CC'd or worked at all and grainy as hell since I had to shoot it all at high gain. Waited till 1/2 hour after sunset but it still looks light in a couple shots.

nice work, chris, this was a tough one for sure, and it seems to be knocking even experienced shooters flat on their backs...kinda makes you appreciate that big yellow ball in the sky and our hopeless addiction to it...

don't worry, the next theme will be a cream puff...after looking around at all of all of the flattened bodies littering the field this round.

it's a Challenge, all right!

I have a huge ski trip at the end of March... Hint hint...

So far I have a lot of really great footage of pure blackness!!! Argh, this is hard when it's pitch black at night and you don't want snowy, grainy footage of dirt. Some of what I am hoping to shoot would eat or attack me if I don't see it first, tee hee....

yea - plenty of pure blackness. I'll throw a few seconds up tonight - it doesn't look funny but it made me laugh

I'm off to try for some moon on the water tonight and if that fails I'll be enticing possums out of the trees with fruit.

not giving up yet