Hi all,

At this time of year, snow, wind and waves make up the majority of movement in my neck of the world. This was shot on the south shore of Lake Ontario over 6 days. There is a shallow area where these ducks come to feed and experiencing first hand the "motion" they must endure is amazing.

Being my first entry I was a little apprehensive and I went back and forth whether I should have included a voice over. To me it was better without any narration but that could have been because I don’t do it very well as opposed to necessary to really tell the story.

It was great fun and I look forward to April, when life is a little easier weather wise.

13 UC19 motion1 on Vimeo

Hi David. This is your first time and sometimes the rules are a little hard to work out at first, so bear with us. We don’t post links to Vimeo or other larger versions until the official viewing page is posted. That way everyone gets to see all the films at the same time. Sometimes folks think Kevin’s upload list is it (I did at first). It isn’t. Kevin provides a valuable service by posting a list of the files on the server so people who have uploaded can be assured their files are there and we can all see who has finished. Mat will use those files to prepare an official viewing page for the UWOL Challenge website and post a link to it. Once that link is posted it is fair game to post your Vimeo link. The moderators may remove your premature link -but you can beat them to it and temporarily block it! ;) I look forward to watching your video at the proper time. One more thing. In future you might want to name your file something other than the theme as that can get confusing. Hang in there.

Hi David:

Again, welcome to UWOL! I haven't seen your film yet, but will comment soon. Just a reminder for next time around that you need to hold off on including a Vimeo link to a higher def version of your entry until after Kevin and Matt of a thread up with the links to the entry clips that will be in the judging. This isn't my rule, but it has been pointed out in the past by those that didn't have access to higher definition hosting that they felt slighted that comments and reviews were getting out earlier than what was possible for their own clips.

Just a heads up for next time.

Looking forward to your film, David!

Cat

Geez,

Nothing like getting off to a good start...... I blocked it.

Ah, but you have gotten off to a good start. You have submitted a film by the deadline that has met all of the requirements. It takes a round to get up to speed on all of the finer quirks about the contest. The rest of these guys are veterans and know these things already. Watch for Matt Thompson's thread that says the UWOL 19 films are up for judging. When you see that, unblock your film on Vimeo and let the good times roll!

Well I went back onto Vimeo and changed the settings from private to public but that doesn't seem to have worked. (Sure, it came down fine but getting it back up.......) Before I post another link or make another newbie UWOL blunder, anyone with advice?

Thanks and I am changing the name from Motion to "The most talked about UWOL entry never seen"

Be nice to me, it's my birthday.

Edit, right after I typed this it showed up. It's noon I'm drinking.......

Hey David!

What a grand day to have a birthday! A happy one to you too! How young? An answer of "anywhere between 9 and 90" is okay to say :).

Once again, I haven't watched your film yet (I will soon), but I tested it and it stated to play just fine. If it builds any confidence, the 2.5 seconds I've seen so far looks really good.

I'll be back with comments.

Cheers!

Cato

Hi David, Happy birthday and welcome to the uwol family!

I enjoyed watching your film. Nice choice of music. And I agree with you, no need for narration here.
Amazing how the swimming birds didn't seem to be bothered by the waves.

Well done. I look forward to your next one!

Cato - Thanks for asking! Fifty-one and it seems so much older than fifty.

Trond, I appreciate that a lot.

When does UWOL 20 start?

Very nice, David. I like the way you were able to juxtapose the movement of the water and the steadiness of the land. Very effective. Not much shake in what was obviously a high wind, too. Where was this shot? I would love to find a spot where Goldeneyes and Buffleheads fly so close in. The only suggestion I would make would be to increase your contrast a bit while you are editing. Some of the scenes, especially near the beginning are a bit washed out.

When does UWOL 20 start?
I believe Catherine mentioned April.
Signup thread will be available about a week or so before the fun begins.

Hi David:

I wanted to get to your entry on your Birthday! Nicely done, friend, what are you worried about? Your film is a nice contribution to the group. Since I have contact with the judge, as a rule my comments need to remain fairly neutral. I will say that I thought the kaleidoscopic patterns of moving ice on waves was mesmerizing and captivating and the shooting in black and white (did you? or were the whites and grays the only color that could be squeezed out of those frigid winter shots?) added to the drama and chill of your film. I liked your music choices and you did an excellent job of editing to fit motion to music. You certainly shot for the theme!

I hope you are having a wonderful birthday! You should celebrate your first UWOL entry (of many) along with being 51 years young!

Best,

Cat

Hi David,

Good filming and editing and the choice of music moved the whole piece along at a lovely pace.

Well done

Mick

Hi David. I think you had the best entry this time theme-wise. The motion is great and your editing to the music is excellent. I agree, no VO is needed for this piece. I think many of your shots were a bit flat, probably due to the challenging subject matter. Ice is tough. I think you might crush the blacks a bit and then boost the saturation or vibrance. Altogether this is a very successful first entry. Congratulations. I hope you will be back for more.

Nicely done, David. It kept my interest throughout despite what may be considered limited subject matter. I look forward to seeing more of your work.

David,

a very picturesque piece. I very much enjoyed it and the music while powerful did not seem to distract, probably because waves breaking on shores is a rather powerfully moving visual!!

Welcome aboard and I can't wait to see some of your fair weather video when it is not so painful to be out shooting (I actually know a bit about that!)

Your editing is crisp and I did not feel like I was being robbed like I am with videos where all the clips are to short by my standards

Nice job, thank you for taking the time and sharing!!

Looking forward to further entries!!!

First off, thanks to everyone for all the feedback. My anxiety level has dropped considerably from the time I put my name on the sign up thread. I really enjoyed being a part of this and can better appreciate the feedback stage of the challenge. Not only will this improve my UWOL work, but the job I do for clients also.

As you are all now aware, color grading is not my strong suit and I try and get the best from presets and as little post correction as necessary. Obviously this workflow needs improvement and this challenge has been impetus for the change.

“The only suggestion I would make would be to increase your contrast a bit while you are editing. Some of the scenes, especially near the beginning are a bit washed out.”

I tried this and it did help. Thanks

“I think many of your shots were a bit flat, probably due to the challenging subject matter. Ice is tough. I think you might crush the blacks a bit and then boost the saturation or vibrance.”

Gee, even I’m noticing a trend……

“It kept my interest throughout despite what may be considered limited subject matter”

Funny you mentioned that! I had considered using large mysterious majestic land/sea mammals, with “cute as a button” offspring, performing mating rituals along a great stretch of ocean in nice weather as subject matter. But I figured that had been way overdone and went with ducks.

I apologize, I was wrong.

I needed to get some ground level shots, close to the shore to offset the high bank I had been filming from. So the next morning I loaded everything up and went to a county park. There are parking areas but they still had over three feet of compacted snow in them so I was closer to the main road.

The only tripod I had much luck with no movement is a very large Libec that I also use for my crane and I hauled that down to the shore. Two trips later I was set. Man the weather is getting bad, the spray is even starting to hit me. Tens minutes later it’s a whiteout. Am I insane?

Yank the camera off the tripod and head for the car. Return and find out the tripod is now frozen solid to the shore. Darn. I pull on it hard enough to know any more pressure it’s going to break. Double darn.

I need the proper tools to remove it. I go home, get a shovel and ax. Return to the park. Wow, it’s really blowing now. Remove shovel, ax and tripod bag from car, close rear hatch and head for the shore. I hear a car pull up and lo and behold it’s the police.

As I look back on it and to be totally fair to the police, “profiling” was in order. I was wearing everything I could put on, including a black jacket, face mask and hat. I WAS carrying a shovel and ax and large canvas bag in weather that was unfit to be out in. Not that the police could tell, but the tripod bag technically was too small to hold a body. But then again there was that ax thing hanging from my right hand…..And even though upstate, it’s still New York.

“Sir, could you put down the ax and shovel and take two steps forward” was the command. I complied. He was standing behind the front driver’s door, right hand resting on his gun butt, obviously annoyed at having to do this but felt it was something he needed to investigate.

I thought I heard him say “suspicious person” into the radio.

(Could you see the reaction from his superiors if when notified about a mass murderer in the area he remarked, “Well I did see this guy dressed in black with a ski mask on with an ax, a shovel and canvas bag. I wonder….)

Now we are both standing by my car and he asked me to remove the ski mask and wanted me to produce some ID. He then asked me what I was doing and I explained to him about the tripod, which he had me take him to.

He then shook his head, and said incredulously “You’re out in this weather and going through all this for pictures of a duck!? It’s not like they are seals or something”.

I had considered using large mysterious majestic land/sea mammals, with “cute as a button” offspring, performing mating rituals along a great stretch of ocean in nice weather as subject matter. But I figured that had been way overdone and went with ducks.

He then shook his head, and said incredulously “You’re out in this weather and going through all this for pictures of a duck!? It’s not like they are seals or something”.

Ha! That's hilarious. Majestic sea mammals are sooo overdone, but ya know we gotta take what nature gives us ;-). Obviously that cop doesn't know that either.

There have been lots of funny behind-the-scenes stories told on UWOL but without doubt yours takes first prize for the funniest story ever!! That was absolutely hilarious!

I have the greatest admiration for all you poor people having to produce films in such adverse conditions!

Enjoyed your film very much - beautiful footage.

David,

I agree with Marge, This rates 10 as a sideline uwol story, best ever!!!

dale