Footage from the heart of the Mediterranean at DVinfo.net

Peter Johnsons · January 30th, 2008, 02:42 PM

This is a short a friend of mine made about a small village in a tiny island called Malta situated under Sicily. Something different from what is usually posted here.

Filmed using XH-A1 and Libec ls-38

For those downloading the actual .mov file from vimeo, please watch using VLC and choose the 16:9 aspect ratio.

http://www.vimeo.com/650298

I will be uploading a version without the blur soon.

Russ Motyko · January 30th, 2008, 02:54 PM

Love the architecture and the colors.

I don't know about the blur around the edges. Personally it didn't do it for me. Seemed somewhat cheesy. I've always figured that the way to center a viewer's attention on something was to make sure that that "something" was interesting enough to look at and to keep in mind the rule of thirds. So blurring the edges seemed somewhat of a cheap way out. However, thats just my opinion and I'm not exactly the expert on these things. You may have felt that the blur added more to the "look" that it took away.

Overall I thought it was a good piece of work.

Russ

Peter Johnsons · January 30th, 2008, 03:04 PM

I think the blur makes it look more realistic - reduce the video look. It's made mainly for TV to be used as a filler.

Dennis Murphy · January 30th, 2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Johnsons

I think the blur makes it look more realistic - reduce the video look. It's made mainly for TV to be used as a filler.

I found the blur around the edges distracting.

Cal Bickford · January 30th, 2008, 04:48 PM

great shots there peter! I have to agree with the other posters though, I didn't like the blur at all - and while i'm certainly no expert on selling footage to television I would think that the blur would make it harder to sell. Thats just my laymen's opinion though : )

Jim Miller · January 30th, 2008, 08:43 PM

Nice shots but I agree with others here that the blur is distracting. Also, the music sounds like Native American Indian chants and flutes. ????

Peter Johnsons · February 1st, 2008, 01:52 PM

Blur practically eliminated.

http://www.vimeo.com/655194

Carl Middleton · February 5th, 2008, 05:46 AM

I enjoyed it! Good architectural study of the area.

However, I have to agree with everyone that the vignette hurts - it distracted me many times throughout the video. It personally gave me the "someone with lots of filters!" feeling, not a filmic feeling your friend was going for.

That's my only real beef with the video! :) Overall I enjoyed it... and the use of the vignette to the blur transition at the end was very nice. The only spot where I like the use of the vignette.

C

Steve Kachocki · February 7th, 2008, 07:18 PM

But the shots are nice. Nice color. I love the architecture. Would make a good travel video.

I have trouble picking music as well. I get to travel to great places too and have just recently started making short videos of our travels. The music can be a tough choice that makes or breaks the piece.
iTunes is a great place to start looking for appropriate music. Even the Godfather theme would have been good in this respect.

On a side note, next time you are in that area of the world, head south to Tunisia. North Africa is beautiful countryside. Unfortunately I did not have my camera when I visited there.

Colin Reid · February 17th, 2008, 08:09 PM

I liked this, but personally would have preferred no blur. Perhaps a short piece to camera by your friend (from the balcony at the very beginning of the first shot?) would have made it even better than it is, for what I assume is a first or second attempt.

I'd like to see another sample in 12 months and see the improvements that have taken place because from this clip I am sure your friend is going to do really well.

Hope I can do as well when I head off to Europe and North Africa later this year with my XH-A1 for my first go at a travel video.

January 30th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#1
Peter Johnsons Tourist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sheffield Uk Posts: 3	Footage from the heart of the Mediterranean This is a short a friend of mine made about a small village in a tiny island called Malta situated under Sicily. Something different from what is usually posted here. Filmed using XH-A1 and Libec ls-38 For those downloading the actual .mov file from vimeo, please watch using VLC and choose the 16:9 aspect ratio. http://www.vimeo.com/650298 I will be uploading a version without the blur soon. Last edited by Peter Johnsons; January 31st, 2008 at 02:31 AM.

February 1st, 2008, 01:52 PM	#7
Peter Johnsons Tourist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sheffield Uk Posts: 3	Update Blur practically eliminated. http://www.vimeo.com/655194

February 5th, 2008, 05:46 AM	#8
Carl Middleton Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fernandina Beach, FL Posts: 562	I enjoyed it! Good architectural study of the area. However, I have to agree with everyone that the vignette hurts - it distracted me many times throughout the video. It personally gave me the "someone with lots of filters!" feeling, not a filmic feeling your friend was going for. That's my only real beef with the video! :) Overall I enjoyed it... and the use of the vignette to the blur transition at the end was very nice. The only spot where I like the use of the vignette. C __________________ Carl Middleton Whizkid Mediaworks

February 7th, 2008, 07:18 PM	#9
Steve Kachocki Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 49	Ditto on the vignette thing... But the shots are nice. Nice color. I love the architecture. Would make a good travel video. I have trouble picking music as well. I get to travel to great places too and have just recently started making short videos of our travels. The music can be a tough choice that makes or breaks the piece. iTunes is a great place to start looking for appropriate music. Even the Godfather theme would have been good in this respect. On a side note, next time you are in that area of the world, head south to Tunisia. North Africa is beautiful countryside. Unfortunately I did not have my camera when I visited there.

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January 30th, 2008, 02:54 PM	#2
Russ Motyko Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 56	Love the architecture and the colors. I don't know about the blur around the edges. Personally it didn't do it for me. Seemed somewhat cheesy. I've always figured that the way to center a viewer's attention on something was to make sure that that "something" was interesting enough to look at and to keep in mind the rule of thirds. So blurring the edges seemed somewhat of a cheap way out. However, thats just my opinion and I'm not exactly the expert on these things. You may have felt that the blur added more to the "look" that it took away. Overall I thought it was a good piece of work. Russ

January 30th, 2008, 03:04 PM	#3
Peter Johnsons Tourist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sheffield Uk Posts: 3	I think the blur makes it look more realistic - reduce the video look. It's made mainly for TV to be used as a filler.

January 30th, 2008, 04:48 PM	#5
Cal Bickford Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 157	great shots there peter! I have to agree with the other posters though, I didn't like the blur at all - and while i'm certainly no expert on selling footage to television I would think that the blur would make it harder to sell. Thats just my laymen's opinion though : )

January 30th, 2008, 08:43 PM	#6
Jim Miller Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa,Florida Posts: 236	Nice shots but I agree with others here that the blur is distracting. Also, the music sounds like Native American Indian chants and flutes. ????

February 17th, 2008, 08:09 PM	#10
Colin Reid Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 48	I liked this, but personally would have preferred no blur. Perhaps a short piece to camera by your friend (from the balcony at the very beginning of the first shot?) would have made it even better than it is, for what I assume is a first or second attempt. I'd like to see another sample in 12 months and see the improvements that have taken place because from this clip I am sure your friend is going to do really well. Hope I can do as well when I head off to Europe and North Africa later this year with my XH-A1 for my first go at a travel video.