have to correct myself...the groovy opening shot of the rain that i mentioned previously was shot by grant sherman for "argent"--check it out, if you're strapped for ideas and stuck in the rain, it is quite pretty....

i'll be quiet now and let someone else talk for a bit...

Hi Brian,
Yes, go for it. I would love to see your shot of some 20 pound atlantic salmon jumping out the water with the ski doo lights illuminating the water drops (my wife tells me I'm a bit of a dreamer).
It was a shame to read your other plan didn't come off - so good luck with the new one.

I went looking for some Creative Commons Christmas music and was quite pleased with what I found. Some Jingle Bells to go with Christmas lights works for me. I will be using Natalie Brown's version, but there are some more available that you might find interesting.

If anyone else is looking for Christmas music look here:

http://www.hermann-uwe.de/blog/10-10...hristmas-songs

Hi Mat,

Yes, Platypus are something different.

The echidna is quite common and relatively easy to locate - so I will keep this as another option. The problem with them is they dig into the ground as soon as they are spotted, with only their spikes visible. Not particularly interesting footage however, I may have to resort to this sort of material (thanks for the idea).

Hope your plans are working out.

I always go diving with my best friend. He is a Dive Master (like me) so I'm in good hands. The Sun sets at 4:30 pm now so we'll go down at 5:30 pm. The Water is getting clearer every day now, I guess the temp is about 7 centigrade so the thing I’m looking for should be out now. We’ll use two Xenon lights, the blueish lights on modern car. It’s 35W and got a colour temp at 5600 K and on them I got a 90 degree Lumedyle reflector. It will be bight, nearly daylight, but you’ll see that it is night.



David : PLATYPUS! I LOVE THEM… me wildlife video from Australia (that I shot I April this year) are nearly finished. I’m getting the VO recorded next week and the music are produced this mouth. I guess that the DVD will be at sale to Christmas this year. In the film I got some really nice platypus shots, a small one crawling around on a riverbed (at that time that was so little water around, just watch Davids film from UC4).
David, you could make a “hunt” video for Platypus… give your boys a flashlight each and go looking for platypus, that you got the light source in a “natural way” in the video. And if you spot one, hopefully you get the on tape, id not, too bad, but you still got a video about Platypus.

Markus Nord

I have something...
 

Well actually, such a theme and being a beginner in UWOL don't go very well together..Anyway I have been planning something and hope I can manage that. Since filming is an issue of capturing light on the media and the nights are dark out here :) it seems it will be a bit challenging.
I filmed a trial version and am content with the results but it is really difficult to work with creatures of night...but there is still some hope...

Pics from last night
 

Well, I was out downtown to capture something, most of all to do some sample test of what is possible to get into the camcorder without any other light than what is ambient.
Hmmm... to capture small species who is hiding in the shades you need some kind of a extra light source. If you are lucky you may get some footage of them in skyline in front of the city lights.

Below is some samples shoot last night from the City of Oslo. This is framegrabs from the original footage shoot at 1080/50i with the Canon XLH1. Aperture wide open and shutter speed at 1/50. Gain vary between +6 and +12. I've used the special setting LOWLT12 as described in my previous thread #75.
It's amazing to view how less noise it is even in +12 gain. I will recommend this setting to everyone who will shoot at night with the XLH1.

Pictures from top left:
- overview of the City of Oslo
- next three is Akershus Fortress
- bottom left, City Hall of Oslo
- bottom right, beautiful dock building

Very nice pictures from Oslo, PJ.
I can see by the weather forecast it's gonna be nice weather at your place this weekend, lucky you.
I will try out my idea this weekend, but I'm trying hard to find a plan b without our cat involved :)
It's a terrible weather at Sunnmore, but there may be better conditions next week and colder. Can't say I like thinking about step into the sea at this time of year. I only got a wet suit, brrrr.
I will be in Oslo (meeting) Friday and Saturday next week.
Have you tried to shoot something at Akerselva (river in Oslo)?

Geir Inge

I hear you about the weather. We are expecting a storm here in a few hours.
And I'm off to work this evening. Bringing my videocamera of course, hoping to get some good shots too.

I'll be in Oslo next weekend too. (From nov 16, to nov 20)
Maybe you, Per and I could meet if the time permits?

Would have been nice with a Norwegian uwol meeting in Oslo, Trond.
Maybe Friday evening would do?

Geir Inge, Trond,
good idea to meet next week. I'm in town myself next week, could be fun to talk!

Geir Inge, yes Akerselva is on my list, in fact I'm going to shoot something at the Mølla waterfalls tonight :-)

Edit: Friday will be fine for me, lets meet!

Geir and Per, I'm only visiting family, so I can meet up whenever you have time.
Geir, tried to send you a private message/email, but that didn't work.

Not as easy as it seems
 

Well, I've been out now for a little under a week trying to get great shots of my fantastic animal but the critters just haven't been out!!

Driving me nuts!

Oh well, not got long to start thinking of a backup idea :(

Pity really, cos I had a great one lined up.

Got mail from PJ.
I'll manage to meet you on Friday around 8pm.

As for now, our first winterstorm arrived, so I have to reconsider my plans for uwol#6, changing of plans. But it's not the first time :)

Geir Inge

got some footy tonight, but i need a lot more.

tough theme, who thought up this hideous nightmare??

hey, at least i eat my own cooking! i'm right out there, cursing, swearing and freezing with you all...well, except for brian maybe, who is in a classification of "freezing" that no one else can quite touch....

Where I plan on shooting, they have to make snow, it certainly won't happen otherwise. With any luck at all, it will be in the 70's until well past dark. I do love living in Florida. I am still waiting since what I plan on shooting doesn't start until the 12th.

I did light the fire in the fireplace the other night just for ambience. I opened the doors and windows to cool it off down to 72 degrees and then lit the fire. Very nice, but it isn't something I do very often.

ha, forget norway and nunavut, we're moving our UWOL world tour 2009 to steven's place. 72 degrees sounds pretty nice after schlepping around in the freezing cold in the dark mountains.

steven, get ready for some houseguests.

That's great. I'm looking forward to it.

Meryem,

When you live 30 minutes from Disney World, you not only outfit the house with a guest room, but you set up a Murphy bed in the office as well.

Over the last couple of years we have seen relatives we had not seen in many years. So what's a few more?

All kidding aside, there are reasons that I moved to Florida. One was Disney, one is the weather.

Well so far I've been having an unusual problem for Southern California:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/...f62e7321_o.jpg
Heavy fog up in the mountains! And an unusual problem with this board! I can't post pictures here? So I'm going to have to go with Plan B which Could be pretty boring but I've never ridden my bike at night anyway so it'll be a new challenge all around.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/...096804f8_o.jpg
Unfortunately some out of town relatives dropped in so I won't even be able to shoot till at least Monday night.

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!

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.