UWOL #9 Among the Prairie Bells Steve Siegel at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The DV Info Network > The UWOL Challenge

The UWOL Challenge
An organized competition for Under Water, Over Land videographers!

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old June 23rd, 2008, 03:28 PM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Posts: 839
UWOL #9 Among the Prairie Bells Steve Siegel

My vacation this year corresponded to UWOL 9. I had planned a trip to North Dakota to film Sharp-tailed Grouse and Western Grebe doing mating displays, and other birds. I was pleased to see Meryem's choice of theme. It was late in the season for the grouse, but just about right for the grebes. Despite the weather I was able to get a few quiet sunny mornings.
I have wanted to see Western Grebes doing this dance of theirs since they first appeared in an "Adventureland" episode on the old "Wonderful World of Disney" TV show back in the mid 1950's. I couldn't understand how their chins got so round, while their beaks pointed in the air, like their heads were on backwards. It took 50 years, but now I see. They just seem to be puffed out.
Sharp-tailed Grouse are one of the prairie's "chickens" that set up dancing areas called leks (that's a Norwegian word, isn't it?) each year for courtship purposes. This bird's dance is different from the more sedate booming and puffing of the Prairie Chickens, and it is thought that certain dances of native american tribes featuring circling with arms outstretched may have been modelled after it.
For bird photography, the number of species in the Dakotas can't compare to Texas or Arizona, but their visibility is superb, the singing is unmatched anywhere, once you get there, you practically have the whole state to yourself, and the bratwurst is unbeatable.
To see the video in a larger format, go here:

http://www.vimeo.com/1213325
Steve Siegel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 23rd, 2008, 03:39 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,048
Steve,

A fantastic piece of video!!!!! It is definitely in my top 4 list !!!!!! Terrific opening and closing shots. I lived the closing shot, a beautiful composition!!!! After seeing this one I should pull mine out of the list!!!!! truly awesome.
__________________
DATS ALL FOLKS
Dale W. Guthormsen
Dale Guthormsen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 23rd, 2008, 04:18 PM   #3
Trustee
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Deep South, U.S.
Posts: 1,526
What a great vacation and a wide variety of bird and other wildlife. It was nice to see the mountain bluebird male/female coloration. Much different than our eastern bluebird. I'm sure none of these great shots fell in your lap. Very nice work.
Mark Williams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 24th, 2008, 11:37 AM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lyons, Colorado
Posts: 1,224
Hi Steve:

The Grebe dance on water was amazing as was the Grouse. I don't think you could capture Prairie life in 3 minutes better than this. Very well done and impressive. Excellent narrating and informative. Rock solid camera work and great footage. Not to mention a perfect title for your piece. Awesome.

Cat
Catherine Russell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 24th, 2008, 11:49 AM   #5
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Palo Alto, California
Posts: 520
Wow Steve, I really liked your video. Kept coming up with new surprises, just when I thought you were about to get stuck. Kept my interest peaked. Really great closing shot of the wagon contraption. Said prairie all over itself.
Eric Gulbransen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 01:56 AM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vastervik ,Sweden
Posts: 639
A nice subject Steve, I liked it a lot. Good sound and nice shot of the bird. I don’t know if its you compressing or if it’s the way you plant it, but I get a feeing of 8mm film, it’s a bit “jumpy” almost like you don’t got enough frames/sec. I like you film, for me it’s one of the best this round, good subject, good VO, story and pictures, well done Steve.
Markus Nord is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 02:07 AM   #7
Trustee
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Akershus, Norway
Posts: 1,413
Steve, that was a very nice entry! The Grebe dance was stunning to watch! You have very good compositions in your film. This is one of the top entries in this round.
Keep up your good work!
__________________
- Per Johan
Per Johan Naesje is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 08:16 AM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truro, Cornwall, UK
Posts: 51
Hi Steve.

Great visuals which obviously come from a well planned trip. It looks like you reaped the rewards here.

You captured a great range of species which is exactly what this theme asked for.

Well done mate.
Peter Damerell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 02:04 PM   #9
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
Okay, this was fantastic. Steve, what was this shot with ? Camera, lens, fps, etc.?
__________________
Chris J. Barcellos
Chris Barcellos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 02:17 PM   #10
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 195
Steve, this was great. I learned something about birds in on the prairie that's for sure. Good narration and shot selection too.

As a child I always wondered if I could just move my feet fast enough I could walk on water, your footage of the Grebe proved this to be true.


Nice work!
Adrinn Chellton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 02:36 PM   #11
Major Player
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 390
Hi Steve,
Just watched the vimeo version, and waht amazes me, looking back on it, is that it's only three minutes long. It felt much longer - simply on the fact that you managed to fit so much in and tell good stories without making it feel rushed. That's talent.
Particularly loved ..... what the heck, I loved the whole thing. Spot on, man!!!
Rob Evans is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 05:19 PM   #12
Major Player
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Posts: 839
Thanks, everyone, for all the encouraging comments. I really do appreciate them.

Marcus, the "jumpiness" you noticed was probably in the grouse dancing sequence. It was shot, and edited at 30 fps. These birds began their dancing in March, and this late in the season were pretty much worn out. They would go for a few steps, stop, and go for a few steps more. I edited out the stopped time to simulate what these dances look like when the birds are truly active, and that lead to small discontinuities.

Chris, I shot this with a Canon XLH1 (hi def) with a 300mm zoom atop a really heavy Gitzo tripod and Bogen 516 head. Part of the grouse sequence was shot from a blind next to the lek, part from my car, about 30 meters away. For the tight close-ups I add a 2x Tamron teleextender, which gives an amazingly sharp image if the bird is really still, permitting careful focusing.
Steve Siegel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 26th, 2008, 07:42 PM   #13
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Southwest Idaho, USA
Posts: 3,066
What a memory you brought back. I read in your post about the Wonderful World of Disney and the clip of the Western Grebes doing their dance on the water and thought, “No way!” But then, there it was! Great to see them dancing again.

The Mountain Blue Bird shots took my breath away. Here it is Idaho’s state bird, yet I’ve only seen one in all my years, and that was from a distance. Thank you so much for giving me such a close look at this beautiful little bird and all the other prairie bells.
__________________
Lorinda
Lorinda Norton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 27th, 2008, 01:43 PM   #14
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Johannesburg South Africa
Posts: 768
Another wonderful video from you Steve. You have a neat, well-constructed story supported exceptionally well by your footage and sounds of the different bird calls. I found it interesting and informative - we’re learning so much about the wildlife living in other parts of the world this round.
One of my long-time ambitions has been to video the Great Crested Grebe swimming about with a chick on its back - now I have an added ambition - to get footage like this of their displays. I have lovely footage of the pair displaying just before mating but none of them “walking on water” as you have so beautifully shown us. This video is another one at the top this round.
Marj Atkins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old June 27th, 2008, 09:44 PM   #15
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lyons, Colorado
Posts: 1,224
Dear Steve:

Thank you so very much, my friend, for this amazing entry. Like I have explained in a few other entries, the agenda is to crank through and comment on all the films. Then after, I (and my husband) have the privilege to soak up and bask in a handful of films that simply overwhelmed me in their beauty and execution. You are on my shortlist... this is beautiful work. I am humbled by your cinematography and content. It is simply a joy and an inspiration to watch and indulge in, again.

Bless you,

Cat
Catherine Russell is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The DV Info Network > The UWOL Challenge

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:12 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network