UWOL #9-The Osprey-Martin Vavra

[Martin Vavra]

Well, the compression education is going to continue in "crash" mode. UWOL inspired me enough that I have decided to start an online video series the is called "Our Natural World." I am going to run it through VIMEO and my website, and am going to do a weekly 5 minute video about,well, our natural world. I am retooling and starting with the osprey video, and I just finished the VO for the second episode, and the third one is filmed. I am going to bust my but to do this every week over the summer! Who knows, maybe even beyond!

[Geir Inge]

Hi Martin.

I had to search for your video a bit. Named "seahawk" as file and "The Osprey" in the feedbacktread. Some nice clips you've got there. Maybe not so lucky with the compression but still some very uniqe clips from the diving hawk :)
In your next film, take your time to make title and ending text for the film :) Your VO is informative and you are a storyteller. I like the guitarpicking tune, but maybe you could lower the sound a bit as it would be easier to hear your VO. Also would have liked some background sound from the field. Wish you all the best and good luck.

Geir Inge

[Martin Vavra]

Thanks for the advise. The lack of credits was intentional and a personal preference. I wanted the feel of this being a segment to something bigger and not just a stand alone 3 minutes. As it turns out, that is now going to be the case, and in my retooling of this I will have an intro and credits. The music will also be brought down. The lack of background sound is due to the fact that the wind was about 40 mph that day and it was blowing my mikes out. I don't have a good enough wind screen yet to cut down that sort of wind.

[Bruce Foreman]

Hello, Martin. I, too, enjoyed this short glimpse into a day in the life of a hungry osprey.

The shots showing the bird hovering were awesome, very graceful. The de-interlaced vimeo version showed much improvement over the UWOL version.

[Martin Vavra]

Yeah, I am not happy about the fact that the compression was the one major hang up. It really bugs me to think that it could have been that one thing that would make the difference in my standings. I think I may try to to see if I can put together a compression tutorial for newbies. I had major issue with that whole thing and I would love to see someone else not have to go through all of that.

Thanks so much for the great words Bruce.

[Martin Vavra]

Well, UWOL has inspired me to reach for something bigger. So here is to something bigger for me.

I have just launched "Our Natural World", a weekly UWOL style series based on the whatever part of the natural world I can get myself into. I retooled my Osprey video (making another screw up in it along the way-figures) and launched it as episode 1 and just got episode 2 posted up. Both can be seen on my website, www.galaxysailor.com, or on my VIMEO page which is Galaxy Sailor. I have episode three filmed and will have it up by next monday with any hopes, and have started to film episode 4. Here is to a new one every week!

http://galaxysailor.com/video-sample...natural-world/

[Trond Saetre]

Hi Martin,

That was a very cool and interesting video you made!
The compression problems has been commented already, but I am sure you will get a much better quality once you get the Squeeze.
It's very easy to learn and use.

I look forward to see more of your videos. Stay with us for the future challenges!

[Martin Vavra]

Yep, I ate it on the compression, but that is now alleviated. Sorenson Squeeze is now my friend. It does make a difference, as I have replace most of my videos on my website after deinterlacing them and then running them through the Squeeze. You can check out my videos for my new series Our Natural World here and here.