UWOL #14 "A Cycle of Nature".. Ron Chant at DVinfo.net

Ron Chant · August 3rd, 2009, 05:15 AM

This short video came about by accident; I had plans on something very different for the 14th challenge.
we are renovating our house and one of the biggest jobs was a new roof and while the roofer was taking the tiles off he came across two young Swifts tucked up in a corner of the attic,
I have known we had swifts coming to our loft every year but by now they usually would have fledged and taken off to a life of catching 20,000 insects a day

after seeking some advise from people that look after abandoned swifts my Daughter said that we should take care of them.

Swifts are amazing, beautiful birds. Supreme aerialists, they spend almost all their life in the air, and can fly up to 20,000 feet high. They feed, drink, mate and sleep on the wing, and only land to breed.

A young Swift will spend its first two or three years in constant flight before it breeds.
I made this video in our home and garden, I know the audio is bad and I should have recorded it over again but the last Sunday morning had arrived
I was told no more video, as we were all going out, it was a family get together
For my 60 birthday.

Like below
A Cycle of Nature

Mike Sims · August 3rd, 2009, 09:38 PM

Well done Ron. Both on the video and also in caring for the swifts. I like the macro shots. What lens are you using? Just a couple of thoughts- Be careful about cutting off the top of the head. Also, think about making the titles a bit larger. Nice story. I’m glad it has a happy ending.

Dale Guthormsen · August 3rd, 2009, 09:40 PM

Ron,

A good twist on the theme, I liked the wrap at the end!! If they survive you can certainly expect them back!! I lost a peregrine falcon once, and two years later it turned up in spring setting right on the edge of town. I released a Merlin falcon and it returned for 6 years and even raised families in the neighbor hood, coming to set in his favorite perch in our yar to hunt from, a greek olive. so do not be surprised when one returns!!

thanks for sharing!!!

Chris Barcellos · August 3rd, 2009, 09:53 PM

Love the variety in this film...Lot of diffent things going on..... Crickets appear to be in a bit of trouble. :) Nice job.

Rich Ryan · August 4th, 2009, 08:55 PM

Ron,

I was really getting into the sequences you shoot with the butterfly at the opening, but you pulled the rug out from under me and switched things up.

You did a nice job with the narration and cutting to yourself, it really helped tie things together.

Your opening title sequence was a little hard to read. The font choice and color on the green background were tough. I had to watch it a couple times to read it.

rich

Mihali Moore · August 5th, 2009, 03:51 AM

Rob,

A really nice 'feel-good' story. You opening shots were great and I liked the way you brought the subject in. I have swifts near me and they are fantastic to watch in flight.

My only criticism is that the shots of you narrating were not framed in the best manner and the shadow covered some of your face. Perhaps looking down the lens would have been a bit more engaging and find a place where the shadows aren't so harsh.

Hope you had a nice birthday...

Mihali

Geir Inge · August 5th, 2009, 07:25 AM

Hi Ron.
What a fine story about the birds nesting in your attic.
I agreed with Mahali about framing shots, (rule of thirds).
I think you have a great soundtrack, but at 1:43 it suddenly changes, sounding more metallic or something similar. Not a big issue, but I just wonder why?
Regards to your daughter for telling you to look after the birds and help them on the wings :)

All the best.
Geir Inge

Trond Saetre · August 5th, 2009, 02:52 PM

Hi Ron,

What an interesting video you got here.
Must have been interesting to see the birds grow up.

2nd part of the titles was hard to read for me also. (the "a film by....) Bigger fonts, or different colors would be easier to read.

Thank you for sharing.

Finn-Erik Faale · August 5th, 2009, 02:58 PM

You have an interesting and entertaining story. I will praise your natural and relaxed way of talking.

Per Johan Naesje · August 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM

Ron, a very touching piece!
Your narrating is nice and relaxed to listen to. But as Geir Inge also said, there was som change in the pitch in the middle of the piece.
Also when you filmed yourself sitting in the chair, some of your head was cut off!

Overall I liked it very much, keep up your good work, Ron!

Meryem Ersoz · August 8th, 2009, 08:53 AM

Ron unmasked! I like the way that you brought yourself into this...it's always fun to see the UWOLers integrated into their work.

Ron Chant · August 9th, 2009, 07:22 AM

Reply to your feedback,

Mike the lens I used for the close/ macro shots is one of my manual Nikons lens
70 – 210 f4 with macro, used on my Canon XL2.

Dale it must be very satisfying to fly peregrines, twenty odd years ago I kept a pair of European Eagle owls but never got to fly them.
Chris The Crickets were in trouble but the Swifts loved ‘em

Rich The opening title that was a last minute change I made it up from Apples Live Type program, I should have stopped with the original which were much the same as the end credits.

Mihali Framing/narration shots were taken on our patio, it’s shaded by some tall bamboo and palms, it was the only part of the garden that didn’t pick up too much of noise from the building work going on…. But cutting the top of my head off, there is no excuse ☺

The Norwegian crew :+)
Geir, trond, Finn, and the Per Johan, High guys, unfortunately over those few weeks the neighborhood was having a new mains water pipe laid and this week a gas main
That my excuse.
I should have recorded the voice over at night , then
Meryem the unmasking would have to be on another challenge.

August 3rd, 2009, 09:40 PM	#3
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	Ron, A good twist on the theme, I liked the wrap at the end!! If they survive you can certainly expect them back!! I lost a peregrine falcon once, and two years later it turned up in spring setting right on the edge of town. I released a Merlin falcon and it returned for 6 years and even raised families in the neighbor hood, coming to set in his favorite perch in our yar to hunt from, a greek olive. so do not be surprised when one returns!! thanks for sharing!!! __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

August 3rd, 2009, 09:53 PM	#4
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Love the variety in this film...Lot of diffent things going on..... Crickets appear to be in a bit of trouble. :) Nice job. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

August 5th, 2009, 07:25 AM	#7
Geir Inge Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Larsnes, Norway Posts: 1,342	Hi Ron. What a fine story about the birds nesting in your attic. I agreed with Mahali about framing shots, (rule of thirds). I think you have a great soundtrack, but at 1:43 it suddenly changes, sounding more metallic or something similar. Not a big issue, but I just wonder why? Regards to your daughter for telling you to look after the birds and help them on the wings :) All the best. Geir Inge __________________ Geir Inge B. Brekke Visit me at: https://vimeo.com/gibbfilm

August 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM	#10
Per Johan Naesje Trustee Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Akershus, Norway Posts: 1,413	Ron, a very touching piece! Your narrating is nice and relaxed to listen to. But as Geir Inge also said, there was som change in the pitch in the middle of the piece. Also when you filmed yourself sitting in the chair, some of your head was cut off! Overall I liked it very much, keep up your good work, Ron! __________________ - Per Johan

August 9th, 2009, 07:22 AM	#12
Ron Chant Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West-London - England Posts: 125	Reply to your feedback, Mike the lens I used for the close/ macro shots is one of my manual Nikons lens 70 – 210 f4 with macro, used on my Canon XL2. Dale it must be very satisfying to fly peregrines, twenty odd years ago I kept a pair of European Eagle owls but never got to fly them. Chris The Crickets were in trouble but the Swifts loved ‘em Rich The opening title that was a last minute change I made it up from Apples Live Type program, I should have stopped with the original which were much the same as the end credits. Mihali Framing/narration shots were taken on our patio, it’s shaded by some tall bamboo and palms, it was the only part of the garden that didn’t pick up too much of noise from the building work going on…. But cutting the top of my head off, there is no excuse ☺ The Norwegian crew :+) Geir, trond, Finn, and the Per Johan, High guys, unfortunately over those few weeks the neighborhood was having a new mains water pipe laid and this week a gas main That my excuse. I should have recorded the voice over at night , then Meryem the unmasking would have to be on another challenge. __________________ <')))>{

August 3rd, 2009, 05:15 AM	#1
Ron Chant Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: West-London - England Posts: 125	UWOL #14 "A Cycle of Nature".. Ron Chant This short video came about by accident; I had plans on something very different for the 14th challenge. we are renovating our house and one of the biggest jobs was a new roof and while the roofer was taking the tiles off he came across two young Swifts tucked up in a corner of the attic, I have known we had swifts coming to our loft every year but by now they usually would have fledged and taken off to a life of catching 20,000 insects a day after seeking some advise from people that look after abandoned swifts my Daughter said that we should take care of them. Swifts are amazing, beautiful birds. Supreme aerialists, they spend almost all their life in the air, and can fly up to 20,000 feet high. They feed, drink, mate and sleep on the wing, and only land to breed. A young Swift will spend its first two or three years in constant flight before it breeds. I made this video in our home and garden, I know the audio is bad and I should have recorded it over again but the last Sunday morning had arrived I was told no more video, as we were all going out, it was a family get together For my 60 birthday. Like below A Cycle of Nature __________________ <')))>{

August 3rd, 2009, 09:38 PM	#2
Mike Sims Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 880	Well done Ron. Both on the video and also in caring for the swifts. I like the macro shots. What lens are you using? Just a couple of thoughts- Be careful about cutting off the top of the head. Also, think about making the titles a bit larger. Nice story. I’m glad it has a happy ending.

August 4th, 2009, 08:55 PM	#5
Rich Ryan Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pleasanton, CA Posts: 127	Ron, I was really getting into the sequences you shoot with the butterfly at the opening, but you pulled the rug out from under me and switched things up. You did a nice job with the narration and cutting to yourself, it really helped tie things together. Your opening title sequence was a little hard to read. The font choice and color on the green background were tough. I had to watch it a couple times to read it. rich

August 5th, 2009, 03:51 AM	#6
Mihali Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bristol Posts: 92	Rob, A really nice 'feel-good' story. You opening shots were great and I liked the way you brought the subject in. I have swifts near me and they are fantastic to watch in flight. My only criticism is that the shots of you narrating were not framed in the best manner and the shadow covered some of your face. Perhaps looking down the lens would have been a bit more engaging and find a place where the shadows aren't so harsh. Hope you had a nice birthday... Mihali

August 5th, 2009, 02:52 PM	#8
Trond Saetre Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 3,375	Hi Ron, What an interesting video you got here. Must have been interesting to see the birds grow up. 2nd part of the titles was hard to read for me also. (the "a film by....) Bigger fonts, or different colors would be easier to read. Thank you for sharing.

August 5th, 2009, 02:58 PM	#9
Finn-Erik Faale Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porsgrunn Norway Posts: 280	You have an interesting and entertaining story. I will praise your natural and relaxed way of talking.

August 8th, 2009, 08:53 AM	#11
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	Ron unmasked! I like the way that you brought yourself into this...it's always fun to see the UWOLers integrated into their work.