UWOL # 16 - Mat Thompson - Highland Journeys
 

Hi guys

I hope you enjoy my little film as much as I enjoyed spending the time up there shooting it! - As usual critique is always very welcome....rip it up! :-)


http://www.uwolchallenge.com/challen...ndjourneys.mp4

Cheers
Mat

Hi Mat. It’s really difficult to “rip up” something this well crafted, but I’ll give it a go at being picky. Perhaps a bit too much slider work for a piece this length? On some of the slider shots you do a dissolve into the static shot it is cut against. I think this is done to denote a change in location but it is very effective in smoothing the transition also. On the cuts where you don’t dissolve perhaps use an ease in or ease out of the moving shot? Instead of a fade to black preceding that first low light grouse shot would a gradual ramp down in brightness be effective? Hmmm. Enough of that. I really enjoyed this. Loved the goosanders. Also, anyone that comes home with otter footage earns a gold star in my book! Very nice video.

Wow... what beautiful images you put into this piece. Especially in the beginning the color and saturation of the landscapes was marvelous. Your wildlife captures were excellent as well. Nicely edited.

I enjoyed the music as well, and your VO was very appropriate for the piece.

In all a very enjoyable 3 minutes... I wished it could have gone on longer.

Chris S.

Mat, some of the sequences seemed very polished, like a television program. Evidence of good shooting and editing. Really strong assortment of wildlife and well executed framing and camera operation throughout.

Good luck in the judging.

Mat,

Beatuifully done!

When I first watched this I thought there was one clip I would have left out, the grouse jumps up and the frame cuts its head off. However, after watching the second time I felt differently in that I'd rather have the close up than be distant and have it all and be safe!! I know all about filming grouse in the low light of dawn and I think you did a great job on the Lek!!!

I was wondering if the camera you were shooting with could allow you to adjust the gamma so that the blacks were not quite as saturated, I would have liked to see a little more detail on the cocks!!!

Your script and voice over were Top shelf!! Particularly the chatter of the martin part and the dawn of the silloutte of the grouse!!! Well conceived!!

thak you ever so much for sharing and taking the time!!

Oh yea, what is the yellow breasted bird?>?

Mat,

My God, that opening shot was beautiful! What can I say? I love Scotland.

And if I thought your scenic shots were excellent, that was nothing compared to the wildlife. The mink (was it a mink? stoat?) close-up was stunning, as was the Yellowhammer. And the deer by the Loch - man, are you heading for clichés here? Just kidding, it was wonderful.

Love the Sand Martins. We have a colony close to home here on an abandoned building site, but I couldn't work them into a film this time. I love the thought that they're flying round Africa and one day someone says "right lads, let's go to Antrim!".

The grouse sequence was lovely too, the ritual dance was almost like a Highland Jig.

Just perfect.

Hi Mat,

As always, you produce quality film! Opening sequence was a winner.
Great framing, the nice colors, the VO and music, it all made this great to watch.
Keep up your good work.

btw, The vimeo version here won't play. Said "failure to convert this video."
Not sure if it is only me, or you might have problem with it.

Mat, I tried to find something to critique per your instructions, but couldn't find a single fault!
The first shot especially, and some others here and there looked like they were shot with 35mm film. Excellent dynamic range, and I'm wondering what camera you used. Great VO & some smooth pans. I'll watch it again. BT

Wow, that's a pretty stunning 3 minutes! My only complaint is that you almost drowned out the song of the yellowhammer at the beginning. And I'm envious of you getting pine marten footage.

Very nice Mat. Good to see a film done in bonny Scotland - we need to see more of this magnificent country on UWOL! You found a wonderful selection of animals and birds while up there – all masterfully filmed.

I know I have said this before but you might like to check your black settings - I found your film quite dark compared with the rest of the entries here.

OK, I’m officially eating crow! Not only did my feeble attempt to emulate Mat’s impeccable critique technique fall well short of the mark but, I seem to have made a grievous factual error. Apparently this video has exactly the correct amount of slider work as it has achieved a subtle effect. It has got me finally off the fence. I ordered parts to build a slider today. Way to go Mat. ; )
( And I say it again- very nice video.)

Mat, congratulations for your win this round! It was, as the above comments attest, a well deserved win.

Enjoy your victory!

Chris Swanberg

Mat, what can I say except wow!

That opening scene was just breathtaking. The slider work was beautiful done. And what beautiful colors!

You also got some not so common seen species on your trip. Cool that you also got the Pine Marten in daylight, that is not very common! And the Lek was nice to watch. Quite nice scenery they was playing at! As other commented the Black Grouse was a bit too black, a black stretch could maybe help next time you are filming them. It´s not at all easy to expose them correctly if they are in a very light environment without burning out the whites.

One note on the editing: the opening music was to my taste a bit too load from 0:21 to 1:00. Wish some more ambient sound, I think I heard a Cuckoo but cause of the load music I´m not sure!

Was it a Golden Eagle or White Tailed Eagle in the end of the piece?

To Dale: believe it´s an Yellowhammer - Yellowhammer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia a very common bird at least in Northern part of Europe.


Congrats a lot Mat to a very stunning piece and to the First Price!


Edit: BTW, what kind of slider did you use in your opening shot?

Am I the only one to see the error message in the Vimeo window? It says there was a problem converting this video.

Hi Thane - Mat still hasn't sorted it, but you can see these films by going here if you wish.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/uwol-cha...temp-page.html

Same here, but I viewed it with the mp4 link.
Great stuff Mat, was that around Ardnamurchan? Think I recognised a few places as I lived there for 10 years!

Per, Sea Eagle at the end, they're just starting to become a feature in the Highlands again after nearly 100 years' absence.

As for camera, I seem to remember you've got a JVC Mat?

Keep up the good work.

Steve

Hi everyone and thanks forthe comment and critique.

RE- Camera black setup. Yes I am in the process of setting up a different recipe for shooting blacks in more of a flat way when needed.

Mike - I think you are talking about the Pine Marten. - Lots more footage of her to come :-)

Per - Indislider - A great piece of kit but very heavy and combersome. Maybe good for 1km away from vehicle with other kit on a day shoot.

Steve - Certainly is the Ardnamurchan area and what a gobsmackingly beautiful place it is, where did you live exactly. I've actually just got back from a second week up there hence why I haven't been around. Yes its shot with the JVC HD 110. 25p and 50p for the sand martins. If it just had 720/50p, a cache mode + hdmi out (for nanoflash) it would be perfect I think! - But hey for now it does the job. Many people put down the Fuji x16 lens it comes with but if you shoot within its constraints I think its vey good.

Cheers
Mat

Yes, Mat, no issues with the Fujinon in this clip. What telephoto are you using - not all with the Fujinon presumably?
I lived in Achnaha and Kilchoan at the far West of the Peninsula for many years, still get back there fairly regularly. I know you like your macro and insects, Ariundle woods is a hotspot for the Chequered Skipper as you're probably aware - their flight period must be around now is it?
Think I asked this before, but have you considered the HM700? Would probably tick all the boxes on you wish list.
Steve

Steve - Yep one of the targets this time was the Chequered Skipper, you'd never believe they were so rare. We had over 10 on one of the days. Also shot Marsh Frittilary a butterfly I've always wanted to see, what a stunner! Oh and to finish off the Lepidoptera nice shots of Bee Hawks!

I'm jealous what a fantastic place to live!

Yep I'd like the HM700. To be honest I'd rather it was tape based though. - I've been toying with a older HD201 then adding a nano down the line. It would tick all the boxes too but I don't know whether its just false economy on the whole.

Tele is a very cheap purchased Nikon 100-300 5.6. I find it sharp but colour rendition isn't great and abberations come through in some conditions. I have just bought an 80-400 (4.5-5.6) VR, this was a punt to be honest as I'm always sceptical about big zoom ranges but it seems great. Very sharp to 300mm, beyond which wind/heat shimmer and other things are all to bigger issues anyway, its colour is great and no abberations as yet seen. Oh also picked up a 300mm F4 ED....mind blowing images, but how usefull unless the subject is very 'set' I'm not sure.

All good points. And regarding tape, I think a lot of people, despite the obvious advantages, realise after using cards that the archiving is such a pain. There's a lot to be said for just whipping a tape out and sticking it on the shelf - this is why a lot of folks like the XDCam disc system, sort of best of both worlds.
I wonder if the industry will shift back to a tape a bit? Probably not, even the HDCam SR format looks like it'll steer to solid state soon (with the upgrade path for the Sony SRW9000 announced a while back).
Steve

ps, Ardnamurchan has it's downside though - it's called winter!

Mat
Nicely done, enjoyed watching
Mick

Hi guys

Well eventually I've fixed the vimeo link. I've also played with the contrast/gamma levels so you'll find a bit more detail in the blacks I think.

Cheers
Mat

Matt, I just watched your video. It was beautiful. The rolling hills and abundant wildlife in the area must make it a wonderful place to live. I think the music matched the mood of the video. Very well done and congradulations on winning. Bob