Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Beats me, Cat, but I suspect it has a lot more to do with the subject and almost nothing to do with the guy behind the camera. I’m still pretty excited about that footage although it’s probably nothing exciting to look at. I can’t say more yet without revealing too much.

I really like CS5. It was a big step up for me from CS2. I had to build a new computer to run it and, although that wasn’t hard, I had more hiccups with the new hardware than I ever did with the software. There are only two things I don’t like. First, CS5.0 came with Soundbooth instead of Audition and it’s pretty cheesy in comparison. Second, they intend to extort a further $400 from me to upgrade to CS5.5- I find that seriously irritating. At least it comes with Audition…

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Hi Steve:

I'm a Mac gal through and through. I have and use the Apple products like FCP, etc. but I'm an After Effects gal as well. AE is where my heart is. But of course, AE isn't sold anymore as a stand alone but is bundled in with all of the CS products. Adobe makes lots of money that way! So upgrading the Mac, means upgrading all the software that can run only on the Intel version of Mac and being forced to buy stuff I wouldn't otherwise buy. Ah, we live in a monopoly world n'est pas?

How's your new camera working out? Nice to have you pop in on the forum!

Hey Mike:

This is good info, thank you! As far as your suspicion that the interest has nothing to do with what's behind the camera, I think I will beg to differ on that one. I don't think us ladies are willing to crawl through the mud for just anyone! :)

I've said before that this is turning out to be the year for raptors here. It turns out that now a Bald Eagle pair have a nest in a cottonwood not far from our house. I'm hoping to attempt some footage later this week if I can. I'll keep you all posted!

Steve, I need you here for filming the female Northern Harrier who is still here! She is always in motion!

Cat

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

That’s exciting news about the eagles Catherine! I look forward to seeing some footage. Also, around here, areas which are frequented by Harriers by day generally have Short-eared Owls by night. They become active around dusk. It might be worth a look…

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Good afternoon,

Well, I pretty much have a rap on it!! Being it is only 3 minutes I had to cut out all kinds of nice footage I would have liked to use.

Holding to Cats Challenge, I think this is likly the nicest piece I have put together.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

I’m not through yet, but I can see light at the end of the tunnel! (Time is running out- got to get the last of these light jokes in now.) I’ve used the whole three minutes and let the credits run longer, as is allowed. The credits are an animation and I just hope our judge knows it’s OK…

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Well, I've finished my exam and been out trying to get my script on tape.
Dale: there's a word I've seen been used by you, is it "darn"?
I'm not sure what it meens, but I think it fits my need of using it right now.
I have until tomorrow morning to get some last scenes on tape, but will I manage to do so, that's the big question?
Then I have to edit the hole crap and get it uploaded.
I've had snow, wind, rain and sunshine, so the weather is there, allright.
Still I have to get my object on tape. So far it's been mostly seagulls and it's not what I'm after.
Then yesterday I noticed that when I use the original lens (I have an Canon XLH1 camera) when focusing, the picture some kind of "goes" from side to side before it stands still. Maybe there is something wrong with the camera or the lens? Anybody have the same experience?
Hope all of you have been lucky and I'm longing to see your videos :)

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Geir,

Few thoughts,

Set the flange setting Page 26 in manual)

Make sure image stabilaization is off.

Also, is it the view finder? if you have a fu 1000, pull it off and try the original and see.

I saw that a couple years back and do not remember what it was about. If your view finder is at fault I have a spare color one I could loan you.

Edit, I remembered, I had a fall in the snow banged down breaking the tripod head and also damaging the viewfinder. I no longer carry them attached over the shoulder!!


dale

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Thank you Dale. I'll check it out tomorrow, now it's midnight over here :)
Hope you're doing well and I'm looking forward to see your contribution to this round of uwol.
I'll give a sign if it works.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Dale,
I know exactly what you are talking about. Some years ago I was carrying my Canon L2 (remember that one?) over my shoulder on a tripod when I felt the weight go away and heard a crash. It was smashed into a million little pieces. Since then I always anchor my camcorder with two screws, and attach the whole thing to the arm of the tripod with a short bungee cord. Can't wait to see what you have got this time.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Steve, Dale- Have you guys seen this?
Duckbill Outdoors | Heavy Optics Carrier (SPOC)
It looks interesting. Sounds like Geir Inge's problem is specific to that lens.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Hi guys:

Well, I found the Bald Eagle nest and the Eagles I mentioned earlier in this thread. :) The female is sitting on the nest and the male just sits in a tree :). That's the good news.

The bad news is the female/nest are way out of film range (for my gear anyway), and although the male was much more accommodating he was still a little too out of my focus range this time. Lots of footage, just none of it that once in a lifetime shot that's worth sharing. Better luck next time, maybe!

Congrats on finishing your exams, Geir!

Chatting about carrying cameras on tripods over shoulders and losing the camera makes my skin crawl. Earlier this Fall, my husband and I had to film ourselves climbing for a State Parks video and the only choice was to anchor the tripod at the top of the climb and hang the camera facing down over the side of the rock wall. I shudder to even think about it!

Cat

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Mike,

thanks for the link, I will look into that.

My tripod is 15 pounds, camera set up 22 pounds, was wondering if that system was ment for so much weight.

It is not conducive to humping around the country to be honest.

I use the sony fx 1000 rig, about 6 pounds and my gitzo 1380 tripod, about 12 pounds which is a lot easier, but you have to hunt your game and stalk and get close with only the 20x zoom!!! If I need the blimp and shotgun mick that adds another couple few pounds.

Filming wildlife is easy, When it all goes according to plan!!! LOL!!!


dale

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Hi Mike:

Just read your post about the credits going over 3 minutes. No problem. Our judge will know what's acceptable on our forum and knows to "lighten" up on judging negatively any films over 3 minutes due to credits.

Okay, that was a bad light joke:-/, but the info is true.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Thanks Cat. Too bad about that nest. The first couple of days after the young leave the nest they are still pretty poor flyers and stay close to the ground. They are somewhat approachable then and the parents will be coming to feed. You might still be able to get some shots.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Cat,

If all I was to use was "that once in a lifetime shot" I would never have much to show!!!

Persoanlly I think good behavioral footage, good comps and unusual are all great.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Cat,

Trade ya a Bald Eagle for a Goshawk. Last year we had an eagle nest 30 feet from a major road. Every morning people would line up to watch on their way to school or work. The city finally had to put up a makeshift fence to deter those photographers who think they just have to go up to the tree trunk to get their pictures.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

I’m about 48 hours into my regularly scheduled battle with compression. Usually I have to compress about a dozen times to get a file that fits the size limit and is free of any major compression artifacts. I’m well over twice that this time. I have a file with only one artifact in the credits. Unfortunately it is on the main title. I will upload that file if I can’t get something better today. I really dread this part because it is so frustrating. I think the most frustrating part is that the artifacts are never in the same place twice and are completely unpredictable. I’m glad some of you are finished and I hope the rest are faring better than my last couple of days.

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Yes! I finally got one to render properly. Not sure if it was persistence or obstinance. Now to upload.

Geir Inge, did you solve your lens problem?

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Edit complete - last minute as usual - SOP.
Rendering - 7:29 PM HST.
Will upload to UWOL.com ASAP

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Hey Dale: If you call "good behavioral footage" the Eagle just sitting in the tree doing nothing, I got me lots of that :)

And Steve, no deal on the trade.... I'm going to get me that Bald Eagle footage worth sharing. I'm thinking of renting a camera with a hefty telephoto for a day and see what I can shake out that way. And I know you wouldn't take it, but you are always welcome to that Goshawk footage. When something just simply falls in your lap like that, it's just got to be shared! I would be thrilled if you ever wanted to use it in anything! :)

Mike: How exciting! Do you know about when baby Bald Eagles leave the nest? Do the parents leave after they do? Do they return to the same spot the following year? How many months do you think I've got to try and film them? Oh, to get footage of the parents feeding the juveniles on the ground!!! Ooooh, swoon!

Cat

Re: UWOL 20- Tales of Wonder and Woe!
 

Bald Eagles incubate from 31-46 days depending on environmental factors. The eggs (2-3) all hatch within one or two days and first flight is generally 72-75 days later. Due to sibling rivalry it is not unusual that only one chick survives. The first flight is often more of a controlled plummet than a real flight. The birds live 25-30 years and tend to use the same nest, adding a new nest platform to the top each year so the nest gets bigger and bigger. It is common for nests to pass down generations. One nest I used to watch was known to be over 100 years old. It got so large that it broke a quite substantial branch on the oak tree and came down. The nest materials were gathered as best possible and weighed. The nest was estimated to have been between 1200 and 1400 pounds. Once a nest gets large it is common for songbirds to build their nests in the lower parts and gain protection from the eagles.