UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

As always, interaction between the players is encouraged.
What goes great, what did not go as planned, and everything in between, about the making of your UWOL 51 films.

Hope all of you have found an idea for your entries. Your imagination is the limit of how you interpret the theme.

Don't be afraid to ask if you have any questions.
Have fun, and bring it!

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

My plan for this round of uwol is to record cranes in Sweden and to record amphibians in Norway.
Did an attempt this weekend, but the toad must have warmer weather before it starts walking towards the spawning area.
First coming Friday I travel to Hornborgasjön in Sweden and the cranes.
Photo is from this weekend shoot and the cranes is a snapshot from webcamera.
Hope everyone is doing fine.

Link to webcamera: Webbkameror.se - Livestreaming med bild och ljus från Trandansen vid Hornborgasjön. Vid Hornborgasjöns sydvästra ände ligger Trandansen. Här har transkådandet varit en folkfest sedan början av 50-talet. trandansen, trandans, tranor, webbkamer

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Sounds like an interesting plan, Geir Inge.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Geir Inge you must be able to see into the future. :)

Gordon

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

This was an easy one for me (to come up with a plan) as I live in an area where an entire civilization was built on the concept of "sacred geography" or religious harmony with the natural world. People have written huge volumes on this, so I hope I can keep it down to 4 minutes! I see a very unique perspective on the theme every day. I've even got an idea on how to incorporate a unique twist.

If it all works out, I'll be able to combine filming with some spectacular exploring in areas that very, very few people even know about including a few forgotten places that no one knows about. Looks like I'll be pulling out my machete and getting my "Indiana Jones" fix in remote places far from civilization. Keep your fingers crossed as I plan to do some serious exploring. No matter what happens, this is going to be a lot of fun.

Glad we have 2 months for this one as I'm in the US now and won't be home until tomorrow. I was going to bring back my Sony Ex1r, but decided I'll continue working with my Sony AX100 because of its small size. I did purchase a bunch of extra batteries and a tiny tripod to carry when I'm off in the hinterlands! I'm also bringing back a Kessler slider to maybe add some production value along the way.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

As for the cranes' area, this is wetland that has been destroyed, then repaired.
The toads have a dangerous road to the spawning area, almost destroyed by man.
Then I have a third location I'm thinking of, so we'll see how it gets in the end.
Phil Murray, I'm looking forward to your movie.
What you tell makes me curious, your plan sounds very exciting.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I am in the middle of deciding on getting either the new Canon XF705 or the C200. Probably the XF705 since I have been using my XF300 for the past 7 years. In less than two weeks I leave for a five day trip to the Great Okefenokee swamp in southern Georgia and hopefully try to video some of the remains of old Cyprus logging activities in the swamp. Then in May I am planning a 4000 mile road trip where hopefully I'll find some inspiration. If anyone has any experience with either of these two camcorders please let me know. Bob

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Halfway through the challenge, and it is really quiet in here.
How's everyone doing? Have you found an idea by now?

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Well Trond an idea came to me one day but that's as far as I got. Hopefully I'll get some time to work on it. Weather has been all over the place lately. May 1st and there is 5 cm or so of snow that fell last night but hey it could be worse!
It has been awful quite here alright.

Gordon

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Gordon, we have done about the same so far. Got an idea, but the intended locations didn't work out. Have to find another place to film.

Crazy weather over here too. April has been unusually warm and dry. May is beginning with forecasts for snow and cold weather. Can be interesting. Maybe that could be my entry: The battle to bring the nice weather back from hiding.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Still have no idea!!!

:-(

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Keep it simple, Rob. Sometimes a detail in the backyard can be the story of a film, sometimes only the big picture is enough. Less is often more.

As always, even though you got some guidelines to the theme this round, the themes can be interpreted in many ways. Your imagination is the limit.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I have a few ideas and have abit on video but on another location where I was doing a bit of video I had someone phone the Garda/Police/Cops as in I was doing damage to a stone wall which I never even touched and also that take their sheep. I told the them that I was only doing a bit of videoing for a competetion. I was not even in the field where the sheep where. I was standing on the road about 3 mile away from the sheep.

I have a good idea who it was. I did ask the person who owns the field that I was beside could I go in to it and they had no problem at all. Trying to tell the to the one who think they know better is another story. I am hoping to go back this comming week. I also know the person who I think reported me will be away for 2 weeks from next Tuesday which is even better.

getting this next bit for video will be the main key to my video this time around

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Tony, that's "man versus craziness!"
Hope you get the shots you planned.

Looking forward to see what you all come up with.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I've got a concept and script written out, just trying to work out how to shoot over certain sites that will have security on my tail, maybe I can come up with alternative locations.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I've been working steadily on my project. A lot has depended on the weather to get the shots I need as I have to travel a good bit. I'm heading out early tomorrow morning to catch a colectivo (overcrowded van) ride then travel 2 hours on a "local train" followed by a 3 hour hike in the jungle to do some filming in some VERY unique places. (How's that for a tease!) If I can pull this off, it will certainly be different. :)

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Whoa, Phil! That is dedication to film making.
Hope it all is worth the traveling and you get all the shots you want. Looking forward to see what you come up with this time.
Have fun!

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I'm out, heading for the shark tank - got some footage but I've just been asked to direct a short film so that's going to take up all my spare time for the next month at least.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Good luck with the film, Paul! Hope it goes well.

I have been to a few locations, but they didn't work out as I hoped. So no footage recorded yet.
Hopefully I can film some this week, or else I'll join you in the shark tank.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I had to go back to the jungle because I wasn't happy with the footage I shot a few weeks ago. Looks like I'll be doing most of this project in about a week's time! Still, I'm having a lot of fun and think it'll finish up to be something interesting as long as I can get it done in the next 5 days.

Here's what I shot last Thursday edited for my Facebook friends, but I thought you folks might find it interesting. I hiked about 30 km through some of the most beautiful country in the world literally below Machu Picchu. (I wish they allowed tripods at Machu Picchu as I hate my hand holding ability.)

You might see a couple of these clips in the coming week. ;)

Hope everyone's projects are coming along great. I can't wait to see what you all are putting together.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

That's a big teaser, Phil! Looking forward to see your film. The YouTube shot you linked to, appears to be deleted, so haven't watched that one.
Sounds like you have worked hard to get your footage.

Hope everyone is doing well.
Remember to send a quick email to uwol@dvinfo.net, so I can provide the upload details. No need to wait until last minute.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Sorry for the dead link in my previous post. I re-edited the video and added a shot that I left out, but forgot that I'd already put a link here that had to be deleted. I apologize for that.

I'm off to work on organizing my clips and writing my voiceover script now - less than four days to go!

I couldn't figure out how to edit my previous post, so here's the Vimeo version of the last Thursday's shoot in the jungle. I'm still itching from the insect bites, but it was a lot of fun.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Won't be able to make my own film this round. A couple ideas and locations didn't work out, and no time for a last minute effort.

So far only one uploaded entry. Hope there are many more in progress.
If you haven't received any upload details yet, and you may be able to deliver, please send an email to uwol@dvinfo.net

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Phil, that's some exotic wild scenery! So different from what we have here. Very cool to see!
Thanks for sharing.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I also have failed to come up with enough footage to make my video. I knew time would be a big factor in this round as to whether I could get it done and unfortunately time has ran out.

Gordon

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I just uploaded my entry. Thanks for all your help and for all you do, Trond. I really enjoy this competition, but am ready for a few days to relax and not think about it!

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Well done, Phil! All submissions will be published tomorrow.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Well friends, it looks like its the SHARK TANK for me. No real excuses except I bought a new camcorder (Canon XF705), and spent the majority of the time traveling. So congratulations to all of you the submitted an entry. Bob

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Bob, congratulations with the new XF705 beast.
How do you like it, compared with the XF300? (I'm still very happily using this one)

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

I can’t wait to see what you can do with your new camera, Bob. I’m thinking about gettting a GH5 next time I’m in the states since photo cameras aren’t taxed. Real video cameras are taxed 80% and the prices to buy here are almost as high.

Re: UWOL 51 - Tales of wonders and woes
 

Trond and Phil. I got the XF705 on the 16th of April so I am still in the process of learning it. I did love my XF300, but after almost 7 years I needed to upgrade. Some of the things that I miss, and that I think Canon should have said in their announcements are:

1- the XF705 does not have the capability of interval recording. So if you do a lot of time lapse forget it.
2- no power save button
3-you can only shoot 120 slow motion in 1920x1080 4-2-2, 10 bit HEVC. No slow motions in 4k, but you can also get 60 slow motion in 1920x1080 4-2-0, 8 bit HAVC
4-they took away the front record button
5-Battary lasts 2/3 of the time


what I like are:
1-WOW the color is awesome!!
2-it is the best auto focus system on the market today.
3-Touch focus on the screen is unbelievable
4-image stabilizer is much better
5-at 1,140mm (3x) the image is pretty damn good!
6-I got to try out the IR on some deer at the Okefenokee swamp and I was surprised at how clear the IR images were.
7-The fan is 100% quiet. Absolutely no fan noise




I will do a more in-depth review after I have had it a little longer