Double posting??? (sorry)
 

Sorry if I am cross posting/double posting!

So heres my little tale of wonder and woe!

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get my video in. I have the footage, I imported the footage, but now, when I export, it turns it into 4:3 and the footage is 16:9. And, to make things worse, I cant put credits on the video with Premiere Pro. I can't transfer it to another editing program because I cant export the video to a format the other editing programs let you use without making the video stretch to 4:3! ahhh!!!

So yes, there is not my entry for the UWOL Challenge #1.

I hope everyone else is doing good, and one lucky person who deserves those prizes will get it.

~Gabriel

new working link to my dog vid....i tested this one personally....

http://ia300131.us.archive.org/2/ite...WideScreen.mov

*schoolmarm mode on*

gabriel, you have a whole weekend to work out your aspect ratios...get on it, young man! do you think a potential employer is going to roll over for "i can't...." on a little thing like that?? good work ethics start now.

*schoolmarm mode off*

plus, if anyone could make good use of a 560B monopod, it's you....perfect for your camera...

haha! That was awesome! Very nice editing, beautiful scenery, cool dog, funny plot = great movie! I have no competition for that! lol... Mines just Ducks and snow, with some AWESOME music that Kenneth Yeager made for it! I had better plans for it, but it did not turn out with the footage I have. So maybe next time!

Thanks Meryem, I think that was the extra little kick I needed to get this thing finished!

Thats true, that monopod would work nice with my little Elura 100. :) Not that I stand much of a chance on wining! :P

I'll keep trying!
~Gabriel

Yea, Gabriel

You gotta get something in so you will be on the charter list of contributing members. One of the first, ever!

I'm a fifty year old using Adobe 5.1 LE that came on my Sony Vaio that's so old I can't even remember when I bought it! I'm still gonna search the help file and try to learn how to do the credits. Heck, I've done quite a bit of wildlife videoing, but I've never strung two clips together for anything in my life. If you can't figure out how to do the credits with the NLE, just stand in front of the camera and hold up a sign!

I am anxious to see what you got with that new camera!

Rick Phillips

I know I'm going to get into an accident one of these days. Ever since this challege started, I find myself looking up in the sky at birds when I'm supposed to be paying attention and driving. Everyone, get out of my way !!!!!

Thanks guys! I am working on it! I got closer! Thats a good sign.

Rick, You just deserved yourself a quote!
lol! Chris, now that is a tale of wonder!
~Gabriel

This was a tale of woe, but it now has a happy ending.

1-2 January: Lundy Island, Shot footage.
3 Jan: Meant to travel to mainland UK - delayed by weather.
4 Jan: Travelled to Devon, with camera but without laptop (I was only going for the weekend.
8-13th Jan. Stuck on mainland, delayed by weather.
14th Travelled back to Lundy to find that the island's internet connection had been down for a week.
15-19th edited footage hoping for the internet to be restore.
20th limited internet restored to island. Video uploaded :)

I'm still planning on shooting more today and trying to get the edit done tomorrow.
It'll be down to the wire for me.

YES!!! I the video to work! Pushing buttons and hoping for the best, nothing says 'pro' like that! lol, jk!

I will be uploading the video in about half an hour. Then all should be good.
~Gabriel

Gab, good for you!!! I was out of town all week, I was deployed to the train wreck in KY and didnt think I would get home in time to finish. Worked all day and got it in. Bob

Well, I went out and bought another hard drive to put all my footage on so I get get editing here in a bit.
I had backed everything up on data DVD's so now I have to transfer it all back to the new hard drive.

But, the great thing about this challenge is that I got out and shot something almost every day. Even when it was gloomy, I went out and shot something.
I've been out more in these past three weeks that I have in the past three months! :)
Now, if I can just get something together without embarrassing myself, I'll be all set. :)

Good to hear Kevin, I'm almost finished with my editing. It's late sunday evening here now and I have been sitting in front of my pc all day.
As you are telling this challenge has made me going out almost every day the last month just in case of something nice to shoot!

Hopefully the server is still going so my upload will go without any issues? I'll report back when mission is completed.

glad to hear that everyone is getting sufficiently cold, wet, and exhausted. as it should be!

per, the uploader seems to be working fine. just keep in mind that you should not multi-task on your computer. shut down other apps and don't surf the internet while the uploader is working, and it should be fine.

getting down to the wire, folks! get those entries in! tomorrow's your last chance!

Good to hear everyone is getting their films in! I am leaving here in a few minutes to head over to my dads work to upload the file. I tried doing it here, but then someone called (We have sun-rocket) and it broke the upload. So maybe I will have better luck there.

Don't give up like I did you guys! Something will work out, just keep trying!
~Gabriel

Git 'er done!
 

Hey Gabriel- I'm rooting for you! I hope the upload goes smooth for you.

Best wishes~
Bradley

lol Meryem! Thanks. It's nappy time for goofy boy.

Best wishes~
Bradley

Hi Gabriel, good to hear that you manage to get your film ready.

I just did a ftp with mine and it was delivered successfully! As Meryem is telling, you have to just wait for some time for the ftp to complete. Don't do anything when the file is uploading.
My file was approx 38MB and it took almost 10 min to upload.

Well, I've been trying for the last 4 hours to upload my video and it just won't take it. I have it compressed using the sorenson 3 codec at around 44 meg, but it's still a no go for some reason. The problem must be on my end, since no one else seems to be having this problem. I've posted it on the putfile site in a wmv format (less than half the size and much better quality...sorenson 3 looked like viewing thru a snowstorm). Maybe this will keep me out of the shark-tank...if not there's always next time. It was a lot of fun and I have learned a lot. Can't wait to see the others!

Here is the link to mine: http://media.putfile.com/Appalachian-Living-Skies

Good luck everyone.

Rick Phillips
Kingsport, Tennessee

Well, thanks to some quick help from Meryem and Kevin, I was able to upload my contribution via FTP to the UWOL server. Thanks guys for your swift work.

Rick Phillips
Kingsport, Tennessee

What I learned on this one:

1. Birds go fast.

2. I need a field monitor, if I am going to try to follow birds in flight.

3. Wind creates vibration.

4. Birds won't stay put while you try to set up your camera.

5. It's cold out there in the winter, even in California.

Thanks guys! I got the video uploaded this evening. Everything worked out great (as far as upload is concerned). My video is about 47 MB. pushing the limits, I know. But anything less would have made it look bad.

I am going to take Chris's idea and post what I have learned from this. So here it is:

1. Focusing on a 2.7 inch LCD screen at max zoom is near impossible.

2. Birds like to do all the action when you are setting up...

3. Tracking birds using a tripod you have never used before is insanely difficult!

4. A 20x zoom lens is not enough to get a good shot on birds.

5. Take time to get the exposer right.

6. READ THE HELP GUIDE FOR YOUR EDITING SOFTWARE!

7. I do not like editing all the much, but I will live.

8. Bring gloves in the winter!

and finally,
9. The UWOL Challenge is a great experience!

Thank you everyone!
~Gabriel

Well, I didn't get my film in to the contest. However, I DID finish filming it. After checking the other entries, mine perhaps doesn't "fit" though. I mean, it technically fits the theme but not in the same way as the other UWOL filmmakers did - more of a DVC filmmaker style i guess.

Anyhow, the reason I didn't get it into the contest is that I have a rather complex transition to place (without it, the film is a different film) AND, min finished film was 6 minutes! I've looked over and over it, and I can't get it down to 3 minutes.

I'm planning to finish the efects on the film this week though and post a link in "show your work" forum.

Question for anyone who reads this: I was out filming and the last hour of filming it was about 20 degrees F, ranged 40-20 all day. Now most of the footage is fine but I notice in some footage there is a noticable light/dark blinking thing. Thought maybe from the the cold tape/cam. Did anyone else have problems from filming outside in the cold?

I was shooting in the low teens with no problems. However, I did notice that when I first started shooting and the camera body was still warm from the car ride, there were those heat ripples on the footage until the camera body cooled down.

I need to start throwing the camera in the back of my truck to start reaching the outside temps before I pull it out and shoot.

Hello Lisa:

Believe me I know something about filming in cold weather. I'd lean more towards humidity than the temperature or as Kevin has suggested you could be dealing with temperature differential between the various components i.e camera and tape.

I always allow the camera to sit on the tripod for a few minutes to let everything cool to the same number before I begin to film.

I hope the issue is as simple as that....good luck.

Brian

Second what Brian says. Another thing, you say that it blinking light/dark. Do you use any form of auto exposure, in that case going from dark to light could cause the auto exposure to cause the blink?
Or if you see pixler that a typical dropout on the tape. I experienced this from time to time but the in temperatures well below 0 F.