20 replies to this topic

[Ferg42]

Hi Folks,

Just finished shooting a job in Oman, so thought it was time to update the Demo Reel with some new material. If anyone's got the time (it's only 3 minutes!), I'm looking for comments and suggestions on the edit. Is the music OK? Any shots need to be taken out?
As ever the quality suffered a bit with the web compression, and I also feel like it might have crushed the blacks a bit when I rendered, but I'm having difficulty with editing on a laptop and external monitor which don't seem to want to talk to the screen calibration software nicely, so each screen looks different.
Anyway, feedback appreciated.

Here it is:

[vimeohd]55339611[/vimeohd]


Edit: Just replacing it with a newer version which takes into account Drew's comments below, so there may be a period when the HD version isn't up (also just noticed the dolphins still need a bit more trimming at the start of the clip!)

[Drew]

Fergus
You've got some nice shots there. Just a few points:

1. I'd leave out (or at the least redo) the dolphin clip. There's post Image Stabilization distortion and it's pretty pronounced.
2. Several scenes that I think should be color graded/corrected to match the rest of your sequences in your reel:
-Nap wrasse. Magenta/purple hue in water due to curve and artificial light on wrasse.
-Thistlegorm scene @1.41 (fish need to be more highlighted)
-Whaleshark @ 2.17 (color match the water to the blue hues or at least less green.
-Reef scene @2.38 and 2.52 and 2.57 Fish/trucks need to be balanced (overly red due to light)
3. I think if you put the dusk timelapse and then followed with some artificial light clips, then follow with the moon setting, it'd flow better than have 2 timelapse sequences back to back then cut to the whaleshark end scene.
Just my thoughts.

[Ferg42]

That's great Drew- just the sort of thing I needed. I'll work on those points. Well spotted on the dolphins- it was at dolphin house reef in Egypt where they only let you snorkel with a life jacket on- a recipe for wobbly footage!

[Drew]

What IS program did you use? It didn't do well at all.

[Ferg42]

It was the Sony stabilize plugin that comes with Vegas. On looking again the main wobble was right at the beginning of the clip, so I've taken off the IS and just trimmed it.

[AllisonFinch]

All critique aside, lovely footage. Well done. What camera/housing were you using? The Sony HC7?

Edited by AllisonFinch, 11 December 2012 - 10:31 AM.

[Ferg42]

Thanks. It's a whole mixture- there a bit of Sony HC7 (Gates) in there, Canon 7D (Nauticam), Canon 5D II (Ikelite), Sony CX550 (BS Kinetics), Sony TD10 (Sealux) and Sony EX1 (Gates)!

[Drew]

Is there a prize for guessing which camera shot which clip?

[Ferg42]

A pint of finest Harvey's ale, and I fear you'd get it, Drew :-)

[MikeVeitch]

very nice Ferg! Is that a whale shark at the end? That footage was a bit dark.. sort of a "did I see that or was that a cross fade?" sort of reaction for me.
Also, I agree with Drew about the red napolean.

Other than that its an outstanding demo reel, music goes well

[Ferg42]

Cheers Mike. Yes, that is a whale shark, but it was very dark! I think it depends a bit on how your monitor is calibrated. I can see it fine on mine, but I suspect mine may not be perfect.
I've already made Drew's corrections, so I'll swap it for the new file shortly......

[Steve Douglas]

Very nice and I agree with most everything that has been said. You probably won't like this addition, but I have heard this same music on way too many films. Best to use or change to a different version perhaps. Of course, having to change the music means a whole re cut of your demo which means a ton more work.
Steve

[Drew]

Fergus, I personally think you should throw out the dolphins. For a fun video, it's fine. For a demo reel, it's amateurish.
There are 2 things that are most important to being a wildlife cameraman, composition and camera skills. You want to highlight your skills as a cameraman/DP, with more longer master shots that'll show your skills rather than snippets, if you get what I mean. Under/over exposed, shakey shots aren't complimentary to your skills. Keep the shots that make you look good, like the manta and oceanics.

[Nick Hope]

Nice work Fergus.

3 suggestions from me:

00:50 turtle is too red.
01:47 fade the diver in a bit more slowly if you can
02:41 too red

[Ferg42]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the input. Have addressed your points, I'll reupload soon. Getting there, gradually!

[andy_deitsch]

Very nice Fergus. Was the shot of the bow of the Thistlegorm taken on the dive that you, me and Mike did during Alex's workshop in 2011? Even if not, it brought back good memories.

[Ferg42]

Hi Andy,

Yes it is! Good times! The 3D from that trip worked out pretty nicely by the way. Shame not many people have the hardware to view it online.

[Drew]

Fergus, Youtube can host it and then it's a matter of what glasses (if any) are needed. You can and are most definitely encouraged to post 3D stuff in the 3D forum.

[Etc]

Great footage and editing!!!!. God duration. Good music, great timing. All critique asides, I really envy you
I think Drew's got the point, but I'd add (under my personal opinion, of course):

- Color correction on the wreck's bow (1:24). More contrast, get rid of excess of cyan
- Take the Trigger fish shot out (1:26). The rest of the video doesn't deserve this.
- 1:37.. out too! (don't like the composition)
- Put the two shots of the Thiselgorm trucks together.
- Color correct & stabilize the Whale shark (2:17)
- 2.39 shot out!.. It doesn't say much.
- Shorten or "roll edit" a bit the lion fish shot. Don't let the shadow get into it's face (3:01)
- Change the ending shot for a better one!. Or just leave the sunset last timelapse for the end.

I hope I didn't look rude and I could express well. I'm Spaniard and my english is far to be perfect.

[Rafa Herrero]

Fantastic demo reel, congratulations!!