Please critique my Bonaire Video

[Craig66]

This video was taken in Bonaire on a recent trip. I would really appreciate some critique on how to improve my videos with regards to anything from story board, angles, zoom, transitioning, special shots, things to avoid etc etc etc.

It was shot with a combination of a goproHD2 in backscatter housing with filter and a Sony WX-10 in ikelite housing. It was edited on Power director 9.

Bonaire May 2012 - YouTube


Thanks

Craig

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I'm not a videographer by any means, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

Seemed like you included too much footage of gearing up; it's not that exciting. The footage of the gearing up and the descent (with the fast-paced music) doesn't really fit with the gentle, relaxed footage underwater - not sure if that was your goal, but you might want to try the video with just one 'theme' (i.e., underwater creatures - as opposed to including diver shots or surface shots) and 'feeling' (i.e., gentle, relaxed).

I really liked the footage underwater. It was gentle and relaxed. The music was very fitting. Better than what I can do. I thought you captured the animals very well.

 

[flareside]

Ditto what Scuba_Noob said about the gearing up. Videos are also best kept in the 3 to 4 minute range.

 

[Craig66]

Thanks, at the time I was trying to give an overall flavor to our vacation along with a story line for non divers as well but I agree I could have cut off two mins from the front kept it as one theme and it would have fit into the 4 min range.

Craig

 

[TSandM]

I actually liked the sequence of driving and gearing up -- I wouldn't remove it, just shorten it. For people who have never been to Bonaire, I think it adds a lot of context. I also thought the contrast between the more frenetic music for driving and gearing up and the more peaceful music underwater kind of matched my emotional experience of diving.

My take on the video: The filming is wonderfully steady, so it's fun to watch. You made an effort to catch animals doing something interesting, which is always better than just video of them existing. The clips are long enough so that the video doesn't have a choppy feel, but not so long that the viewer starts to think, "What ELSE did they see?" Some of the clips are beautifully angled, to put the object of interest against the most effective background.

The one suggestion I have is dependent on whether your buddy is your friend or just a pickup buddy (and I think it's a friend, no?). The one thing everybody loses in videos of tropical reefs is the color of the reefs. Interposing still, WA shots that are strobe-lit can add back the color, and then the viewer's mind puts it in for the video sequences, too. I've seen this technique used very effectively by my friend Kevin Dow in Monterey.

 

[Craig66]

I actually liked the sequence of driving and gearing up -- I wouldn't remove it, just shorten it. For people who have never been to Bonaire, I think it adds a lot of context. I also thought the contrast between the more frenetic music for driving and gearing up and the more peaceful music underwater kind of matched my emotional experience of diving.

My take on the video: The filming is wonderfully steady, so it's fun to watch. You made an effort to catch animals doing something interesting, which is always better than just video of them existing. The clips are long enough so that the video doesn't have a choppy feel, but not so long that the viewer starts to think, "What ELSE did they see?" Some of the clips are beautifully angled, to put the object of interest against the most effective background.

The one suggestion I have is dependent on whether your buddy is your friend or just a pickup buddy (and I think it's a friend, no?). The one thing everybody loses in videos of tropical reefs is the color of the reefs. Interposing still, WA shots that are strobe-lit can add back the color, and then the viewer's mind puts it in for the video sequences, too. I've seen this technique used very effectively by my friend Kevin Dow in Monterey.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions. Its funny because you articulated exactly what I felt when I was making it regarding the busy (albeit fun) environment above land to the almost instantaneous peace that descends on us as we go below the water - something non divers don't fully get and which for me is a special part of diving. The one problem with the gear up scene was that my buddy and I geared up at slightly different times and so it became a little long. I really like the idea of interposing shots taken by my buddy, (who as you said is my friend). He had some amazing shots although interestingly about half of his shots were of almost the same specific animals I was filming. I definitely will try to incorporate a little more shots in the future.

Craig

 

[divin'dog]

I like your video... Unless you're getting paid to do it for someone else, I would put whatever you want in it as memories of your trip i.e. gearing up if that was memorable in some way. Below is just my 2¢...

For transitions from shot to shot, try using more natural transitions such as when you are following a turtle, allow the turtle to swim out of frame or into the distance or zoom way out. That will give the viewers a natural feeling of leaving the subject and be ready for the next subject. You can also follow the turtle and if another interesting creature comes into frame, break off from the turtle and follow the new subject. Then allow it to swim off into the distance. You can also reverse that and pan at everything then zoom into an interesting subject to introduce a new subject. Don't be afraid to use your zoom (if it's available underwater) to transition from subject to subject or segue to a different shot. Also shoot a little more footage than you think you might want... you can always crop it later when you've had time to view it. Basically use the motion of your subjects to transition to new subjects/framing.

Get really close to your subjects. Don't be afraid that your viewer won't know what it is until you've zoomed in or out... i.e. you may zoom or get close to an interesting fish but as you zoom/pan out it reveals an entire beautiful coral head with zillions of little fish all interacting with each other.

Get shots at different angles rather than from a standard "I'm scuba diving" angle. Approach video recording as if you are a fish. If possible, add some scale to subjects. How big was the octo? Shoot the octo then pan to a known scale (your buddy perhaps) to show size. Or shoot your buddy who then points to the octo and you pan/close in on the octo.

Be cognizant of where your frame edges are and the composition within it. Don't knowingly cut off faces or heads etc... not that you did but when you're aware of the top, bottom, left and right edges, as well as focusing on the center subject, the composition improves.

Or just go out and shoot and have fun! That's what it's all about.

 

[electrix]

Seems like a nice video to me kept my interest to the end.

 

[ronscuba]

That was pretty good. Some footage had pretty good colors. Wonder which parts were shot with the GoPro and which with the Sony ?

Overall I thought you did a great job. UW video is difficult. Unlike photos, video involves choices of music, editing style, scene selection, transitions etc.. You get a great opportunity to express your creative side, but that also opens yourself to criticism as everyone has different tastes.

That being said, here is my critique based on my taste. Like mentioned above, I think the video could be shortened. The opening equipment setup scene was good, but could easily be cut in half. The daytime section also could be shortened. For the night footage, I would have changed soundtracks and chose a different transition scene. Something other than the boats on the water to make it more obvious night footage was coming.

Speaking of transitions, you used a specialty diamond transition a few times. I usually limit specialty transitions for very specific sections of the video. For example from gear setup to UW day and from day dive to night dive.

My notes above are very minor adjustments. I enjoyed your video very much. Look forward to seeing more of your work.

 

[robint]

I agree with the others in most comments..
the intro gear-up segment was too long, trim in half would be my recommendation
the underwater scenes are very well done, though I hate the transitions... I prefer fade in and out unless it is the transition from topside to underwater, or something dramatic
the music underwater is a bit slow to me, so the video started to get boring (for me) and I think that has more to do with length than anything else... slow music 3-4 minutes max is my recommendation

overall it was very good, just some minor tweaks would make it perfect.

robin