http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ Videomaker Community Forums » Tag: nature - Recent Posts en Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:03:47 +0000 http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71694 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:58:53 +0000 Charles Schultz 71694@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Merle, the faster the frame rate and higher the f-stop the better off you are. The faster frame rate will reduce motion blur and the higher the f-stop you will have more in focus if they are running towards you or away from you and as I am sure you know, focus is critical if filming anything.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71693 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:54:31 +0000 Charles Schultz 71693@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>They can be pretty brutal towards rival clans, they will even kill and eat the babies if they can. Pretty nasty stuff, got to love the Discovery Channel.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71686 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:25:49 +0000 mfish653 71686@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Another thing. A few weeks back I was chilling at camp in the heat of the day and a big fight broke out in camp between 2 rival troops. 50+ baboons all trying to beat each other up. I never saw anything like it in animals it was pretty much like gang warfare on our city streets! Anyway I got this video Im not sure how to label I thought you guys could help with it. On of the males tried to rape a female resulting in this video. Now, should I label it as "Baboon Fight" which is what it looks like to the casual observer or should I call it "Baboon attempt rape" which is obvious if you watch it several times?</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/30682116">Baboon Fight</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user8895020">Merle Fisher</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71669 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:42:36 +0000 mfish653 71669@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Yeah those tourist vans are a big problem over here! I have been over here for 2 years now and always drive myself. I have learned of areas in almost every reserve I visit that are pretty much void of those vans but have loads of animals (you need a 4X4 in most of those areas tho). Problem is I do this just for a hobby so I dont spend more than 20 days out of the year out there. Which is why I just offer stock footage instead of making my own film. I guess my original question was not so much how to get in position to get the shot, rather how to capture the moment when it presents itself. I know several pro African wildlife photographers that shoot 1/8000th shutter speed. It seems really high but I figure there is a reason for it. Do framing rules apply? What about F number? Any advantages to having it higher or lower?</p> <p> </p> <p>And grinner, point taken. In the case I need those special shots that would certainly be the best way to get them. I wouldnt consider myself a stranger to danger - I camp out whenever I go out because many of the areas I hit dont have lodges. I have had buffalo and lions in camp already and heard leopards down in the river bottom ect. I tried staying at a 4 star lodge already and besides robbing you of your money it just dont seem right.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/latest-3d-video-summer-flowers-2011#post-71665 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:32:50 +0000 3DMOVIEMAN 71665@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_qBrn6LgQQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_qBrn6LgQQ</a></p> <p>Here is my latest 3D video, sort of a musical montage with some effects provided by the latest version of Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD. I used an Easy3D camera (aka Rollei aka 3DinLife 820) that I got for $76 (US dollars) from Think Geek a couple of months ago. Questions and comments are welcome, I hope you enjoy the video :)</p> <p>Ryan</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71663 Sun, 16 Oct 2011 07:34:13 +0000 composite1 71663@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Also in the Planet Earth series they showed a Cape Hunting Dog hunt. They followed the Dogs around for days and got bupkis. Sometimes the Dogs had left the den before the filmmakers got there early in the morning! When they finally did get them in action, the hunt ended with an impala avoiding certain death with the dogs by jumping into the water that had crocodiles in it! Just as exciting as it would have been to see them take it down.</p> <p>If you really want to know how maddening wildlife photography can be, look at the Diaries at the end of each Planet Earth show and watch the one where they were trying to shoot the Bird of Paradise.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71653 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:05:12 +0000 CraftersOfLight 71653@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p><em>How many nature films show a failed hunt? Very few, but its something I cant change.</em></p> <p>Being a big fan of nature films, I know those that do them have their work cut out for themselves.</p> <p>You have no idea how many fails they follow, and record, to get that one success because they don't show the fails for the most part. And not every success was captured well enough to show. </p> <p>If you're up on statistics, for most predators, kills are about one in five attempts at best. Odds increase<strong> </strong>with the size of the hunting party but is still not a guarantee of a kill every time. This comes from those BTS clips on the films and seems consistant from show to show.</p> <p>The US version of Planet Earth Series had a section on the Siberian Snow Leopard, an extremely rare cat. The guy with the camera was there two years in a row, the first year he got nothing. The second year he got the shot of how they actually hunted, and it was a fail. They felt at the time this was the first known recorded hunt of this type of cat. He was unable to capture a subsequent kill but got the cat taking its prize back<br /> to the den.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71651 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:29:28 +0000 composite1 71651@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Yeah, I saw that in Kenya with hordes of European and American Tourists packed in those little white vans. Initially I went on one of those and it was fun for an hour. Next time we contracted with some locals and went out 'into the country' as they called it. First in a beat-up old pick up and then they took us out into the bush on foot. We spent the day out there but came back in the evening because we didn't have any Night Vision Gear. Did a lot of shooting in the Outback of Australia, Jungles of Thailand, Panama and the wilds of the US. Each time, we lit out on foot and came back with the goods. Like Grinner said, 'you're not going to get anything good sitting in your truck.' And you're right, if you plan on getting sequences of your intended animal's behavior, you're going to have to stick with them for extended periods.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71644 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 14:09:09 +0000 grinner 71644@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> Well, if not willing to get the shot, please don't ask hopw to do it.</p> <p>You already know you'll have to place yourself in harm's way to get anything of value... hance your being their "filming" with no filming.</p> <p>Dude, hop out of the truck and snag the shots you neeed or hand it over to the dude who will. Following a den from afar will naver get you shots that you need or want. Just shots your personality may be comfy with. This may not be the gig for you as there are many whey are willing to just hop in and get the tights as needed. What are you shooting? If it's a doc, ytou need the shot. If it's library fodder, dude, you need more than the shot. MORE. You will have to nest with the den to sell generic stuff. Otherwise, we've all seen the wise and tights of lions in all kinds of atmospheres.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71640 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:41:38 +0000 mfish653 71640@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I prefer to stay in my vehicle when around 500 pound killing machines :). And in Kenya they dont have wild animals outside of parks and reserves. The problem for filming kills, lions, hyenas, and leopards (the largest predators in Africa) hunt mostly at night. Still I have been lucky enough to see 4 lion hunts, 1 leopard hour long stalk, and a cheetah 70 mph dash but non resulted in a kill. How many nature films show a failed hunt? Very few, but its something I cant change. Im trying to understand your last statement tho. In the mara during the migration there are 1.7 million wildebeest there. All big cat filming crews I know of find the lions and stay with them. Might be a matter of preference but it seems to me you would have a better chance of seeing a kill if you stay with the predators because they are only a few and the prey is always many.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71632 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:14:38 +0000 grinner 71632@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I haven't filmed nature scenes since the early 90s but I still shoot em on video all the time. I don't shoot from a car and I don't shoot in parks. I like nature instead. Understanding the behavior of the animal you are shooting is key. Knowing where to be when action happens comes with experience... from each of those animals. (they all differ greatly) So, if I were wanting a preditor kill shot, I'd not follow a preditor... just hang with the prey.</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71624 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:41:37 +0000 mfish653 71624@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Thanks to all of you for your responses. I should mention that filming in Africa is easy compared to what composite1 said. Everything is filmed from a car. Since I am not a "big shot" I need to obey all park rules including "no offroading". So basically I drive around until I find something to film. If what I am looking for is not along the road I need to find something different to film. I have already stayed with a predator for well over an hour in hopes to see a kill so yeah I understand the patience part! Thanks for those links Jennifer, I found the first 2 to be particularly helpful. I have learned alot thru pro photographers in ways of shooting. And thanks for that link Hamid, currently I am working on a contract with "Footage Search" but if the deal falls thru I will consider that page. I tried to upload one of my videos to youtube to link here but the web is to slow here and I havent got it done yet.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71578 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:52:31 +0000 Hamid Massoud 71578@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I've been a videographer for 18 years and recently did a little research on selling stock footage to the large stock footage houses. Here's something I saw on istock:</p> <p><a href="http://www.istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos.php</a></p> <p>Scroll down to see how much you can make. Hope this helps.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71577 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:17:58 +0000 Jennifer O'Rourke 71577@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi, Merle,</p> <p>Here at <em><strong>Videomaker</strong></em> we've published a few stories on Shooting in the Wild - [links below], and Nat GEO [National Geographic] also has a tips page. It's mostly for still camera shooting, but they are good tips for anyone. And as stated above: patience is the name of the game!</p> <p>VIDEOMAKER FEATURES:</p> <p> "<em>Wild Things: Tips for Shooting in the Wild</em>" - <a href="../../../article/13763/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/13763/</a> and"<em>Grizzlies in Yellowstone</em>" <a href="../../../article/10192/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/10192/</a></p> <p>Also, if you're working to "direct" tame animals to "act" on command: "<em>How to Direct Animals and Stay Sane</em>". <a href="../../../article/15084/" rel="nofollow">http://www.videomaker.com/article/15084/</a></p> <p>And here's the National Geographic shooting tips site:</p> <p>NAT GEO: <a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/action-adventure-photography/" rel="nofollow">http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/action-adventure-photography/</a></p> <p>Good Luck!</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71574 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:56:15 +0000 shastabroadcaster 71574@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>One way to look at it, Merle, is that there ARE no hard and fast "rules" specific to what you are doing.  Practice good basic lighting, framing and composition habits, talk to some old hunters who had to learn how to get up close without the critter in question taking notice, and take every failure as a lesson. </p> <p>Good luck, I envy you the opportunity!</p> <p> </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71572 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:28:00 +0000 birdcat 71572@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Merle - </p> <p>In a prior life (before video, back in the days of Super-8) I was an aspiring nature photog (would have sold my soul for a job with Nat Geo).  What Wolf has said is the rule - LONG hours, lots of shots - I used to shoot 20+ rolls of film in a day (400 shots) on a regular basis - and blind, dumb, luck was smiling on me if I got 20 top shots with another 40 usable shots (no hitting the delete button on Ektachrome).</p> <p>Same for video - watch some of the videos about the making of "Planet Earth" or "Blue Planet" - Their best shots came from the last three minutes of a multi-day shoot (specifically, look for the Great White getting his prey - a seal - they were just about to give up and call it a wrap when they got that almost by accident).</p> <p>PERSEVERANCE is the name of the game!</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71570 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:09:59 +0000 composite1 71570@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Merle,</p> <p>Shooting wildlife with a video or still camera uses the same methodology as if you were using a rifle. Long hours of waiting in a hide at the likely place your target will show up. Patience, attentiveness, persistence and being in the right place at the right time are what will help you get the shots.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/nature-filming-1#post-71562 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:45:00 +0000 mfish653 71562@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Dont know if this is the right place for this but I use a Canon XH-A1 to film wildlife in East Africa. Is there anywhere I can go for some free info on wildlife filming? I can go all over the web for info about lighting ect but shooting nature is much different. The actors seemingly never preform right and there are shadows on the main subject and a bush is in the way and the list could go on! I am on a really tight budget just trying to make a couple bucks thru stock footage sales. So far no go. Thanks, mfish</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70072 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:29:23 +0000 Robert Rozbora 70072@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>All of you thanks for courageous words :)</p> <p> </p> <p>@EarlC - about skies you right, I found out one thing, crystal clear skies with dramatic clouds you can find more in northern parts of our planet than southern. I live in Slovakia (Central Europe), used to live for some time in Cyprus (Mediterranean), but never before seen so clear and amazing skies as in Norway. It is prolly given by different angle to the Sun, but skies are in north amazing.  </p> <p>@vid-e-o-man - I used no special equipment, it was just Canon 5D Mk II with "set" lens 24-105 f/4 and Manfrotto tripod. No filters, nothing extra. Not even polarizer :)</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70060 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 06:51:31 +0000 MediaFish 70060@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Great stuff.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70054 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:54:33 +0000 chamberlane altatis 70054@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>I agree, great videos! keep it up!</p> <p><a href="http://videoproductiontutorial.com/">video production tutorial</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70053 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:09:15 +0000 vid-e-o-man 70053@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Robert, great scenery, great video quality, sometimes less is more, no need to gild the lily, static shots present the subject beautifully. I wish it were longer, sad to see it end. I can't help but ask what equipment was used to get this great footage (camera, lens, filters, etc.)? Keep shooting.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70048 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:05:25 +0000 EarlC 70048@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Robert,</p> <p>Awesome footage, awesome scenes, GREAT angles, interesting perspectives, and man I live in California and rarely see the beautiful skies and dramatic skies your footage depicts. What is cool also, is that your scenic production reminds me of the continued series of videos Reader's Digest put out years ago featuring classical music and scenery ranging from flora to fauna, etc. I always wanted to do some videos of a half-hour or longer of various elements of nature, geography, etc. and set them to classical pieces. Mostly, I want to do this for myself because occasionally, when I'm not pounding the keyboards or reading (or writing) and producing other video, I enjoy such "mood" videos as what you've done here. Beautiful footage that represents what your camera is capable of generating. Love it! Of course there's more you can do, but nothing is wrong with a minimal (FX and movement) approach when the subject matter is represented so beautifully. Nothing static about nature except possibly a glacier ;-) Enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/my-first-video-here#post-70047 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:05:44 +0000 Robert Rozbora 70047@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>Hi, this is my first video compilation, shared here (also my first post). Looking for any constructive criticism. Videos shot on Canon 5d Mk II and GoPro HD Hero. I know, there is lot of things to do with postproduction and editing (this is just simple cuts), but my concern is atm more on videos itself. Also I'm planning to get dolly soon, so now its just static videos, I hope I'll improve that soon. Thanks for wiewing and especially commenting :)</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fYRy3li6qUE" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/embed/fYRy3li6qUE</a></p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68399 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 17:28:10 +0000 3DMOVIEMAN 68399@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>@psuedosafari For some reason the 3D player didn't embed in the forum, so if you click on the video it will take you to YouTube where there will be a 3D button right below the video so you can choose which viewing method you want. I think the default for the 3D player is anaglyph (red/blue) I would say most people would want to view it with colored glasses or on a 3D monitor. So I guess the short answer to your question is no.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68395 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:21:29 +0000 pseudosafari 68395@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>3DMOVIEMAN thanks for the info.  Just so I'm clear, it's not meant to be viewed in that side by side mode, then, right?</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68382 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 03:38:44 +0000 3DMOVIEMAN 68382@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>@doublehamm Yes I often view side by side images cross eyed as well. It's a shame you're not putting that Panasonic 3D camera to use, there isn't nearly enough 3D content out there.</p> <p>@IanJamesSmith The half side by side images are displayed (by the YT3D player or 3DTV) as full width (16:9) after being processed by the player. Magix MEP17+HD can import, sync, align and combine two HD videos into a side by side 3D video suitable for upload to YouTube or display on a 3D television. I prefer the ease of using a pre made 3D camera but a two camera rig can yield very nice results. Your friend Arthur understood something few video makers do these days, it's not equipment, it's inspiration ;)</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68380 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:52:35 +0000 Ian James Smith 68380@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p> I am assuming '3Dmovieman', that this uses the 'Magix' alternative system with two portrait-format side-by-side images being viewed. I have the software, and have pondered the implications of the 'blurb'. In fact, I have located two identical camcorders for sale locally and am preparing to make an 'offer-they-can't refuse', bearing in mind that the original 'retails' were at least fifty-percent higher than the international market would have thought acceptable. (A common problem in New Zealand). I have made my own costing, based upon a realistic appraisal of what the camcorders would be worth to me, which with no 'returns' (they are sale-price items but unpacked and unused), and other considerations, is one third of the original retail, bought as a 'pair'. </p> <p> I understand that the system you are using, is that least likely to stuff-up camcorder definition. I don't like the anaglyphic principle, and as for red/blue glasses, forget it. It's the aspect-ratio which is the problem with these side-by-side images. I first considered 'Stereo-3D' in the 1970's. Couldn't afford a second 'Bolex' Reflex in 16mm, (especially when I could barely afford to 'feed' the one I already used), but I did succeed in making the 'glasses', with two polarising lenses from sheet material, one eye using vertically oriented polarisation, the other eye 'horizontal'. Then the scheme became side-tracked and the glasses were finally used at the odd party, placed over the blinkers of someone who had, perhaps, had 'one-too-many', whereby they could be persuaded into thinking they really were 'seeing-things'. A friend of mine won international awards, including one at Cannes, for features consisting of frame-by-frame recording of the growth of various crystals under polarised light. They were shot with the only cine-camera I think, he ever owned, a little French 'Pathe' 8mm purchased just after WW2; a brand which no one else would 'touch' apparently. In Arthur's hands, it produced sheer 'magic'. So much for 'conventional wisdom'.</p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68378 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:02:49 +0000 doublehamm 68378@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>You can also view a smaller window of it playing from a bit of a distance and cross your eyes ;)  I have a panasonic 3D camera, don't use the 3D as much as I thought I would though. </p> http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/3d-video-japanese-garden#post-68377 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:38:48 +0000 3DMOVIEMAN 68377@http://www.videomaker.com/community/forums/ <p>The side by side images are different views from the two lenses of a 3d camera, if you look closely you'll notice each of the images is slightly different. What YouTube does is combine the 2 images into 1 stereoscopic picture via their 3d player. The YT3D player outputs the picture in various 3d formats such as anaglyph (red/blue) or line polarized (for 3D polarized monitors that use REALD glasses). When you initially upload to YouTube their encoder takes a still image for the video which is going to be of the side by side images before they are processed by the player. If anything isn't clear let me know ;)</p>