The lake district

16 replies [Last post]
harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

Hi, well going to bore you all again(hope you dont mind), Well I stopped at the lake district on way back to scotland after xmas. left the midlands before 5 am and stood with some crazy photographers in -8 centigrade temps.:eek: Unfortunately I didnt have longer to stay there but I will go back as soon as I can.
Cheers john

http://exposureroom.com/ullswater

Doogs
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Joined: Sep 1 2001

some really beautiful shots.....nice job.

did you use filters in post production??

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

Hi yes I did , I colour graded it using magic bullet but the sun was a lovely colour to start with which helped.
Thanks for the response.

robo
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Joined: Aug 15 2000
harrier wrote:
Hi yes I did , I colour graded it using magic bullet .

Why!!!??

The most beautiful place in the whole of the UK and you feel the need to 'add' to it!
The tourist tat shops round here are littered with unsold tarted up prints that do absolutely nothing to show off the real thing.

You have some truly wonderful footage there, please, appreciate it 'as is'.

robo

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

Hi Robo, the most beautiful place in the whole of the UK? ever been to parts of scotland, wales ? ullswater is beautiful, yes but the most? I'm looking across to Arran and thats beautiful too :) , stunning , one of best sunsets in the world(prob:D )
why did i adjust the colour? well most pro photographs or films are colour corrected, filters used during shoot or post shoot. lights added to set mood etc..etc
Why ?because it enhances what is there. thats why all films are painstakingly colour graded frame by frame to provide an atmosphere or a mood that the director wants to convey to the audience.colour conveys a subconscious message.
The colour was chosen to enhance the natural colours to set the mood for the film.
Im sorry if you think ive spoit it somehow.
I do appreciate your comments as they are thought provoking and i would be interested in others opinions, thoughts or observations on the subject.

JMCP
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Joined: Nov 21 2000

Hi John,

that was real nice, enjoyed it a lot. Would be interesting to see a section that hasn't been processed with Magic Bullet though, just to see the difference.

Cheers John

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

ok not sure how best to insert picture but ive put two shots on a web page for you

http://www.eventfilms.org.uk/page6.html

they are before and after. the before is raw footage.
Thoughts?

Barry Hunter
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Joined: Nov 30 2001

You have some real good footage there, I didn`t dislike the colour grading, but being picky, I felt that some of the early disolves were too quick for the music tempo, as the music increased in tempo you could have done with some alternative shots, i.e.a pullback from a peak & you might think about using the reflectiveness of the water for some more creativity. I liked the duck footage, especially the depth of focus, felt that the disolve from duck to next shot a little too long. Generally, I liked it.

Barry Hunter videos4all.org

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

Thanks Barry,
yep watched it again and i agree, prob is ive a limited amount of footage to play with.
I should have spent longer at the location but cold/time got better of me.
I will go back again im sure and then i can hopefully have more time to get the shots needed.
Glad you liked the colour, i suppose its a very subjective thing
thanks for taking time to give me feedback.
cheers john

JMCP
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Joined: Nov 21 2000

Hi John,

it certainly does warm up a very cold scene, would almost think the original was a b+w scene.

For your panning shots, they are really nice and slow, did you use anything in particular to get them so controlled like a motorised panning head or even some more post processing ?

Cheers John

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

No panning was done just using the libec tripod, it has a good fluid head. I also use a Lanc controller, i leave it on the tripod all the time.
In the extreem cold i did find that the tripod was stiff to use until it was 'warmed up'

Bob Aldis
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Joined: Mar 7 2001

I think that when we look at a beautiful scene our eyes and brain sort out the colours, the camera sometimes needs a little help.

Although as I have got older the Lake District is my venue of choice and I really love it, it doesn't quite live up to the best that Scotland can offer. In fact Ullswater IMHO is not the absolute best that the Lake District can offer.

Bob Aldis

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008
Bob Aldis wrote:
I think that when we look at a beautiful scene our eyes and brain sort out the colours, the camera sometimes needs a little help.

Think you have a very good point Bob.

It was a shame I didnt have time to visit other areas, i had a list of places to shoot but just didnt have the time.
I will go back again when i can spend a couple of days and the weather is good.
I have thought about Robos comments overnight and i think i know what he is trying to say but i still prefer the film with the colour grading and think it only enhances what is there.IMHO:)

Thanks Bob. John

branny
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Joined: Nov 6 2001

Inspiring stuff John and I understand your 'set dressing' theory, but it does create a world through rose tinted glasses.
Looking at the B&A shots, maybe some projects just need the cold, hard look to them, which is a much braver look and just as attractive in a different way.
Overuse of any technique eventually numbs the viewer into boredom and you have film/edit qualities which deserve a variety of these without the overuse of the filters.
Make an epic with a story and save all these filters to make it something 'really special'.
Nice work! :)

Do not follow, I may not lead. Do not lead . . . I may not follow.

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

Thanks as always Branny,
Perhaps if i have time I could put up a complete film with no correction.
it would be interesting to see the feedback.
cheers john

Mike Pulcinella
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Joined: Jan 30 2007

Wow! Beautiful! I aspire to shoot such well-composed images.

harrier
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Joined: Sep 6 2008

thanks for your comments mike and taking time/ effort to reply. thanks john