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I never get a first prize in photographic competition however, I consider myself more as a photographer than a film-maker. Yes, I was between the finalists, my photos got in BPOTY book and were in 10 best in some famous contests but everywhere were very strong rivals! 😧

I sent my short video to FOTOTEST magazine and got the first place!
View attachment 79675
It is in German ;-)
here is the link: https://www.fototest.de/fotowettbewerb/leserwettbewerb-ausgabe-1-2024-videografie-6129/
The link to video on youtube:

The video is not technically good IMO. The footage is not shoot in RAW and not graded and it is filmed without a tripod. The three episodes with cars were filmed much earlier. The episodes with car in the sand - the cars drive in opposite directions! What is actually wrong! And considered as two different cases and not that I conquered the sand ;-) I must have flipped the clip to bring the cars movement in one direction. And the last clip with lioness was not good stabilised. So, it is a lot of mistakes but I think, the story has won. The music was very good, too.
Interestingly, it took me about half an hour to create a film because my partner wanted to show something to his Boss :ROFLMAO: and wanted a quick version...
So, it shows that sometimes a quick version is a better one ;-)

I had a lot of footage from this trip and created a longer version of the film here:

The long version took much more time and effort. As it was ready my partner and other friends told the music is too dominant. I changed almost all music ...
But on the other hand I was happy because I found a music which sounds like Spanish and reminded me Torero fights ;-)
Then my partner said that we need to send my text to English proof! :oops: Because if the English is not correct that a good video will be de-valualed ...So, I needed then to make voice-over again for almost all sentences ... And I am not a native speaker! 😕
At the end I already hated the video and wanted to have it done. Somehow.
I am quite sure you also had such situation when you look for some justification to stop working on improvements.

And this is why we are here. To support each other :) and to encourage!
Congrats Elena...you have a knack for being in the right place at the right time...capturing events as they unfold. Technical quality alone can never compensate for the lack of a good story...and you've got good stories. Practice, practice, practice! :)
 
Hi Elena,

Wow, what a pair fantastic videos you have created. I watched them both only today because I was away all day yesterday. These audio-visual wildlife films are both beautiful gripping and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Such excellent footage you captured and so well edited and mixed together. And your narration was perfect as were the various music selections. Ausgezeichnet ! :love: I'm so glad you chose to post them here and share them with us. A BIG congratulations on winning first prize... well deserved. (y)(y)(y)(y)(y)!

Good luck on hopefully many future productions!
Cheers,
Rudy