{My blog mojo has been dormant, but not without worthy distractions. I have been spending a lot of time learning how to record video, how to edit video, and how to market video, and it has been a wildly different direction.}
I was brought to Les Voiles de St. Barths regatta to provide a different kind of product. The event had secured Nefertiti Productions, a French team, to create daily race videos and a regatta recap. My filming responsibilities were less defined, and it came with its advantages and disadvantages:
up, I went sailing three days out of four.
down, I went sailing three days out of four.
By sailing so much, the overall diversity of my material was low and I was unable to compile a top-to-bottom, start-to-finish story for the regatta’s conclusion. What I was able to get, though, was an insiders perspective from onboard the boats—and with the equipment I was using, think I did so in a way that very few people have had the opportunity to even attempt.
The next question, of course: do I edit all that footage or not?
Editing takes a ridiculous amount of time and effort, and in doing so you also run the risk of losing the authenticity of what was originally captured. The process of editing can make storyline development difficult, too; you’re chopping, changing, shortening, and re-ordering something pure. Perhaps most significantly—the addition of music can limit auditory impact.
So—which of the below do you prefer? The raw, 11-minute feed, straight from the camera? Or the finely polished, 4-minute brief?
{the edited version has been viewed over 17,000 times, while the uncut clip nearly half that, at 8,000 plays.}
Loved the footage on-board Rambler. As a naturalist myself, I tend to favor the uncut versions, however you have to keep in mind that “outsiders”- the ones who do not have an understanding of sailing, may find some of the footage tedious and /or long winded – they don’t have an 11 minute attention span. This is why, unfortunately, the edited version is a necessary evil if you want to attract these “outsiders.” Not knowing your intended audience, its tough to say which is preferred.
What equipment are you using to shoot the video? DSLR w/ steadycam? Waterhousings? I’m always curios to see behind the scenes. I’m very impressed with how smooth the video is – even in the choppy seas.
I love the uncut version as it gives so much more of the overall experience. However, the edited version is crisp and tells a good story in a short amount of time; the music is good. So tough vote but I voted uncut (I like them both). You have great talent.
What Hunt said. Nice work Amo.
Ditto to all above! Tough choice….11 minutes of pure action as part of the crew, or 3 of beauty ( with the wonderful remote chase boat video ). Why can’t I have both? Oh, I can !! By the way, number of views are misleading as sailing web-sites linked the edited version. Nice work, Amo….
As has been said above, the uncut version was impressive and the edited video is just on the spot- pictures, light, music- fantastic!!
I really like the way it´s been shot, which was more visible on the uncut version, but the edited is a fine piece to show to my family (non sailors) and the uncut video is a must see to get an impression on big boat sailing.
if i´drun a coffe shop i would like to have the long version with music to be played on the screen..
keep on with your photography, it has been a real pleasure to see the pictures.
Hi Amory,
I bet your “real” uncut version has a lot more minutes than the 11 shown here….
ps, I liked your quick edit which you removed the best…..
Sander
As a photographer the edited version is great but as a sailing the uncut version is good to see life on board a big boat, great footage.