I had already planned and booked to go to Alnwick for a few days to film the flowers. These flowers I wanted to film in this garden in particular because all the poisonous flowers are all in one place which would save me time running around looking for them in the wild. Unfortunately due to the time of the year, this garden is closed because all the flowers have wilted. So, instead of wasting money, I went out to the garden and filmed what was available around me at that time. I had to be aware of shapes that I could match over in post production. I also looked at leaves, branches, water features creating different shapes, ripples and movement. The weather up north was extremely cold so I had to make sure the crew were wrapped up warm.
I had taken 2 cameras with me. 1 Canon with Magic Lantern to shoot time lapses, and 1 Sony NEX-5N so I can capture other footage whilst waiting for the Canon to capture time lapses.
Alnwick Gardens Bamboo Alnwick Gardens Fountain Alnwick Gardens Feature Fountains
Alnwick Gardens - Chains
Reflection
I felt I spent a long time out there filming a few shots, but I would rather be out there spending as long as I need to get useable shots. What I could improve on is to set up the camera a lot quicker and being decisive with my shots.
I should have given the crew breaks in between so they can warm up, but my reason for filming as much as I could in that day was because there was a lack of time where there was enough light for the camera to capture anything. So I did not waste any time we had there.
In the evening the crew and I went to the information centre to find out where the best place to capture a sunrise and a sunset. We found out to capture a sunrise we should go to Holy Islands because there, there would be a castle which I wanted in my shoot. To capture a sunset, we were told to go to Wooler where there was another castle (Bamburgh Castle) by the coast.
I planned to film the Sunset the next evening and the Sunrise the following morning.
Filming day 2 - Filming Sunset at Wooler
We drove to Wooler, and where the navigation system told us we had arrived, it led us in the middle of a town. We were surrounded by houses and giant mountains and nowhere where we could see the sun. So, I took in into my own initiative to keep driving around the mountains to find the sun and somewhere flat to film the sunset. In the end I found a sign which pointed me a a valley. So I thought it would be beautiful to capture a sunset in the valley.
We eventually arrived and it was a nature reserve, also finding out where we were had no signal on our phones. So our crew were all aware that we had to stay close incase anything happens.
I found a place where I wanted to film the sunset and set up. I had both cameras like last time, so I used the Sony to film the stream and wildflowers, whilst waiting for the Canon to capture the sunset. Our car was parked next to where I left the Canon which was left on the tripod. Kei - my assistant director kept an eye on the canon, and if she got cold, she could sit in the car with her eyes still on the camera. We also had snacks in the car incase we got hungry. As the sun set, the lighting got darker and the weather got colder, it was best to keep the crew all together in the car. The only thing which was out was the Canon which was still capturing the sunset. In the end it came to waiting for the sun to set as there was not enough light to capture any more footage for the poem.
(All Photos Taken by Kei Pervaiz)
On the way back the navigation system had taken us to another route back to Alnwick. The roads were dark because it was country roads we were driving through, so I took extra care when driving. We came across a stream that flowed right through the road we had to cross. I was worried about the safety of my crew if I had to drive through the stream. I thought about turning around, but the road was too narrow to turn the car. It was also too dangerous for me to reverse backwards in the dark. I had no option but to go through. Luckily there was a meter level which had measurements at what height the water was at which would be safe for vehicles to cross. Judging by the meter the water was low enough for us to cross. So I drove slowly and carefully through.
Reflection
I thought that although we did not find Bamburgh Castle and the coast, taking a risk with my own initiative, I had captured an amazing time lapse through the valley. This footage would be different than the sunrise, otherwise I would have had 2 similar shots in the beginning and the end of the poem.
This day was quite dangerous as it got darker where nothing was visible and we were in unfamiliar areas.
The crew had to get back quick, I had to transfer files onto the computer and charge all batteries ready for the morning. We had little time to sleep as we had to get up in a few hours to shoot the sunrise.
Filming day 3 - Sunrise at Holy Islands
Holy Island - weather
Waking up at 6 in the morning so we can drive out to film. We were once again driving with low visibility and narrow roads. The weather was wet and it was raining. We were warned that Holy Islands have a causeway, so we had to abide strictly by the times the tides had risen. We were given a timetable so we knew when it would be safe for us to cross if we had to cross. Knowing this information we knew the road driving to Holy Island could be flooded. So once again I was extremely careful in driving in the dark with eyes wide open, making sure I do not cross over the causeway whilst the tide was up.
As we got nearer to Holy Island I saw signs telling me that the causeway was close. I slowed the vehicle down, then looked for a place to park the car. Everywhere was dark, we could not see what was around us. I tried to find a place to put the camera then set the camera up. I came un-prepared not knowing where the sun would rise. As well as this, when the sky got lighter, I could not see anything that the camera could capture. With common knowledge we know that sun rises in the West so we knew we were looking to the left of us.
Then the weather got worse as it kept raining. I was worried about the camera getting wet, and if I was able to capture any sunrise. The weather ended up cloudy and we couldn't see any sun rising although the sky had gotten lighter. After a while, the tide went down, and Kei suggested driving over to the Holy Island to see if we could find some scenery to capture. My decision to kae another chance of capturing the sun with better scene, I quickly too the camera down and we drove over.
We realised there was only 1 road at the island and the island was very small. With nowhere safe to park the car and no scene where we can film, we decided to stop chasing the sun. We turned around and drove back to Alnwick.
Reflection
It was unfortunate that we could not capture the sunrise, and this was the last day up north to film anything. The weather was bad so wouldn't have captured the sunrise either way. I thought I should have done more research in knowing where I wanted to go to capture it, because we did not know where to face the camera in the dark. If the weather was better, to improve on the shoot, I should have gone to the location the day before to see where the sun rises so I know where to face the camera.
After returning the camera, I re-booked the camera the next time it was available.
Fllming day 4 - Sunrise at Colchester/Wyvenhoe
Kei knew Colchester, and knew that there was a castle that I could film. When we got to the location I felt the grounds were not big enough for my shoot and because the location was narrow, I was not sure weather we would capture the sun where the castle was. I had set up and started shooting. At the same time, I felt deep down I was not happy with what I was shooting. I told Kei what I felt so she knew I wanted somewhere in particular. She showed me a image on her phone a wider landscape, and it was what I wanted to capture. So she took me to that location. It was in Wyvenhoe 10mins drive from Colchester. Once again I quickly packed and drove there. We managed to get there on time to set up. Like last time, the weather was cloudy, and it had started raining. So once again I couldn't capture the sunrise.
Reflection
Once again I was unfortunate to capture the sunrise in good weather conditions. I felt that my restrictions were not having my own camera with magic lantern on. I have bought my own camera card, so I could ask Fergus to install Magic Lantern, and use any camera instead of waiting for a free camera. Now time is running out and I still have to edit my footage together. I will have no option but to download a time-lapse sunrise and credit the person who owns it.
Keys to the Room
Overall, I feel I have captured more than enough footage that I need. There were many shots planned that I couldn't shoot, so had to use my intuition. I knew what I wanted to shoot for my poem but I had to compromise with what I had in the given situation. I had to make all the negatives into a positive outcome and not let it stop me from capturing footage for my work. Of course, some of the meaning of my work has changed, but the contrast will still be there. I will make use of the footage that I have captured and see how I can make use of it without changing the theme and my aim of the film.
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