leatherback
The Treedeemer
Yeah, guess it is a challenge just doing this with a photocamera on a tripod!
Feedback on my first video
- Thread starter leatherback
- Start date
Clicio
Masterpiece
You need a full crew, man.
You are a Pro after all!
JoB
Yamadori
I only discovered your channel a couple of weeks ago...it is great , I have been binging on your videos this week 
pandacular
Masterpiece
or worse, "hey I did this thing to this tree. trust me, it will work. no, I won't show you an update on it."
lots of bad info shared this way. as the Russians say, trust but verify.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I DID ask you to help me out. You just refuse to leave your lovely Brazil.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Thank you. Glad you enjoy the vids!
Doogliebop
Mame
I concur. I actually found Jelle's YT channel before I knew who he was on BN. I like it a lot although the editing has some room for improvement but that'll come in due time. The best bonsai video edits I've ever seen on YouTube are by Bonsai Releaf.Viewers obviously notice and appreciate it. I know I do.
By next growing season, you may start pursuing ways to increase production quality. It's about the only thing you can do; the rest is a matter of time, and keeping up the good work
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Any tips as to what you think can be improved?
Note, this guy does video for a living
pandacular
Masterpiece
For me, one of the things that I love about your video is that you are clearly an amateur, but treat your videos with a great deal of professionalism. What I mean by that is that your trees, technique, garden, etc all seem very accessible to me. Speaking personally, I like that your videos aren't over-edited. And I'm sure that it makes for more time in front of a camera, which is what I'm all about.
I've never seen editing or presentation to get in the way of what you're trying to say. Not everyone needs their videos to be "perfect". I like when your videos have "small failures", as that's an important part of the learning process. And as you've said, you don't have a crew, so sometimes you simply don't have the free hands to do things gracefully in a single take.
Your video about failure is a great example of this, and one of my favorites.
I've never seen editing or presentation to get in the way of what you're trying to say. Not everyone needs their videos to be "perfect". I like when your videos have "small failures", as that's an important part of the learning process. And as you've said, you don't have a crew, so sometimes you simply don't have the free hands to do things gracefully in a single take.
Your video about failure is a great example of this, and one of my favorites.
pandacular
Masterpiece
My favorite example of (amateur, i think?) bonsai video editing is this channel.
Worth noting that it is a very different style than yours, and much less personal.
Worth noting that it is a very different style than yours, and much less personal.
pandacular
Masterpiece
I had a chance to watch a few of your videos over lunch, and have one piece of more specific feedback. In your videos with time jumps, it would be really nice to have a visual indicator of the time/season/month. Many of your videos, you will say "so now it's been 6 weeks" or something similar, and I think the visual approximate date would help viewers, especially those who may not be strong in English.
Doogliebop
Mame
Honestly you're doing everything right. I've noticed you become more comfortable on camera. Your style of video is more informative that that other channel. His videos look great(of course) but much more detail and "NuAncE" get lost in a time laps style vid without narration. Your vids are much more personal. The only thing I can suggest that can boost viewership is filming in 4k. Channels that started to use a 4k capable cameras report a huge boost in views on the very first vid. That's the only suggestion I have.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
The thing I notice most is that some videos look higher quality than others. Things like color balance and resolution will look great in one video, but then in another they're terrible.
I have to ask, are you adjusting the white balance every time you film?
And can you tell us what kind of camera you have been using? It's very common to use photo cameras for YouTube videos, or even just a high quality phone camera.
A basic DSLR camera is generally enough if you know how to use it, and should be available at around 200€ or so. Another step up to 300 to 400€ and you have many more production options available to you, like remote control, microphones, and even physical filters. It's just a matter of what you're budget is, and how far you want to take it.
Michael P
Omono
I just watched your video on substrate for the second time. Your common sense approach is so refreshing! The video quality isn't perfect, but as Voltaire said, "The prefect is the enemy of the good." Your on-screen persona and voice are very likeable. Your low-key sense of humor works and is never forced.
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
When it comes to Bonsai, Id rather watch someone with poor video quality but better information. I watch bonsai videos to learn what to do to my own trees. Jelle honestly has more informative and approachable content than most of the larger big-shot guys. Its why I watch.
I felt waaay more confident in doing my shimpaku air layer after watching his video.
I felt waaay more confident in doing my shimpaku air layer after watching his video.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Well.. I JUST got a second hand camera that *can* do 4K video. It does however add a load to my laptop. Now already I am flying through diskspace!
I normally set the whitebalance to shade. It is a bit of a tricky thing to handle tbh. as I do not know how to automatically link video material and adjusting each clip takes hours. So often I am not bothered to adjust afterwards (Also because I do not know what is the right color often!). Light is a challenge which I do not know how to fix.
The resolution I do not understand. In fact, I have wondered what happens when I upload; Light & volume seem to be adjusted by YT processing.
I am using my old canon eos 5D III. In principle should be able to get good material. Just lacking a good indoor light setup (Or space in my shed to create it) which pushes me outside to film with decent light. Oddly enough the 5DIII struggles with regular TL lights.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Ah, this tells us everything! I looked up the model and it is capable of everything you could need it to do, except of course 4k (which is totally optional anyway). Your shots are very well framed and well planned.
Seems you might just be unfamiliar with some of the technical aspects of using the camera.
There will be a setting to adjust the white balance manually. Don't use the preset options. The procedure looks like this:
In the white balance (WB) settings select manual
Place a plain white sheet of paper (or white with bold black print is ok) in the frame
Zoom in so that the paper is the only thing visible in the frame
Press the WB button and the camera will automatically adjust itself for the best possible color balance
Do this every time you change locations and your images will be much more consistent quality.
Another tip: avoid using the digital zoom.
Digital zoom is equivalent to taking a picture and blowing it up. The image will start to get grainy and pixelated after a point.
Using optical zoom by adjusting the lens itself avoids this.
I'll get into lighting later.
pandacular
Masterpiece
This clip from your most recent video is a great example of this. The (unintentional) comedic timing of watching the backdrop slowly slip before finally falling, and then your reaction to it was really amusing.
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
I still watch every video. Im more likely to watch your videos than any of the other bonsai channels I follow (about a dozen). Good video lengths, good insight and info, trees that are or seem attainable to me a few years down the road, and an approachable likeable personality. I can see myself having a beer and hanging out. Cant say that about a lot of others.
D
Deleted member 47471
Guest
Agreed, his trees and videos are masterpieces. He has the finest details covered all the way down to lateral orientation of buds on a larch. Amazing.
