AirVūz, a leading platform for aerial videography and photography uploads, recently announced the winner of its annual Drone Video of the Year competition. They gave their community a week to vote for their favorite video from a pool of nominees. The winner was announced by Paul 'Nurk FPV' Nurkkala. The winner is Reme Morales for his cinematic, Matrix-style FPV reel collaboration with Preston Chen.
To qualify, all videos had to be filmed in 2021. If some of these artists look familiar, it's because DPReview has featured 'Right Up Our Alley' by Jay Byrd Christensen in the past and Johnny FPV recently. YouTube videos are embedded in this article but we encourage you to check out each user's profile on AirVūz as well.
Overall Winner: 'The Juice – Cinematic FPV Reel' by Reme Morales with Preston Chen
Artist Description: Where do I start? 1 year ago during Quarantine I started flying FPV in which I spent nearly everyday working on the craft while the streets were empty. I needed to take the time I had off from my airline job of 5 years and use It wisely as I knew I wanted to do something special, especially after the feeling of Immersing myself in the goggles having full manual control of a machine that what ever your imagination wants you can do. This short film is the collection of amazing projects this last year of flying and in collaboration with the wizard Preston Chen we immerse you into the world of the FPV Matrix!
Finalist: Sights Around the World (Drone Reel) by Merr Watson
Artist Description: Here’s a drone reel highlighting some of my favourite drone shots from my past travels around the world.
Finalist: 'DUTCH 2020 | Beauty around the corner' by
Artist Description: During the covid 19 pandemic I was forced to explore my own country. Dutch 2020 is a breathtaking journey through all seasons of Holland.
Finalist: 'Red Notice FPV Drone Sequences' by Johnny FPV
Artist Description: Check out my latest shots from Netflix's new mega movie, 'Red Notice'.
Finalist: Jay Christensen
Artist Description: N/A, check out our coverage here.
For me the question is what is the point of a short (drone or not) video, surely the same as with a still photo - they should tell a story of some kind or fulfill a function. I have seen world press photography award winning entrants/photos displayed in Vienna that tell more "story" in one single still photograph than the the winner of this award, and some of the others.
For me, the best one was "Right up our Alley", great short film, great conceptualisation and execution and clever end. Honourable mention for Dutch 2020 for the humor and the point that beauty is all around, even outside our front door if we open our eyes.
I can't deny the technical excellence also of the other entrants, but technical excellence, frenetic sequences and instagram selfie type films are not enough to win awards for me.
There is not any of the other films I want to see again. Kind of pretty, but boring actually. The Dutch was kind of funny. But this was also moving around, looking at stuff from all angles. Maybe the James Bond drama was a bit more inventive. But I found it meaningless. Needs more interesting content. Fun idea though.
I have seen much better ones. Usually drone flights over extremely beautiful areas or something with some kind of meaning, like covering a outhill cycle race. I have also seen some that documents interesting places. One of my favorite was several synchronized flights over a beautiful area at different times of the year. Then morphing between the different flights. Stunning!
The winner, the juice, was quite impressive. So much! But, on the other hand, too much and too fast. Maybe it is because I am 60+, but I do not enjoy 2 second clips. Then I will see everything and nothing at all. I am not fast enough to take it in.
Note to all directors at large with itchy fingers, shakey cameras and two second cuts: you are not doing a commercial or a music video. Those like me find the ADHD style annoying and stop watching after the first 30 seconds. Putting your viewer in a blender is not a good way to convey feelings.
It looks really well made but I had to stop watching after 30 seconds due to motion sickness. I'm one of those people who can get motion sickness from an EVF so not necessarily a bad movie, just too much for me to watch.
The collection of drone visuals were amazing, the first is more of a show of ability , but great ability and flying it is. I like something about each one. And didn't like something about each one ; my favorite are two. But the last one had me cracking up !! All in all a great collection, of fantastic images, exotic places , heart ponding , cinematography ; well done guys.. DP Review is the best of the best Photography sites..OUTSTANDING !!!
when you dont have a story to tell, just make your viewers dizzy so they cant tell if they just missed it.. Just because your drone can make some amazing twists and turns doesnt mean you have to use that for filming.
So drone filming is all about flying around the subject in circles faster and faster and faster and then even more, including shots of 0.05 s including maximized contrast and color and even more of everything. I'm skipping it.
IMHO this fast twisted editing is just very unappealing. But that's me. In general I feel that those of us who like good photos would not like this kind of editing. Perhaps a younger hyper crowd likes this sort of thing.
I find there's far too much needless movement, making it really hard to watch. I'm just glad I'm watching these on a small screen rather than in a theater.
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