Now that my documentary Connecting with Owls is finished I have some time to review my images and video from the Majestic Feathers 2013 Tour to Peru. While doing so I decided to edit a short video featuring a few of the hummingbird species that can be seen during the tour when we are traveling down the Madre de Dios River and stopping to stay at some of the remote lodges.
This region is some of the most species rich habitat on the planet and I think there is nothing better than traveling down this river to view the birds, and wildlife that reside along the banks and fly over head. Well, maybe it is equally wonderful to disembarking from a motorized canoe and spend a few days and nights soaking up the wonders of being at several of lodges in the heart of the rainforest.
There is so much to enjoy and to be astounded by. Among the astounding are the hummingbirds. They are phenomenal. Watch this 7 minute video featuring a fraction of the species that we have see, and that are possible in this region and you will have an inkling of what you are in for when you take a Majestic Feathers tour to Peru.
Lynn Cameron snapped this shot of me just a few minutes before the premiere of Connecting with Owls. I was bursting with excitement, nerves, and happiness!
Showing my film Connecting with Owls to kick off the Hagerman Bird Festival was a thrill!
I first began shooting the footage for this project in 2004. The majority of the filming was complete by 2007 and for many years stacks of video tape cassettes sat on the shelf and I wondered when the impetus would hit me to sit myself down and do the editing work to complete my documentary about owls.
Some people knew that I was working on an owl documentary, most people had no idea. In 2009 I made mention of the stack of video tape cassettes on the shelf in casual conversation during one of my Majestic Feathers Tours. Delores Smith was on that tour and she was within ear-shot. Apparently she remembered that stack of raw footage because in December of 2012 at the compilation dinner following the Hagerman, Idaho Christmas Bird Count she said to me. “Kathleen, we are thinking of having a bird festival in 2014. If we do would you consider finishing your owl documentary and premiering it at the festival?” I thought for a moment and my inner voice said, “you know, a deadline would be a good thing.” I said yes I would accept the challenge and the offer to premiere the film at the festival.
So that is a bit of the history as to how I found myself filled with excitement and wondering how the film would be received on Valentine’s night 2014 at the Hagerman Bird Festival.
My uncle Lynn Cameron came to the festival and he was very kind to respond with a yes when I asked him if he would shoot some video during the premiere with my point and shoot Coolpix. I know he would have been happier to have a pro camera in hand because of the limitations of the point and shoot. Like me he is used to being able to manually focus, adjust exposure and aperture and to basically have much more control. However, he did not have that camera in hand. So when you view the attached video about the premiere you will see that the camera was having its way with the situation at a few points, especially when the autofocus “decided” to just go wild! Fortunately in the editing process I was able to cover for some of these issues but not all of them.
Click here to see the short film that we made about the premiere of Connecting with Owls.
After seeing the movie several viewers shared their thoughts about the film with me and here are some of the comments I have received.
I was impressed with your presentation – loved your voice. Do you know what you did? You nobalized the owl, without anthropomorphizing. What a fantastic film! I showed it to my kindergarten/first grade classes and they were as enthralled as I was at the Hagerman Bird Festival. W. Money ,Washington
I was privileged to be present at the Hagerman Bird Festival for the debut of Kathleen Cameron’s film “Connecting with Owls.” Owls are amazing creatures that have captured the imagination of mankind since the beginning of recorded history, but most people don’t know how to find them. “Connecting with Owls” captures not just the imagination, but the heart and mind of all who watch it. I really enjoyed the footage of a wide variety of owls in their natural habitat. Fantastic moments of owl behavior were captured and presented with wonderful music and insightful information. I can’t begin to imagine the hours of filming and editing Kathleen put into this impressive project, but it is simply amazing.
Robert Mortensen
Kathleen I have watched my DVD of Connecting with Owls 3 times now so that I would not miss any of what you have captured and felt in this tribute to owls. Clearly you have put every day into this film for a very long time. I want you to know that I think you are a real teacher and even better, a lover of life.
K. Lang
Idaho
“People were totally blown out of the water by that movie.”
Delores Smith
Hagerman Bird Festival Chairperson
Quote from the Times News, Twin Falls, Idaho 2/20/14
It is very gratifying to me that people that have seen Connecting with Owls are taking the time to let me know what they think of it.
You can see a preview of the Connecting with Owls by clicking here.
Majestic Feathers now has an Online store for purchasing the DVD, click here Connecting with Owls DVD.
Thank you Delores for the deadline! You and your committee did a wonderful job!
