Through Our Eyes - Kraków, Poland

A short film of us exploring the beautiful city of Kraków!
As I've mentioned in other recent videos, we spent five weeks in Europe this year. It was an amazing trip! Almost two of those weeks were spent in Krakow with my sister and brother-in-law, and while a lot of that time was just hanging out with them, we did go into the city several times and enjoyed the sights, sounds, and tastes that Krakow had to offer.
The equipment used to film this was:
Panasonic GH5 (used for the majority of the imagery)
Panasonic GH4 (for the hyperlapses)
Voigtlander 25mm f0.95 (I love this lens! Almost all traditional b-roll imagery was filmed with it)
Lumix 7-14mm f4.0 (for hyperlapses and the occasional wide-angle b-roll shot)
RØDE Stereo Videomic X (awesome mic for natural location audio)
The film was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects.
The music for this piece is "Soldier" by Fleurie. It took about three weeks to find the right music for this...I tried editing this footage to probably half a dozen other songs and none of them worked. Holly kept encouraging me to try this one, but I wasn't sure it would work, so I didn't for awhile. Once I did try it, everything just started to fall together so well.

[@niezabudek9883]

Th is is my city ... beautiful movie :)

[@BlueMantleFilms]

+Niezabudek Niezabudek thank you for watching! We enjoyed ourselves very much in your city!

[@yashchandy]

That is just amazing. The camera work, the music, the scenes, the places. Everything is top notch.

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you. We really appreciate you watching! Do you mind my asking how you found this video? We're trying to make more and more of these videos, and I'd love to learn how people are discovering our content.

[@wildpixelphotography6600]

I live in Canada now but this is my home town and I LOVE THIS VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING WORK !!!!!!!!!!

[@PlaneandTrainWindowSeat]

Thank you for sharing. Kraków is my favorite city.

[@Claude9211]

I went last year in Krakow, unforgetable city..... best movie compliments !!!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you! This video is one of my favorite videos of ours because it brings back such good memories of being in Krakow! We loved it and miss it.

[@bobwallis1757]

Great video! Super talent and amazing skill. I felt as if I was back in Bamberg Germany where I lived for three years

[@jerrickhakim]

You do amazing work. One of the BEST 👊

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! I watched a couple of your videos...I like the Madison one! Really clean, crisp shots. I read the description to see which equipment you used, and it mentions Mavic and Inspire 2, was there one used more than the other? The shots were so clean, it makes me think most of it was filmed with the Inspire 2.

[@jerrickhakim]

BlueMantleMedia thank you 🙏 That Video was all filmed with the Inspire 2 with the x5s. It’s an amazing piece of equipment.

[@Claude9211]

Wondrefull city Kraków...

[@bassamfaress4585]

Wow!!! Matt this is awesome!!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks, Bassam! Guess what? I bought myself a Mavic Pro recently...when we met you mentioned that you filmed with one. At the time my drone was an Inspire 1, but I've found it to be too bulky and attention-grabbing for some situations, so I've been enjoying the portability and low profile of the Mavic. And it still gets pretty awesome results!

[@darlon8217]

Impresive!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! Are you from Krakow?

[@kristalplacido3419]

I had so much fun in Kraków for a month. Wow! This video is amazing! It shows how beautiful Kraków is 😍

[@Alexleonovich]

Лучшее, что я видел!!!

[@melaniegriesemer]

AMAZING. As usual!!!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks, Melanie! And thanks again for watching our videos!

[@marcoz2753]

Amazing!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you.

[@ArturBFPV]

WOW, such a talent Matt. ! Subbed

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! Glad to have you here. I’ve been so backlogged with client work for the last several months that I haven’t been creating YT videos, but I’m *almost* caught up, so I’m hoping to be doing YT videos again shortly here.

[@SPONATIONAL]

Beautiful!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks. And thank you for stopping by and watching.

[@kawacarrasco]

WOW!

[@MrTjahzi]

fantastic edit, thumbs up!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you for watching! Happy you enjoyed it.

[@Werblyx]

I followed you a long time ago because you were good, now you are just amazing!! Are you full-time traveler? Dude, you have a perfect description, that saves many questions! And keep that Channel-banner, it's very nice although you have it for years.

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you for the kind words! I think our work has gotten better, yes, but it's also very different than it used to be. I'm glad to hear you like the direction we've taken with the style. We aren't full-time travelers anymore. We did a stint in 2015-2016 where we RV'd around the United States for 14 months. That was awesome, but it was also draining. Our plan for 2018 is to try to do a few trips, and keep releasing these travel films, but we'll still be based in the United States. Funny you mention the channel banner...I've been thinking about changing it, mostly because it has been on there so long. If I do keep the image I'll likely add some words to it that reflect the direction we're taking the channel. So, this is a long comment, but I do have a question for you! We're starting to produce tutorial and tip videos as well (haven't released any yet) so that we can be releasing content on a more regular schedule (ideally once a week!), so my question: what sort of tutorial/tip content would you be interested in seeing?

[@Werblyx]

Oh thats actually a nice question... I have got some ideas actually :D. First of all, you got some serious Drone skills, would be great if you did something like that, because you used for those vids I think the Phantom 2 and it hadn't got all those automatic things.... that would be nice, then Color grading is always nice, you do great sounddesign and I think, one Day filming with Bluemantlemedia, like a camera which shoots you shooting... then, what i miss on KZbin; How to find a fitting Music. I also think that your Forward-Backwards effects are perfectly placed.... perhaps you can make something out of that....For you, as a list: Drone shooting Color Grading "Behind" the scenes Find music Forward-Backwards effects Hyperlapses Flare photography and Videography!! So perhaps you can get some ideas or wishes from your community out of this and keep it up!

[@fanatic3856]

You inspired me with this material, probably the best video I've seen. 💪👍

[@studiofilmowekerad9176]

Beautifuly montage

[@tonyeck1]

Awesome brother

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks, Tony. See you at Christmas. Our attendance at the Christmas party is still up in the air.

[@JustlifeTomSandraYordi]

Very nice edit. The music rocks the video 👍👍

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thank you! My wife picked out this song....she often encourages me to be a bit unconventional and adventurous in the music choices for our films, and when that happens I've always been happy with the results.

[@kasmSke]

Really cool visuals! That lens sounds awesome

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! I'm happy with how they turned out. I think I may have gone slightly too far away from wide angle shots, but with each film I learn more about what I'd like to tweak and improve on my next film. Just watched your Sri Lanka video. Which lens do you like shooting with most?

[@kasmSke]

I've been using my 17-50mm 2.8, it's really awesome for travel. I think I should invest in more nice primes though!

[@cezarys822]

Nice one!❤

[@onemusicgroup8249]

Wow u did that!!

[@dawidwooszyn613]

Thanks for the inspiration

[@BlueMantleFilms]

+Dawid Wołoszyn of course! I'm always happy to encourage and inspire others to create...it's the same for me, I love watching other creators' content to get inspiration! Are you from Krakow?

[@dawidwooszyn613]

Blue Mantle Films +subscription:D

[@dawidwooszyn613]

Blue Mantle Films I'm doing some shots today's evening and I was looking for new ideas. That film was really helpful

[@valentingorobets5046]

This is dope

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks for watching!

[@AaronBrude.]

Incredible work. had to pause and subscribe within first 30 secs! How were the hyperlapse parts done?

[@KrystianMleczko]

Wonderful 😍😍

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Krystian Mleczko Thank you!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

+Krystian Mleczko are you from Kraków?

[@KrystianMleczko]

Yes!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Awesome! You have such a beautiful city! My sister's husband is from Kraków. He had studied in the United States, where he met my sister, and when they got married they moved to Kraków. So we figured since we have family there, it was a good place to visit. Hopefully we'll be back some day.

[@KrystianMleczko]

Blue Mantle Films I love this City! It's nice story with your Sister, i like it. I made my last movie in the Kraków Old Town. I'm curious how you did this time-lapse, especially over the River?

[@xivfilmsnewzealand3536]

Hi! Awesome work! How do you use youtube music for your vids?

[@BlueMantleFilms]

I get my music for the travel films usually through Musicbed.com...they've got such high-quality stuff that's really a cut above the other options, in my opinion. But they're expensive at $199 to license one song. That said, when working on non-travel-film projects, I usually use Artlist.io, which is a subscription-based music provider which costs $199 for a year-long subscription, and that subscription covers essentially unlimited use of their songs. They've got a library of I think over 3,000 songs, so it definitely is helpful to have that available as well. I signed up for it when I had a series of projects I was working on for a client, so it was easy to justify that the $199 fee, knowing that I'd be using at least a dozen songs within the first month or so. If you want to use Artlist, you can get two months free by using this link (full disclosure, if you sign up through my link, I also get two months free): artlist.io/Matthew-8137

[@nrice3623]

This is great, makes me want to get into video while traveling. I'm particularly wowed by the timelapses that travel through the public square (~1:06) --how do you do this?!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

I had the camera on a tripod, set to take a picture every 10 seconds, and I would move the camera about a foot between each photo and reframe the shot to keep a steeple (or similar) in the same spot of the image. Then in post I stabilized.

[@doktorgonzo5065]

Ok, I'm crying right now. We gotta meet. I want to work with you. I want you to teach me. This is amazing.

[@noobsperspective7946]

I love this its amazing but. How do you get the people to corporate or do things in it ex: when there eating food and all and some other spots etc.

[@lifteddigital6218]

Great video!! Did you make those Hyperlapse's the old fashioned way, or did you use a gimbal? I see that you made one with a drone across the river, pretty sweet!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

The old-fashioned way. :-) and the one across the river wasn’t with a drone, it was a bridge that I walked across with my camera/tripod.

[@checkeredflagfilms]

Great video! Can you devote a tutorial to speed ramping in Premiere Pro cc? Your methods are very effective with music.

[@kamilkuchnio2281]

Just WOW.. I'm just starting with filming but right now your skills are my dream aim.. How do you make this amazing Hyperlaps looking from down to top of the buliding?

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! Which hyperlapse are you talking about? The one at 1:35? Either way, I really think the "it" factor in getting good hyperlapses (both terrestrial, in this case, and for aerial hyperlapses) is using ND filters. That makes anything that's moving be blurry, so then the overall hyperlapse is not jittery and it makes for a really cool-looking hyperlapse.

[@kamilkuchnio2281]

The most impressive for me was hyperlapse in 2:49.. I know, that filters and color grading can make miracles, but this time my question is about technique of making it.. Cause it seems that it is not an image from any drone so how you are able to make such smooth move (as you mentioned - terrestrial) on the ground only with camera on your hand or tripod.. You are making one step and shooting a photo every 5s? 🧐 Ps. You have got new Fan in me !! Waiting for next videos.. 😁

[@joseph12125]

I really would like to learn from you ... love your videos ❤❤

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Thanks! I'd love to make more videos like this, but I've just been so busy with contracted projects that I haven't had as much time for creative work. I definitely need to get back into it, though. And I do still hope/plan to do some tutorials on some of the techniques used in this video, such as advanced hyperlapses.

[@joseph12125]

+Blue Mantle Films i hope you go back with such beautiful videos ... keep going on to show us your beautiful stuff and how can i comunicate with you ??

[@krakauerkrakauer]

Wow guys, wonderfull. I hope it´s ok for you, when I post it on facebook too. Otherwise let me know, will delete it then. Keep doing!

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Yuppicide75 Thank you for your excitement in sharing it. For sharing on Facebook (or any platform, really) please don't reupload the video, but instead share the link to this KZbin version of it. Thanks!

[@TAPPChannel]

So are you polish?? Its a random trip to Poland??:)

[@BlueMantleFilms]

TAPP Channel my sister married someone from Krakow, and they lived there for two years, so we visited them during that time.

[@master-vsons2838]

What camera do you use to catch these shots. And i love that everytime you cut their is always an action. We have just started a new channel and we also film places on our channel. Can you maybe check on our videos and give us some tips. And where do you guys find such fitting music

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Camera info is in the description (I try to include this info in every video we make). I license music for most of my travel films through Musicbed.com. It's not cheap (usually $200/song) but that's the cost of using really high-quality stuff. There are also several other websites that I get music from: www.artlist.io ($200 annual subscription to use any song/all songs from their entire library as many times as I want), www.mirrormirrormusic.com ($25/song), and www.audiojungle.com (usually $19/song), but all three of those aren't as good as Musicbed, and when I'm working on these personal film projects, I definitely want really high-end music. Regarding your channel: I watched part of your Block Party 2017 and your Yamaha 2017 videos. My favorite part of the videos is that they were people-centric. It took me a long time to realize how important it is to have people in the videos...they make it personal and relatable. As far as tips go: first tip I'd give is to shorten the videos. As a viewer I was getting a little bored watching them, so by shortening (particularly for the Block Party video) you can hopefully keep the viewer's attention for the duration of the video. Secondly, I suggest cutting the video to the beat of music to keep things moving along and exciting...have shorter shots and then cut when the beat hits. Also, try to vary your pacing a bit...sometimes cutting shots close together (like every beat of a song) and other times, with the really good-looking shots, holding on the shot for longer and cutting the shot on a beat a little bit later in the music. Hope that helps!

[@master-vsons2838]

BlueMantleMedia we have improved more. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Kunn-Kest0eNk

[@master-vsons2838]

This time we tried to cut it with the music and yeah. If you even have time can you tell us if we have improved

[@Anghor]

Wow... lost my breath...

[@BlueMantleFilms]

Hopefully in a good way. :-)

[@Anghor]

I spent some years in Cracow 20 years ago. Still love this city :) Your movie is simply amazing :)

[@spencernelsen1697]

The music seem to slow.. But great video over all