Last Moments Of Life on Vimeo

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16. AMY

by Paul Kroeker

6 months ago

15. Last Moments Of Life

by Paul Kroeker

6 months ago

14. Wavy Gravy - Who Needs Twixtor? 2000 FPS+ With App…

by Paul Kroeker

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13. REDBULL MANNY MANIA:WINNI…

by Paul Kroeker

8 months ago

12. New Renaissance - "Out of Sight Out of Mind"

by Paul Kroeker

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11. Moby - BE THE ONE

by Paul Kroeker

9 months ago

10. It Must Be Summer

by Paul Kroeker

9 months ago

9. Cre8or Dave

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

8. Epic 4AM Macro Sesh

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

7. GBT Fuzzies

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

6. Silver's Story

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

5. "O"

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

4. It's a Woodyful Life

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

3. Garrett's Story

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

2. Milt's Training Camp

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

1. Floating Around Toronto with a 7D

by Paul Kroeker

1 year ago

Lake Winnipeg, Canada

The last moments of a Dragonfly's life captured on film. I did not hold this insect captive, it was just laying like this on my deck.

Composer : Gustavo Santaolalla
from the Babel soundtrack

‏

Credits

720 Likes

Rouyer Benjamin
8 hours ago
Tobias Stretch
15 hours ago
Gordon Ling
1 day ago
pepelepop
1 day ago
Gustavo Noble
1 day ago
Fabián Aguirre
2 days ago
Cinevate
2 days ago
Javier Pérez Serrano
3 days ago
Djordje Pivnicki - Dorde
3 days ago
Diego Melo
4 days ago

Tags

Jon Wu 6 months ago

Nice, I just cried over a bug :-P

AMAZING Footage Paul!! You are one with that lens bro!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Hehe, thanks Jon. I am Mr Miyagi to that 100mm
Jon Wu 4 months ago

I have watched this 100 times. You are one of a kind bro!
Paul Kroeker 4 months ago

Im flattered! Thanks for watching, Jonny!
Jon Wu 4 months ago

No problem PK! I am really amazed mainly because of the tiny scale that this is all happening on. Your opening focus pull from his fuzzy little back to his face is like an inch!! Thats like turning the focus ring maybe 1 mm!! And no shake!! Did you use any stabilization in post??
Luke Carter 6 months ago

Ah, that made me so sad! beautiful!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Luke! Glad it had an effect on you.
stuart whalley 6 months ago

Hey Paul, great shots man!!!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Stu!
slowmo.tv 6 months ago

what lense did you use? 100mm Macro IS?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Yep, the 100mm2.8L. I would be nothing without IS!!
Marcus Leite 6 months ago

This is nuts. When I saw the pulsing action on his tale end it blew my mind.
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thats my goal dude!!
Matt Wiebe 6 months ago

oh man, so sad. beautiful video though
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Matt! He TOTALLY feasted on mosquitos that day so Im sure he was pleased with his lifes work
Matt Wiebe 6 months ago

just seeing him breath like that, wow. Just incredible. Love how you cut to what would have been his point of view too. You're got skills man, I'm getting more intimidated to know you, haha, you're to good. Frick, now I want to buy a macro lens. This video belongs on National Geographic TV.
Bill Acheson 6 months ago

That's some subtle focus pulling! Everything was so sharp!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Bill!
Sundeep Toor 6 months ago

amazing footage :) nicely edited into a narrative too :)
Atticus Lake 6 months ago

Very beautiful... lovely the way you built a narrative around it.
Oden 6 months ago

very nice
Vitùc 6 months ago

Wonderful !
Matt Wiebe 6 months ago

is it crazy that his face reminds me of my dog?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Nope! haha i thought the very same thing! Its like he has three faces all in one. I personally love the drunken yellow one eyed face right in the front:P
JJ Fabre 6 months ago

Yo man! This is... so asosjdflksjdf.
I'm stumped, I don't even know what to say.
Great capture bro.

God bless you more.
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

You too man! I loved your Vimeo apprentice vid:)
Dan Hashemi 6 months ago

well done! :) RIP
Simon Watson 6 months ago

wow - this is the kind of work that i want to see more of! i need to get back out in the field! what lens and aperture do you use for the expiring dragonfly?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Simon! 100mm Macro 2.8… was at 2.8 mostly as I was shooting very high shutter
JJ Fabre 6 months ago

Paul, may I ask when is best to use high shutter speeds, and low shutter speeds? Because when I shot at 24fps I keep my shutter at 50. And when in 60fps I use 120shutter speed. Because they said in order to get good results your shutter should be twice your fps.

Thanks man, info would really be much hoorayed!

:)
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

I mainly use the same shutter speeds as you mentioned but if you want more flexibility for the edit shoot higher shutter speed like 1/1000 or greater. it sometimes looks choppy but you can smooth it in post or slow waaaaay down and it looks like no frame blending. clean and crisp!
Caleb Vinson 6 months ago

Outstanding!!!!!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Caleb :)
Chris Klüpfel 6 months ago

Wow... sad but amazing! And you got a POV-shot as well that`s great! Think I gotta buy a macro lens too!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks Chris!
Real&Short 6 months ago

Yes, so sad to watch it. Very touching.
Adrian Bisek 6 months ago

very cool
Adam Daniel Mezei | ADMTV 6 months ago

Too gruesome to take us to the very end?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

That was pretty much it. he stopped moving after that moment
Andrey Andonov 6 months ago

Life and Death! Impressive short film:)
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thank you Andrey!
Millefiore Clarkes 6 months ago

all earth's creatures got souls. lovely.
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thank You:) Yeah I definitely felt for this guy. Ive seen thousands upon thousands of dead bugs but never have I been affected like this
Daniel Ferro 6 months ago

This is by far the most touching video about wildlife I've ever seen. Its easy to do videos about baby tigers or cute monkeys...but make me cry about a regular bug its the first time. AMAZING!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks for the kind words!
Self-Eating Pie 6 months ago

Really beautiful work, congratulations.
Matt Wiebe 6 months ago

i've probably watched this 20 times. It's just so damn powerful
Eddie Peel 6 months ago

Cool Paul. I'm flying around. In Kiev at the moment watching this. So damn fine
glossolalia black 6 months ago

*tears*
sergio yamasaki 6 months ago

Thanks!
David Graham Scott 6 months ago

Poignant and beautiful. Well done!!
Julian Futanto 6 months ago

The best part is it almost seems like he's praying as he nears the end..
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

:-)
Callum Baker 6 months ago

Stunning photography in this, perfect music for it too. Beautiful!
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thank you Callum!
Daniel M 6 months ago

Well done, sir. You made a 32 y.o. man tear up and sniffle about a dragonfly.
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

I am 31 and I cried too so you are not alone brother
Gestina Roman 6 months ago

I just cried. Thank you.
Keith Donegan 6 months ago

Amazing! what camera do you use?
Jack booja 6 months ago

Verry powerfull images, touched me. Love & peace !
David Owens 6 months ago

Simply touching.. Thank you.
Mƴɾℴsɭɒω бƴtɀ 6 months ago

beautiful! blogged at
chimeralucida.tumblr.com
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks for doing that!

P
Gunther Gheeraert 6 months ago

wow... speechless... really beautiful !
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thank you!
Rodrigo J Lopez 6 months ago

As a visual artist it's so important to keep your eyes open, to absorb and observe everything no matter how big or, in this case, how small. You captured in under two minutes a moment that so many go a lifetime without experiencing. Thanks for sharing.
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Thanks for commenting!

You are bang on. I'm always working(or not working) depending on how you're looking at it :)
Jonathan Patterson 6 months ago

As has been mentioned, I really liked when you could see him breathing. Kinda looked like he was praying with his legs up to his face. Very compelling video!
Eli Firmeza 6 months ago

fucking awesome...
Mike Mytnick 6 months ago

Hands down one of the best videos I've seen in a long time
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Im happy you liked it!
Brian Boudreau 6 months ago

great work
Shanghaijerry 6 months ago

Beautifully done.
marfab 6 months ago

exceptional
Christopher Honninger 6 months ago

Awesome. May I ask how 1:08 was achieved?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

A GoPro on the end of my canoe paddle. Forgot to mention that in the details!
Christopher Honninger 6 months ago

You are indeed creative! The slowest I have got is 5% with Twixtor off of a 24fps shot - so you can imagine how warped the generated frames in-between looked like! Awful.
Paul Hamilton 6 months ago

UN REAL - 1:08-1:11 is the dragonfly's POV, did I get this right? Beautiful photography, and thank you for noticing the drama that was being played out on a miniature scale. You obviously appreciate things that almost everyone overlooks.
Christopher Honninger 6 months ago

Haha, read my question. I thought the exact same thing, I believe Paul tried to mimic the fly's POV.
Paul Kroeker 4 months ago

You got it! Thanks for the amazing comments I am very flattered.
juan pablo 6 months ago

which camera is used for this film? really good camera.. congratulation for this video
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Canon 7D and thanks!
bliss* productions 6 months ago

captivating. the prayer pose of the dragonfly. who knew? beautiful work. which brand of the 100mm Macro are you shooting on?
Paul Kroeker 6 months ago

Canon 100mm2.8L IS. Gotta have IS for MAcro video :O
Chris Klüpfel 6 months ago

Just heard a Song that reminded me on your Video:
youtu.be/yZJM56jj-2w

:)
Roland van Paridon 6 months ago

Wow, I've never appreciated the beauty and innocence of a dragonfly until now. Great footage!
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

Thank you:)
FKY 5 months ago

Wow !! i love it so much !
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

Danke!
Tinefis 5 months ago

Oh, I SO want a macro lens.
Beautifully shot. =o)
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

: ) :-) : p
David Grecu 5 months ago

Wonderful. Transcendent. Did you color correct it? So beautiful. Reminds me of the old Russian film experiment where the cut from a man's face to a bowl of soup etc.

Also reminds me of Matthew 10:29-30: "Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many Sparrows."
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

CC was done in Final Cut. Very poignant verses David! Thanks!
David Edward Therault 5 months ago

Nice work... life, in the most minute form, remains life.
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

Indeed. Thank you!
Luke Humphrey 5 months ago

Nice job capturing this moment, Paul. We also share taste in music, Gustavo Santaolalla is amazing.
Paul Kroeker 5 months ago

Thanks Luke!! He is amazing! I just discovered his music by fluke while searching to find music fitting for this moment.
Gabriel Franco 4 months ago

Really good Paul! Congrats.
Paul Kroeker 4 months ago

Thanks Gabriel!
Gaina 4 months ago

That was incredibly moving. Also nice to know I can admit it moved me to tears and at least a few people won't think I'm daft ;).