Eight Amazing Travel Videos

My video One Week in Iceland was my first ever attempt creating a land-based travel video. For those of you that don’t know, I’ve worked as an underwater videographer in the Cayman Island and in Thailand, so I have tons of experience with filming underwater but not much with filming above it!

I love the editing process (I use Final Cut Pro) but often when I’m on location I’m so focused on photography that I forget to take video! I was happy enough with my Iceland results that I’m definitely planning on making another video in Hawaii. I get a lot of inspiration from other people’s work, and so in preparation for my trip I’ve been rewatching some of my favorite travel videos of all time.

1. Time Is Nothing – Around The World Timelapse

This is THE film that got me excited about travel videos! Kien Lam traveled to 17 countries over 343 days and took 6237 photographs — and the result is this. I love spotting my favorite destinations, like Koh Tao, Thailand, in this video.

2. Toy Thailand

Shot with a tilt-shift lens, this film actually brings tears to my eyes. Of course I do tend to get emotional around images of my beloved Thailand, but the music and cinematography are sniffle-worthy as well.

3. Fiji By Flighthouse

I think I would die happy if I could create something as beautiful as this. I especially love the incorporation of underwater footage. Excellent editing and use of color and light — who wants to go to Fiji?!

4. St. Maarten Tourism Commercial

Perhaps its a bit strange to include a tourism commercial in this collection of videos, but when I saw this ad I ran to my computer to see who made it! I always pay attention when travel ads are on and this one caught my attention like no other. It’s only a 30 second spot so fast forward through the first 15 seconds of nothingness.

5. In The Land Of The Northern Lights

My aversion to all things cold and winter may mean its a long time before I get to see the Northern Lights. Until then, I have this beautiful time-lapse video shot in Norway to remind me what I’m missing!

6. Oh, the Places You’ll Go at Burning Man!

I am dying to go to Burning Man and have made it a priority for August 2013! This video manages to capture the magic and whimsy of the event with a nod towards the greatest poet of our times, the fantastic Dr. Suess. Excellent producti0n quality!

7. Traffic in Frenetic HCMC, Vietnam

Another amazing time lapse, this video brought back so many memories of risking life and limb while crossing the street in Ho Chi Minh city! I wasn’t a fan of the destination, but I could not love this video more.

8. One Week in Iceland

Okay perhaps I should have called this list Seven Amazing Travel Videos… and one aspiring one! Of course I have a long way to go before I can aspire to really be grouped with the other filmmakers in this post, but it’s a start…

Change settings to HD for best quality. Music from the Icelandic artist Soley.

Looking for more great travel videos? Head to Tripfilms for endless sources of inspiration! Do you shoot video when you travel? Any tips for me as I take on Hawaii?