Surf Edit

I was given footage of a surfer doing a front flip in the ocean, 6 different camera angles were used for the same take. I was given all this footage, along side some music and title text, and was asked to create a small 45 second edit.

https://vimeo.com/108130316

After watching all the footage and listening to the music, I had a vague idea as to what I wanted the edit to look like. I decided to start the edit by making the music the thing that drove the edit, as the music starts with a repetitive piano sound. I started with the surfer surfing in, preparing himself to do his front flip, but as each beat plays in the music, I would change the camera angle, so it fit really well. The music is driving the edit forward, it gives it a really nice fast pace which I was really quite pleased with.
The music then slows down, at which point I brought in the title provided. As the harmony comes into the song, I cut to a still shot of the sea, the soft harmonising calm music and the gentle movement of the waves both work really well together, and is also quite a contrast from the start of the edit, which was very quick. The camera then pans up and we see the surfer approaching on his surf board, as a cymbal is played, the surfer flips, once again editing to the music and creating a nice effect. The shot then fades out and is slowed down slightly to go with the music.
I then cut to the beat again, and the surfer once again comes into the shot and flips, but then I repeat this flip with a different angle, not cutting to motion, but actually repeating what had already happened, I'm not sure why I decided to do this, as most would cut to motion to create a seamless edit, but I thought it might give off a different effect and make it interesting.
The rest of the edit continues to cut in time with the music and the beat, however, I wasn't totally impressed with what I did on two occasions. I showed the surfer just leaving the water at the beginning of his flip from 4 different angles, but once again these weren't cutting to motion, they were repeating, at first I thought this looked as nice as the first time, but I realised that cutting to motion and making a seamless edit probably would have been the better choice, as it would've made it look a lot nicer. I then did this once again using 4 slightly different clips but as the surfer lands back into the water, each cut going in time with the music. I felt this was a little repetitive and should've maybe gone with something different or even just cut to motion.
I do however like the last shot, the last shot is the final clip of the 4 when he lands back into the water, I decided to go with the camera that is attached to the board, the GoPro. As he lands in the water, the water splashes up the camera and gives a really nice effect, especially since I added slow motion. The shot then fades out, and this made the ending of the edit seem really tidy.