Robert E. Howard's Cimmeria, Version 2

This is a little revamping of my earlier version of Cimmeria. Since the original poem was inspired by a misty day around the Enchanted Rock area, I think my earlier version, though pretty, was not quite what Howard was envisioning when it came to overcast skies and a moodier setting. I haven't changed the audio, but have reworked some shots and added more overcast video for a darker look. Please let me know what you think!

copyright 2009 WarriorPhotog Productions

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• REH
• Robert E. Howard
• Cimmeria
• Conan the Barbarian
• Texas writers
• Texas poetry
• Enchanted Rock
• Fantasy poetry
• Central Texas

[lehah]

This is by a wide margin - the best thing I've seen in a long, long time.

[warriorphotog36]

Thanks so much for the compliment! I tried to make it as moody as I could, with what mother nature gave to me. If I just capture a small amount of what Howard was trying to convey, then I think my job is done. Still plan on touching up the audio a little bit. This is actually the area of Texas where Howard was inspired to write the poem, so I think it's fitting. How were you directed to the video?

[lehah]

@warriorphotog36 I was talking about poetry with a friend of mine on AIM and went to dig up some samples through Google. The funny thing is that I had just replaced my soundcard and speaker set-up a couple weeks ago - so I didn't even hear the poetry, just the Wagner! I thought the video was a picture-and-music interpretation of the poem and it *blew my mind* how perfect it was. The reading of the poem is excellent, but there was some kind of magic in not hearing the poem recited...

[warriorphotog36]

Wow....never even thought of that. I am currently working on a version of The Tempter, Howard's poem about suicide. I might try to not have narration in it and see how that goes. I never thought of not having a narrator, but it's true, this piece does work in it's own way without words. Had you read Howard's poem before you saw this? I am a news photographer in my day job, and we work by the rule: if you say it - show it. That's why I tried to match what Howard was saying the whole time. Thks!

[varanid9]

Much gloomier imagery (more eerily beautiful and also more in keeping with REH's vision, IMHO). Just one question: why the british accent?

[warriorphotog36]

Thanks for the kudos! Yes, I went back and reshot the Enchanted Rock area when a cold front/storm system finally blew through Texas, ending a prolonged drought. I agree it is more in keeping with Howard's vision. The accent comes from Donald Sydney-Fryer, a poet, and guest of honor at last year's Howard Days in CP. He lived in Europe for awhile, and he read it with the accent. Just used my recording of him to help map out the images. Might go back and change the reading later with another voice.

[darkempire37]

this is a great tribute...thanks for sharing !

[useahammer]

Yes, the video is better than the first one. It's a testament to R.E.H.'s imagination. Thanks for your valiant efforts.

[joelombrdo]

Hello, I really enjoyed the video. Cimmeria is one of my favourite poems by Howard and The Tempter is one of the others. Glad to see you like them too!. It's great seeing there are other big Howard fans other there!

[ThePhantomBlacksmith]

Excellent video photography. Did you shoot this? --I've had an REH epiphany recently. I've known of H.P. Lovecraft but I've never read his stuff until recently. While reading it I was thinking this has Howard written all over it! Or probably more accurately, REH's stuff has Lovecraft written all over it. I've read that they were friends and pen pals, and you can see Lovecraft's influence when Howard describes his characters encountering the macabre and supernatural. That same dark feel to it.

[shavedchimpanzee]

As per your response to my comment, I checked out this video. You were right; I think this is much more the kind of thing REH had in mind when he wrote the poem. Very brooding and overcast. I live in the semi-arid Rocky Mountains, where we rarely get clouds, but a few weeks ago we had a very Cimmerian day, with deep fog and a leaden gray sky, and I remember looking out the window and thinking about this poem.

[lehah]

@warriorphotog36 Yes, I am an immense fan of Howard's writing but particularly his poetry. I have most of the recent Del Rey books but two of my pride and joys are my copies of Always Comes Evening and The Collected Poetry Of Robert E Howard. My favorite by him might be A Song Out Of Midian, Hymn Of Hatred or The Tide.