A Poem and Lyrics Video Inspired by Melieha Bay

A short video built around a sped-up sunrise sequence, with original poetry narration/lyrics and animation.

I recorded the sun rising over Melieha Bay. I then wrote a poem and recorded myself reciting it. I put the two together, using music to establish the mood.

Mellieħa Bay is a place I know well and one that holds personal significance for me. This project is both a creative exploration of visual storytelling and a tribute to a landscape that has long inspired me.

When you watch the video, notice how the sky grows brighter as the sun rises. This is both a natural effect and also a result of a gradient ramp.

Canon Rebel EOS 1200d
After Effects

The greatest challenge was waking up at an ungodly hour to record the sunrise - but I’m so glad I did.

Every sunrise is unique, and I wanted my video to be unique. I added noise to give texture to the footage. I made simple animations using trim paths to make the final video more dynamic.

I wanted the poem’s words to be fast-paced and vibrant. I used masking to give the effect of animated handwriting. Various motion graphics techniques are used to make it more engaging.