Of all the video submissions I got, this is clearly the most “experienced” quality. Eric Raum has a gift – seriously mad talent – for making fantastic videos. He currently lives in Afghanistan and works for the USO to help boost the morale of our troops overseas. Check out how he documented a little piece of his adventures overseas.
Eric used a Panasonic GH1 and GF1 and edited the video with Final Cut Pro.
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You have to read his email to understand the context of this video:
I moved overseas with a promise to myself that I would stay until I could come home having traveled to the places I’d dreamt about as a child. Two years later, having discovered for the first time what it really means to love someone (an ongoing discovery), that promise changed significantly, for the better. Eliza and I attended college together and over a period of lengthy letters back and forth sparked by a random hello years later, I realized that I’d better not let her pass me by again, regardless of the distance.
Still having another year and a half to complete my work here in Afghanistan, those dreams of seeing the world took on a whole new light. Together, we decided to make the most of this time and instead of my coming home to the US, we would meet up once every three months in a place that we’d both wanted to see but never thought we could.
It has been an incredible journey so far, to learn about each other, other cultures, and ourselves; To find out what it means to be a team in a distant land, to work through the initial stages of a relationship while in a desert on horseback, or even worse, driving through Jordan! I am blessed this Christmas to know that I have found someone who will stand beside me, encourage me, and most of all, put up with those three month absences!
I hope that this can inspire others to explore, whether it be a far away land or their own home town. To see things from a different perspective and to take another look at that boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife this Christmas and find an adventure of their own! And if nothing else, I hope at the very least it may entertain!
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Eric has made many other videos and it just felt appropriate to share one other that he did. He said, I believe with great conviction in the importance of taking care of our troops over here. Whatever side of the fence one might fall on, these are our sons and daughters and they are a long, long way from the ones they love this Christmas. I did this in Iraq a couple years back, and the message still hits home in a major way this holiday season. I was looking through the rest of your blog and was truly encouraged to see your veterans day post!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Eric – for inspiring us on so many different levels.
Tags: 12 videos of christmas, eric raum
Both his videos gave me goose bumps. All to often we take the simple things for granted yet it is those simple things that some people would cherish more than anything else. So I say thank you to those who are fighting for freedom, to the wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who miss their beloved everyday because they are fighting for the greater good xo
Amazing videos. Thank you so much for sharing them. Thank you to our troops, and may the spirit of Christmas be with them over the holiday season.
W.O.W. He does have mad skills. Awesome videos. And the second one…what can I say…my husband is currently deployed to the middle east and will not be here for Christmas…again. I miss him. The children miss him. We are proud of him. We pray for him and his safe return, always. He’s making our lives a little safer by what he does. He’s my hero.
Living in the Middle East, it was lovely to see somewhere fairly close to home! And a reminder to go and see the beauty of Petra for ourselves while we still live here. Thank you Eric, you certainly inspired me (and yes, mad video skills indeed). Best of luck with your relationship!
Amazing and inspiring!
WOW – here at my desk at work complaining about the freezing drizzle – watched both and brought tears to my eyes. Makes you be thankful for what you have. Eric is the bomb. Thanks
AH-MAZE-ING!! I loved it all…the footage, the music, the message. These are incredible and the 2nd one brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Eric for creating these & thank you Becky for sharing.
Beautiful thank you for sharing Becky.
Sheri you have a lot to be proud of!
two words; absolutely amazing! seriously. i did not want it to end. thanks becky for posting this one
Crying……. thanks to Eric and you for sharing…
Though I don’t want to say anything because I’d love to see additional videos… This is actually he 6th “12 Videos of Christmas” … not 5. Just an FYI.
Yes it is! And actually, I love your attention to details. Thank you Denise. It’s been edited. : )
Lovely videos. He definitely has talent! I spent last Christmas deployed to Afghanistan and I have to say that the USO is a great organization. The work he (and the rest of the organization) does is much appreciated by those of us away from family and friends, especially during the holidays. We do choose to serve our country, but it still stinks to be away from home. Last year I was gone for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I am so thankful to be home this year, and so thankful for those that are deployed right now. Thanks Becky for sharing these (and all the other) videos!
Jenn-Thank you for your sacrifices for our freedoms! Welcome home and enjoy the very special holidays at home!
Thank you,
Luann
The video was nicely done but the letter was the most moving. And the USO video—cried. Thanks!
Beautiful videos and so very moving. Christmas can be such a crazy busy time of year and it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everything. It’s wonderful to have unexpected things like these videos to regain some perspective. So thank you.
Beautiful videos!!! Truly amazing!! Thanks for sharing!
*snif*, that was AMAZING! I cried, but it was a good cry. Thanks for the video, this one really makes me think about what really matters.
Ah.Maze.Ing! It have some serious tears in my eyes right now!
A M A Z I N G!!!
Might I add – - what a way to “CULTIVATE THE GOOD LIFE”
Beautiful Becky. Just lovely!
Thses videos are a blessing, particularly the one about our troops. As a military mom I say thank you to folks all folks who pass on the message that our troops are made up of our sons and daughters. May everyone be blessed this Christmas.
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for sharing.I am all teary eyed now….Eric did an amazing job capturing different emotions in each video… God bless our troops and keep them safe!
So glad I took the time to watch these. I needed to step back from all the craziness of the season and reflect on what these men and woman are sacrificing for me and my family. I will be sure to find a way to do something for the troops this year! Thank you .
Amazing videos. Anyone in the military is a true hero in my opinion. They keep us safe and fight for our freedom every day. God bless them.
morning coffee and tear drops watching your videos
amazing videos, I think there is no better job in this world than one that gifts you with the chance to share JOY…
thank you so much for sharing
Thank you for the video about the troops. God bless them all.
There are no words…eyes welled up with tears right now. Eric, amazing videos! Thank you for what you do to support our troops! And that girl of yours is gorgeous; wishing you all the best in your relationship. Becky, love the variety of videos this year, thank you! I love visiting your blog for positive, uplifting messages and thoughts. Just what we all need this time of year–reminders of all that is good in the world.
I am holding back tears that want to pour after watching both videos. The video about our troops overseas really got to me. I wish all our troopsGodspeed, and hope they all return safely to their families. Thank you!
I am so happy I took the time to slow down and watch these videos today. Absolutely beautiful Eric and such important messages in both of them. Thank you for sharing your amazing talent!
Wow! What gorgeous film making! If you watch carefully you will see the principles of great photography in the way he framed his shots and the special effects he used. I was inspired, as you say, on so many levels. He truly has a big heart.
Wow. Thank you both.
Beautiful videos. They’re sweet, inspiring and simply amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!
Eric, Thanks for the videos and all you do to support our troops! Your girl is absolutely beautiful! Hope it works out for the both of you!
Becky, I love your website for being positive and uplifting. About truly living life AND documenting it! Am loving the variety in the videos this year!
I have my pics in the PL album for 2011 (amber) but never did the journaling. Started that this week. Love the journaling cards. The Cobalt kit will be waiting for me under the tree for our 2012 pics. Thanks to you and your husband for all you do!
I loved both videos, thanks so much!!
Becky and Eric, thanks so much for these videos. The one in Jordan was amazing. The one in Afghanistan heartbreaking. I grew up in an Air Force family and have brothers who made the Air Force their careers as well. I’ve now been “out” longer than I was “in” but it is still so fresh especially at Christmas. I remember searching for my dad’s face when they showed the USO specials from Viet Nam. Thank you Eric, for what you do for them. You are a hero too – out there serving them.
To Sheri, Jenn, and anyone else I may have missed as I read through my tears – thank you. Know that someone in Texas loves and prays for you. The hardest job in the military is that of wife and family!
Becky, I do have a burning question. How did Eric find out about your 12 videos of Christmas contest?!
I believe his girlfriend’s mother is a fellow blog reader here, and she told him about the contest?
Beautiful and inspirational.
Becky, you are right- Eric, you have mad, mad talent. The lighting with the sun and the moon was piercing and combined with the beautiful people, soldiers, and music… well, I’m left speechless and in tears.
Thank you Eric for following your heart and seeing the beauty of foreign lands and new love.
Blessings.
Absolutely beautiful!
THANK YOU KEVIN!!! From a mom of a soldier who is scheduled (as of right now) to be spending next Christmas over in Afghanistan or Iraq. Many from his Company in Basic left within the past couple of weeks. Thank you for helping give our troops a little bit of happiness while they’re so far from home. Many Blessings to you & your family!
Hello Becky and Ladies :0) I am Eric’s mom and your beautiful, heartfelt comments have brought tears to my eyes! I am so very proud of my son ~ who is in on the inside, his gifts, and his talents and how he chooses to use them. I miss him very much ~ I feel like he too is serving in the war, only he’s armed with a camera! Eric is living his dream, serving his country, and has found true love…these things make my heart smile!
Christmas Peace and Blessings to you all and your loved ones serving far away!!! Terri
Terri-
Thank you for sharing your sons talents with us. I send you a huge hug of support as he puts himself in danger to support and document his work.
Luann
I don’t know if Eric will actually read these comments, but I’m grateful that he could, with his camera, take me somewhere that I probably will never go. The Jordan video was beautiful. Some of those scenes looked like they came straight out of Indiana Jones! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us in such a visually pleasing way.
Loved the soldiers at Christmas video, too. Heart wrenching.
Amazing videos Becky – is there a way to find the name and artist of the song from the Jordon video?
thanks
Perfection!
Stunning videos! LOVE THEM! Cannot say enough about the talent, the troops video brought tears to my eyes and the documentation of traveling with a new friend is priceless!
I just watched the videos! Oh my gosh thanks for sharing these with us. What an amazing couple .
I so admire Eric’s talent and his mission to build the morale of the troops . As he builds their morale he is also touching the lives of so many. I love the song in the Jordan video -any idea who it is?
Thank you all for your very kind words and a special thank you to Becky for allowing me to share these videos with you all! I am honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of your community this week. It is very encouraging, as I read through your comments, to see how our military service members have impacted your lives, both direct and indirectly, and to hear that they are in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season. A big Merry Christmas to you all from Afghanistan!
God bless,
Eric
p.s. The song is ‘We Don’t Eat’ by James Vincent McMarrow, a very talented Irish songwriter.
Thanks for the song title and artist! Definitely going to check him out!
oh my…..the tears are just flowing right now…..”mad talent”….NO. That is a GIFT!! As I sit here trying to stop crying….(it’s the season! lol) ….I am just so moved by both videos and the heart that just comes through the camera! AMAZING…WOW…STUNNING…..none of them do this justice. Thank you Eric for sharing your gifts and talents with us! Blessing on you in the coming year young man!
Love this!
Thank you for sharing the videos. What a great job. Thank you especially for the reminder of the sacrifice that our troops are making this holiday season.
Beautiful stories of love and sacrifice. Eric thank you for sharing a bit of your work and life with us.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It gave me chills and tears.
Betsy
This is so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing
this with us.
Merry Christmas
Beautiful. That song is intriguing. Anyone know the name of the song and who sings it?
Truly amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this video it really makes me think about the true meaning of Christmas and how blessed we are. God Bless to the troops still serving this country!
Beautiful. I am humbled by the freedom these men and women give me every single day.
I am catching up on my blog reading today and came across this. Thank you so much for sharing Eric’s video. Of course, it goes without saying, that it brought me to tears. This is what my husband does, and has been doing for the last 25-1/2 years of his life. He will be deployed again in the summer of 2012. Next Christmas, he will be one of those men sitting around the Christmas tree, as we spend our 5th Christmas apart. He will miss our family’s 11th move, a trip to England, a family member’s wedding and my son’s first year in high school. He will also miss Thanksgiving, Christmas, our 20th wedding anniversary and my birthday (again). But he LOVES his job. And I couldn’t be prouder of him. THANK YOU Becky for remembering our troops. Today and everyday.