Pls review my slide show.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ryan Mercer on November 11, 2008 at 9:31pm

Hi Andrew,

This is better than the last project, but I'm still going to dig right in. Collect more natural sound, you have all these good photos from practices but no sound to accompany them. Instead, you have a lot of voice-over audio that is constantly running. Voice overs great but they have their place and they need to be compelling especially if you want to make them this long. You desperately need natural sound to give the project texture and dimension. Then, use those track of natural sound to bridge the transitions between subject interviews. Listen to NPR projects if you can, they are great at this. Because getting all that commentary from them is way too heavy. You need to make this an experience for the viewer, not just a history lesson about how great the school is. Because viewers won't get it, and won't stick with a project that long unless it is really full of good content (Unless they are alum and even then...)

Which brings me to my other point; Edit.

Some of the photos are great, and adding the historic images is a great touch, adds texture...etc and bring something more to the project. But it is really long and much of it is people talking. That is generally the kiss of death as far as keeping a viewer engaged. One pitfall I see alot is the addition of lots of photos to stretch over the audio timeline or even vice versa. There are clearly some photos in here that aren't that great and may be there just to let the audio run. Somehow, you've got to match the best photo content to the best audio. If not, you just end up covering up your best work with stuff that really waters it down. Lastly, be carefull with the zoom movement in soundslides, its fun, by try slowing down the movements and making the zooms smaller. They will have much more weight that way. I also highly recommend not using the movement trick in consecutive photos. That tool should be reserved for highlighting good content in a photo, especially if it also make a strong transition to the next photo. But avoid using it just because you can. Make sure you have a good reason.

But keep plugging. This stuff is not easy and this is better than your last post.

Ryan

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andrew Nelson on November 11, 2008 at 10:26pm

Thanks for the candor and for taking your time to look at the slideshow. I appreciate it.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ryan Mercer on November 13, 2008 at 9:07am

Hope I'm not being to candid :)

▶ Reply to This