Nikonos

Thanks very much for your kind comments, although your excellent template helped me to get a show "up and running" without too much delay for friends and relatives. A longer show using extra images but without your template can be downloaded at: http://www.mediafire.com/file/7b7fsfc55fp2f6p/Land%20of%20the%20Dragon.zip A revised earlier show (Pax Aeterna) which you might also be interested in can be found at: http://www.mediafire.com/file/zprrx8qh07pw10s/Pax%20Aeterna.zip Regards - Malcolm

Hi Bernard, Just viewed your show on my Mac. A nice selection of images - sharp and well exposed. The extreme brightness range can be quite a challenge and I think you have coped well. The sail-boat with the cascading strings is spectacular but too many shots featuring it lessens the impact somewhat. If anything your shots would be improved by trying some images while there is still some evening light in the sky. You don't get too many shots per evening though, but it is well worth the effort if you can revisit the location over several evenings. The other option is to shoot when the streets are wet from rain - reflections in the foreground etc, will add interest. The music I thought was fine and did not spoil my enjoyment of your show. Thanks for sharing. Regards - Malcolm

That explains it very well Xaver. I find that quite a bit of the music chosen for sequences can have a flowing 'dreamlike' quality ( a good musician would probably call it "wallpaper"). I guess that there is a beat present - if you can find it! Regards - Malcolm

Thanks Xaver, a valid point although I did not think it made very much difference. However, I will be addressing the music issue again and I will take your comment on board in the final timings. Many thanks. Regards - Malcolm

Good point Daniel. I will see to it in the final revision.. Regards - Malcolm

Thanks to all for your kind comments re. Land of the Dragon. The music was a bit problematic, as chinese music whether traditional (or modern) is very much an acquired taste to the western ear. I had to stretch out the sequence that I used and I think it probably does outstay it's welcome a bit. However, I think I've now found something else which will do the job, sound ok to the ears of "foreign devils" and avoid the repetition. The text size was something else that I considered as being a bit over large. However, quite a few of the intended audience are knocking on a bit (not the members of this forum of course!), and their eyesight is not so good. Also quite a few of the judges on our club circuit need their eyes testing anyway so I eventually kept it as it was Malcolm PS. Bill, I've sent you a PM.

Yep, this is quite correct. The resulting movie played back on the i-Pad looks quite stunning as well. With the new i-Pad 2 due out next month (possibly) with the rumored improved 'retina' display it will look even better... Malcolm

Hi Folks, I've just uploaded a revised version of my China sequence posted a while back. This is a more 'considered' version, different presentation, some pics replaced and quite a few new ones added along the way. New music as well! For those interested: PC version: http://www.mediafire.com/file/8qde0hci81r5w0n/Land%20of%20the%20Dragon.zip Mac version: http://www.mediafire.com/file/41w95vi2g3vj6u4/Land%20of%20the%20Dragon.app.zip Stats: 36 meg (sorry Eric!), 72 pics including captions etc, length 8'39", format: 1920x1200 Malcolm

Hi Daniel, I thought your show was very enjoyable and the choice of music perfect. The quality of the images throughout were excellent and you handled the extreme contrast range very well. I also liked the handling of the portrait format images - their inclusion did not in any way interrupt the flow of the sequence. Personally, I agree with Barry and would have shortened the sequence by a minute or two, but I understand your reasons for keeping it that way. It is obviously a wonderful opportunity for candid photography and you certainly made use of the opportunity! Regards - Malcolm

Hi Barry, As Eric says, using Amazon is a good way of sampling bits of music and downloading just the tracks you need. When it comes to seascape images have you tried Debussy? The sort of impressionist style of orchestral writing suits A/V very well. I would suggest that you try the Nocturnes - Ist movement 'Nuages' (clouds) and the 3rd movement 'Sirenes' for a start. 'La Mer' itself is worth looking at as well - the 2nd movement "Play of the Waves" could well work also. These pieces are all about the right length as well (around 7-8 minutes on average). Finally, try Frank Bridge's suite 'The Sea'. The 1st movement "Seascape" might be suitable also. I heard this a few years used very effectively in a documentary about Sennen Cove in Cornwall (which I still have on Betamax!). Regards - Malcolm

Another outstanding show Maureen! Stunning images put together in a simple, but highly effective way. The music was just spot-on as well. I would echo Barry's comments - I think you should be banned from the Lake District to leave something for the rest of us... Another one to go into my "keepers" folder! Malcolm

Hi Barry, Only saw the second version so cannot comment on the original one. A very difficult subject in my opinion, but you have managed to impart the feeling of "being there". Wonderful photography (as always!) and about the right length. Not sure about the music, but that is a personal thing anyway. Also liked the SFX of the rain and wondered whether some such "low-level" material could have been used throughout - although I appreciate the difficulty of obtaining suitable source material. With regard to music - I often find that the most difficult challenge. I'm currently working on a steam traction-engine type show (yeh, I know it's been done before dozens of times), and I find it difficult to come up with something other than the usual predictable mechanical organ type stuff. Let me know if you have any ideas as my wife is beginning to show distinct signs of distress every time she hears yet another fairground organ... :-) Regards - Malcolm

I really enjoyed your show and would love to try something similar myself in the future. It featured some excellent photography with an apt choice of music. Personally I would have slowed some of the transitions a bit (as already mentioned), but it did not spoil my overall enjoyment. Must put it down as a place to visit one of these days... Malcolm