Let's try another slideshow

[dpeterso]

I've enjoyed following the link about using special effects in slideshows. Oddly enough, I agree with everyone even though there are divergent opinions. I think we are talking art here and it's difficult to nail down. It reminds me of what Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said in 1964 when dealing with pornography: "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it." Likewise in slideshows, the rules are illusive, but we all know when special effects work and when they don't.

In that spirit, I have another show for your consideration and critique. I learned so much from the feedback on "Flinthills" that I can't wait to see what's in store.

http://www.epetersons.com/slideshows/High%...ins%2802%29.exe

If that copied shortcut above doesn't work, go here and select High Plains (02)

http://www.epetersons.com/slideshows/

Have fun,

Dave

[ADB]

Hi Dave

Thanks for posting your show. I'll apply my structure critique system to give you my personal feedback. Here goes:-

PHOTOGRAPHY/GRAPHICS

There are some really nice images in your show and coming from NZ the landscapes shown are quite different from what we have here so I found them engaging. Some of your images felt like they were taken on the same trip and showed minimal change in lighting/weather conditions and this possibly results in a possibly less dramatic overall presentation, but as has been said many times before on these forums sometimes when doing a show its just about what you had to work with while you were there and in a lot of instances it may be the only time you will be at that location.

SOUNDTRACK

Fits the subject well and not surprising was used in Dances with Wolves :-)

TIMING

Its obvious you are timing you transitions to changes in the music and this adds to the flow of the presentation. My only comment would be your front image is on for too long but you could have the same image on for just as long with a long slow outward zoom to reveal the whole scene - now that would be classy and add interest.

PTE MASTERY

It had to happen but we are now getting on to pans and zooms. Personally I find your "mini" pans break up the flow for two reasons 1) Your pans are very small and in a lateral motion and more often than not there is not a lot of new subject matter being introduced into the view while you pan, I think on zooms a 10% zoom in or out during an image is actually really effective but on pans I personally don't think it works 2) You mentioned in one of your other posts that one of your rules was to pan or zoom then stop then transition to the next image, I find this gives a STOP signal to your presentation which doesn't fit in with the flow of your show or the soundtrack, your adding an intervention that takes focus off the "flow" (This "flow" is gaining a status equal to Austin Powers "Mojo" :-) )

I really like one or two of your long fades and I don't think users use enough long fades, its almost as though we are scared to have two images mixed on the screen at the same time but I find these types of fades give a third dimension to your shows.

WATCHABILITY - Couldn't finish / Watched Once / Would watch again / Would watch many times

OVERALL COMMENT

Overall the show had a nice feel but flow was broken up with short pans which halted before transitioning to the next image. Great use of soundtrack and good timing for transition points. I felt panning and zooming could have been used more effectively to add additonal interest (but I'm gonna say that anyway :-) Interesting subject matter possibly benefiting from a wider range of lighting/weather conditions.

[Paul T]

I've enjoyed following the link about using special effects in slideshows. Oddly enough, I agree with everyone even though there are divergent opinions. I think we are talking art here and it's difficult to nail down. It reminds me of what Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said in 1964 when dealing with pornography: "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it." Likewise in slideshows, the rules are illusive, but we all know when special effects work and when they don't.

In that spirit, I have another show for your consideration and critique. I learned so much from the feedback on "Flinthills" that I can't wait to see what's in store.

http://www.epetersons.com/slideshows/High%...ins%2802%29.exe

If that copied shortcut above doesn't work, go here and select High Plains (02)

http://www.epetersons.com/slideshows/

Have fun,

Dave

Hi Dave

What wonderful lush countryside. I did really enjoy your show, great creative images and appropriate music to compliment a well crafted presentation.

Thanks for the pleasurable show and look forward to seeing more of you work.

Regards Paul

[neil]

This is the second slideshow I have seen of yours and again I found it a very rewarding experience.

You have some great images here(and I remember you liking of fences from the other show).

The music was just perfect,and the ending lovely.

All the best Neil

[dpeterso]

This is the second slideshow I have seen of yours and again I found it a very rewarding experience.

You have some great images here(and I remember you liking of fences from the other show).

The music was just perfect,and the ending lovely.

All the best Neil

Thank you for your kind encouragement Neil. I'm pleased that you liked it. I've done a fair amount of reading on the Indians of the plains, and after falling in love with the music from "Dances with Wolves", I tried to put my pictures to work. I only wish that I'd spent more time in the area and taken better, moody light pictures. It's really difficult to take good pictures when on a limited time schedule. However, the good news is that I'm retiring the end of this year. Then I'll have more time to cover an area, especially knowing how I might use the pictures. Putting pictures into slideshows puts a whole new spin on photography.

Have a great day (evening).

Dave

[dpeterso]

Hi Dave

Thanks for posting your show. I'll apply my structure critique system to give you my personal feedback. Here goes:-

PHOTOGRAPHY/GRAPHICS

There are some really nice images in your show and coming from NZ the landscapes shown are quite different from what we have here so I found them engaging. Some of your images felt like they were taken on the same trip and showed minimal change in lighting/weather conditions and this possibly results in a possibly less dramatic overall presentation, but as has been said many times before on these forums sometimes when doing a show its just about what you had to work with while you were there and in a lot of instances it may be the only time you will be at that location.

SOUNDTRACK

Fits the subject well and not surprising was used in Dances with Wolves :-)

TIMING

Its obvious you are timing you transitions to changes in the music and this adds to the flow of the presentation. My only comment would be your front image is on for too long but you could have the same image on for just as long with a long slow outward zoom to reveal the whole scene - now that would be classy and add interest.

PTE MASTERY

It had to happen but we are now getting on to pans and zooms. Personally I find your "mini" pans break up the flow for two reasons 1) Your pans are very small and in a lateral motion and more often than not there is not a lot of new subject matter being introduced into the view while you pan, I think on zooms a 10% zoom in or out during an image is actually really effective but on pans I personally don't think it works 2) You mentioned in one of your other posts that one of your rules was to pan or zoom then stop then transition to the next image, I find this gives a STOP signal to your presentation which doesn't fit in with the flow of your show or the soundtrack, your adding an intervention that takes focus off the "flow" (This "flow" is gaining a status equal to Austin Powers "Mojo" :-) )

I really like one or two of your long fades and I don't think users use enough long fades, its almost as though we are scared to have two images mixed on the screen at the same time but I find these types of fades give a third dimension to your shows.

WATCHABILITY - Couldn't finish / Watched Once / Would watch again / Would watch many times

OVERALL COMMENT

Overall the show had a nice feel but flow was broken up with short pans which halted before transitioning to the next image. Great use of soundtrack and good timing for transition points. I felt panning and zooming could have been used more effectively to add additonal interest (but I'm gonna say that anyway :-) Interesting subject matter possibly benefiting from a wider range of lighting/weather conditions.

Hi Andrew -

Thank you for taking the time to critique my slideshow. As usual, I find your impressions instructive. I know what you mean about putting in a stop at the end of a pan before transitioning to the next slide. This was a "rule" that I picked up from the discussions on pans & zooms. I agree, it can break the flow.

When I took these pictures, I was on a "fast" vacation and had to take only what was presented at the time. Slideshows such as PTE put photography in a whole new perspective though. On future trips, I'll plan more time in an area, especially knowing how the pictures might be used.

Take care & thanks again.

Dave

[d67]

Hi Dave

I agree with most of Andrew's comments and here my personnal ones :

PHOTOGRAPHY/GRAPHICS

Some redundant and/or superfluous photos... therefore a bit long.

A few one with centring problems : too centered or false side privileged

Last slide (motel) ... perhaps not the best choice !

A few (5 to 10) fade in/out transitions, jerky.

TIMING

First slide appearing much to fast.

PTE MASTERY

No problem concerning the managing of P and Z (speed, stops) but they have nearly all a very "thin" range and the question "what for ?" can than arise.

OVERALL COMMENT

Interesting slideshow with some good shots.

A little bit too long and a great number of P/Z superfluous (in any event ... virtual range !).

[dpeterso]

Hi Dave

I agree with most of Andrew's comments and here my personnal ones :

PHOTOGRAPHY/GRAPHICS

Some redundant and/or superfluous photos... therefore a bit long.

A few one with centring problems : too centered or false side privileged

Last slide (motel) ... perhaps not the best choice !

A few (5 to 10) fade in/out transitions, jerky.

TIMING

First slide appearing much to fast.

PTE MASTERY

No problem concerning the managing of P and Z (speed, stops) but they have nearly all a very "thin" range and the question "what for ?" can than arise.

OVERALL COMMENT

Interesting slideshow with some good shots.

A little bit too long and a great number of P/Z superfluous (in any event ... virtual range !).

Thank you for the feedback Patrick. Your impressions are important to me. I agree about the "Motel" in the last slide. I wanted a sunset in the last slide so much that I unfortunately compromised my sense of appropriateness. And I agree that the show drags on a bit. In this case, I had more music than I did good pictures. I hear what you are saying about the superfluous panning. For some it may seen unnecessary, for me, it felt right.

Have a good week.

Dave