AWARD WINNING SHOWS

[JEB]

Hi,

We are fortunate in having access to many varied shows produced in PTE by the active members of this forum. Many are very artistic and pleasing, though each of us has our own preferences and interpretations of what makes a good show. Discussion in the form of constructive criticism is often asked for and given. We all learn from this.

However, I would be very interested in viewing shows that have been commended by the likes of The Royal Photographic Society AND other National bodies. I think this would give us an insight as to what standards should be aimed at. I have searched the RPS site and found nothing; perhaps one has to be a member.

Does anybody have any suggestions? Unfortunately for those of us in more remote parts of the world it is not often possible to attend events. Hopefully in this age there is some electronic source.

Regards

John

[Almark]

John, I can give links to winning entries to the Northern Ireland AV Festival, organised by the Northern Ireland Photographic Association, under the auspices of PAGB. Although some were made in ProShow ;-) they will give you some ideas. Let me know if you are interested.

[Guest Yachtsman1]

There is an RPS critique day at least twice a year at the Bradford Museum of Photography, you dont have to be a member but you can bring a sample of your work along, (usually limited to 5 to 8 minutes) and the great and the good from the RPS AV group will let you know what they think. The morning session is for critique & the afternoon for some form of tuition. You also get a chance to look around the musuem. I know it's a long way from Scotland, I travelled from North Yorkshire and enjoyed the day. If you Google Leeds AV group you'll find details, it's also usually on the RPS site under AV.

Yachtsman1

Tip Don't put a "The End" caption at the end of your show, that's a No No.

[Almark]

Hi John,

In NI we have a RPS AV group that does the same sort of thing but meets about 6 times a year. I have found the feedback from such sessions to be most helpful. (Reminder, let me know if you want links to some of the award winning (PAGB) NI entries of 2008 and 2009. I don't want to spam the board with links.)

What should come at the end?

In my experience most folk end with a screen that states:

who did the photography

if there was a script

- who wrote the script

- and who narrated it

and lastly a credit should be given for the music.

I think this is right and proper. I am surprised and disappointed to view competition AV's that simply end without such info. In some cases the AV, and I am still talking about winning AV's here, should have a disclaimer saying:

I did not take (all) these photos, or

or I photographed someone else's work

I did not write the script

I did not narrate the script

All I did was I put them all together in this AV ;-)

[jfa]

I complete agree with your comments on what should be credited/stated at the end of an AV Mark.

It is just as important to state what the author did not create as well as what they did.

Also I think some credit should be given to the major tools used in the AVs production, that is - PTE and so on. I haven't done this in the past but intend doing so in the future. Just a small comment in the bottom corner of one of the end title screens.

[JEB]

Thank you all for your responses.

Mark, I would be very interested in the links you refer to.

Yachtsman1, Bradford could be on the cards. My daughter now lives in Yorkshire so perhaps it could be incorporated into a week-end visit to her. I'll Google Leeds as you suggest.

Credits The first show I made I was very proud of and posted it on the Forum and was criticized for using "The End". Never dared to use it since, though I must say I don't understand the reasoning behind this and indeed suspect there is no good reason! (Invite for debate!!).

There is an article in RPS AV News suggesting that giving credits for music is in fact in breach of the BPI License. This is tied into the old copyright minefield. Regarding tools used, photographer, narrator, scriptwriter etc. I personally am interested in knowing this sort of information.

Thanks again everybody.

John

P.S.

Peter, I have sent you a PM.

[deskjet1uk]

Personally I dont care what the RPS think about sequences. As you have found out for yourself they do not do to much anyway in this area.

Most camera/AV clubs do things that suit them. If one were to view the many websites that belong to people who use PTE (just google "PTE" or "picstoexe") you will find hundreds of sequences out there. Some of the best ones are produced in France, Italy, Holland, as well as osme here in the UK.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, not some group of people who are members of the RPS, the majority of people are not members of the RPS anyway. I would suggest the Irish links though, superb to say the least and I cant find anyone from the RPS saying the same. Beechbrook is the best place to view sequences of a mixed variety and then one is able to make up their own mind as to what standard to achieve, IMHO of course and no offense meant to the RPS who IMHO are noticed by there absence on and within this forum. Also I believe that the gents and ladies who are senior/advanced members on this forum are the best to point anyone in the right direction re standars.

Ralph

[Almark]

John,

some links as requested:

Norway (2008 winner of the Novice Section Northern Ireland AV Festival, PAGB judges)

http://www.markallenphotography.co.uk/mark...ries/norway.exe

I must mention that I received a great deal of help for this Av from members here on the forum

Links to the 2009 Festival winners

http://www.bangor-camera-club.co.uk/bangor...allyearl09.html

[Almark]

Ralph,

I fully agree with you abut the superb shows just waiting to be found on Google.

I found our local RPS AV Group to be of great help. It has members that have been doing AV's for years and years. Indeed I have seen many most impressive slideshows projected by 2 slide projectors and a reel to reel music / narration. This year at Ballyearl (Northern Ireland AV Festival) was the first time that the double slide projectors were not used - a sign of the times perhaps.

In my, very limited experience, of attending competition AV Festivals - the judges feedback could be summarised as follows:

impactive 1st and last photo

having a beginning, middle and end

having the end directly relate to the title, esp with narration

having a good 'get out' at the end, esp with narration

getting all the pics the same size, esp if you use borders

keeping the portrait ones together

keeping the landscape ones together

keeping the flow together: 3 nature pics then 3 buildings - rather than having them all mixed up

keeping the flow together: tone, colour, 3rd image

(of course this makes keeping the portrait and landscapes photos together even harder!)

have a change of tempo, both music and slide transition at least once in the show.

In addition, I have found that in AV competitions, AV's that have narration nearly always do better. Indeed I have seen some AV's with what I would regard as rather poor photography, but a funny / interesting story to be considered better 'in the round' than a simple photo harmony AV with outstanding photography. But of course as Ralph says, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[JEB]

Hi,

Thank you all for your feedback.

Ralph, I will take up your suggestion regarding Google. Regarding Beechbrook I totally agree that there are many great examples to be viewed there, however my objective was to get a handle on what “the great and the good” considered to be quality work. Incidentally, I also take on board and indeed share your views on such “authorities”.

Mark, I had seen and very much enjoyed your Norway show and congratulate you on your success with it and the others, which I have now also viewed. I particularly liked the mono show. It is interesting that all these shows used narration and their success confirms your statement regarding narration.

This for me has been a successful exercise as I think I now have a better perspective of what makes a good AV (in the eye of this beholder). I am also making plans to visit as many AV days as I can over the next season.

Thank you all.

John

[davegee]

John,

Why don't you send a PM to Maureen - she might know where you can get the type of show that you are looking for?

A list of such shows with their credits (what they have won) and where they could be downloaded would be a very valuable asset here.

DaveG

[Mike Reed]

If you want to see some masterful AV work from a Fellow of the RPS have alook at http://www.avpeter.com/audio-visual/

[Almark]

John,

Thank you for taking the time to view my, and other members' of BNDCC AV's. I have found that CC members, esp those that are not 'into AV' enjoy the photography the most. For example:

http://www.markallenphotography.co.uk/mark...eries/panel.exe

CC members were interested in the fact that in the Antelope Canyon, the photos were taken hand held, using an ISO of 3200, and a VR lens to obtain sharp, or at least, enough detail at just 1/15s. In the black and white section, again members wanted to know how I was able to get such a dynamic range. This resulted into much debate and discussion.

[Ken Cox]

MARK

hope you gave them a link to the canyon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon

http://www.google.ca/search?source=ig&...&meta=lr%3D

wonderful area to visit- we never got to the caves

ken

[Almark]

Ken, next time you MUST visit the slot canyon, it is paradise.

[Maureen]

Hi John

Sorry I haven't replied sooner but my father died in February and I have also been all over the UK judging & giving shows.

Trouble with posting shows or giving the links to many shows too publically is that many serious AV workers who compete & sometimes win awards is they tend to use music which is covered by the IAC copyright licence. So they can give shows, enter the comps etc but the licence does not cover you to post work up on the web. A few brave souls risk it at times but tend to keep their heads down !

Sorry my web site is horrendously out of date as I have been so busy.

http://www.digital-av.co.uk/ see sequences section : http://www.digital-av.co.uk/gallery.htm

http://www.avnews.org.uk/ great magazine to subscribe to.

I have just arrived back home from Wales, running a AV Workshop with Linda & Edgar Gibbs giving a superb presentation of PTE, & then off to Essex later this week.

There is an AV group who meet in Scotland too :

http://www.diaporamaavgroup.co.uk/ but this may be some distance away from you.

There are several UK annual events which are well worth journeying to attend if you can.....

Either the Nationals (this year at Leicester in September) or the Internationals (next year at Cirencester,)

The Great northern Weekend at Wilmslow early December 4/5/6th

The Geoffrey Round Comp (various locations) This year at Warrington, Lancashire

Ian Bateman and I run the 321 International in February at Aldbourne (much smaller event)

Good to socialise and exchange information at these weekends as well as seeing sequences you would not see on the web or perhaps elsewhere when they are International.

There is an excellant French Forum which also has sequences to download run by Gerard

http://www.diaporamaforum.com/

not to mention the very many PTE Users own web sites (check out the links section)

Contact me if you want more info.

Best Wishes

Maureen

[JEB]

Maureen,

Thank you for your full and considered reply. It is very much appreciated, particularly under the circumstances.

I thought there must be some reason for not being able to easily access award winning shows. I should admit that I am guilty of contaviening the IAC licence in that I have only in the last few days uploaded a show (Edinburgh's Royal Mile) I produced with help from a few members of my camera club, believing that our licence permitted us to do that.

I have been on to your gallery and downloaded all your shows - yet to view - but will do so and treat them as an example of excellence!

I have only recently subscribed to AV News and found the first issue (February) very informative.

Regarding the Scottish group you refer to, they are as you suggested too far from me to consider.

As you will have seen, others have also directed me to events held throughout Northern England and I do intend to attend some of them in the coming months.

I'll have to improve my French before I venture too deeply into that site but I am aware that there is a strong tradition of AV in France.

Thank you once again for your trouble.

John

[deskjet1uk]

Hi John,

Most of the links within the french sites are easy to follow, just click away on blue text or photos on this site Visit This Website

Our French friends are IMHO producing some of the best Non award winning sequences.

Ralph

[Almark]

Maureen, et al,

Thanks for the French links, I agree there is some super work on display.

[Maureen]

The French and the Belgians are producing some excellent work but sadly rarely seen outside the Festivals.

Many of the French sequences do win awards but the results are not published very often.

Wish I had 48 hours in each day so I could finish my own sequences and travel to many of the International Festivals all over Europe and beyond ..... mustn't forget the Australian International is on in Adelaide this weekend too.

My own work is a mixed bag as many sequences are sometimes produced to demonstrate a technique when I'm lecturing rather than to win awards.

Very common mistake made is to assume because your Camera Club bought the licence all members are covered !

Only covers you to make a "club" joint AV. You need your own individual licence to create your own individual AVs.

Main point is keep making them for your own enjoyment !

[JEB]

I thank you all for your contributions.

Maureen, I have now had a look at your shows - very good and varied. I really liked the idea of the conversation between the two farmers providing the narrative with images illustrating points as they spoke. Also the opening with the choir was particularly appropriate. “Buried in Wales” was wonderful. Perhaps it is a Celtic thing that we Scots share with the Welsh we both revel in the morbid but can still make fun of it. I understand that the “Grandma Remembers” is a rework of an older show but how much of it was staged (posed for your show) or were they all old images, I’m thinking particularly of the shots of the children? I did not find the portrait format a problem. You have certainly given me food for thought. Thank you.

Ralph, I have now viewed the first three shows on the web site you directed me to. What a high standard.

Well it is a wonderful spring morning here so you have inspired me to get off my backside and get started on a project I have in mind.

Regards

John

[Maureen]

Grandma Remembers was the first digital AV I produced, a few very old photos but the rest are my own photos worked on in Photoshop to create a very aged sepia effect, etc (shot of the bleach deliberately done with date but think it jars ). Illustrates when shown on a big screen how it is better to use landscape format in digital AVs to really fill the screen and give the viewer more impact. Can also point out several what not to do with it, which I like doing to audiences of beginners, etc.

Sometimes seeing a whole night of top quality work can make beginners feel "I'd never be able to do that" so they are too daunted to try, so I use a huge variety of techniques to get people enthusiastic and get started. Poem written by a friend in the village who often writes about her early life so have several sequences illustrating her work.

Buried in Wales, produced just to illustrate techniques you could achieve using Photoshop and the then version of PTE(years old). Look how we've gone forward with animation now ! That was a wow, when it was first produced and now looks very out of date. Did you spot any PTE friends in the "mourners" ? Shows my warped sense of humour!

Two farmers speaking (After the Harvest, a Fine Combination) - didn't go down well up North as several judges said they couldn't understand the words spoken in the Wiltshire accent.

Ian says I'm morbid with so many death sequences .... Buried in Wales, Death of the Combines ....... won't list them all here or we'd all have the hankies out.

Don't have many sequences on the web, and usually the old ones.

Must update my site though.

Once I spend two days at home again.

[JPD]

About french slideshows made with PTE, you can find here more than 1000 slideshows. You won't find them in a festival because people do them only for pleasure, but many are of a great quality and most of them use PTE perfectly because they have many help on Diapositf to work in a right way.

edit : Somebody asked me how to download a slideshow : when you are on the pge give by the link of a slideshow, just click on the button named "Télécharger" which men download in french.

Sorry to have forget this.

[deskjet1uk]

About french slideshows made with PTE, you can find here more than 1000 slideshows. You won't find them in a festival because people do them only for pleasure, but many are of a great quality and most of them use PTE perfectly because they have many help on Diapositf to work in a right way.

Thank you JP,

I have been enjoying many of the slidshows in the above link for sometime. They are of very high quality and I congratulate everyone in producing such immaculate sequences.

Ralph

[JPD]

Thank you JP,

I have been enjoying many of the slidshows in the above link for sometime. They are of very high quality and I congratulate everyone in producing such immaculate sequences.

Ralph

Thanks for them, Ralph