Technology in your hands

This year I'm hoping to help non-profits and small businesses make use of video technology on a small budget. Many of us have great HD video tools already and just need to learn how to use them effectively. I believe I could outfit a group with all the tools they need for less than $500. The trick is to learn how to use them. It does take some time and some skill but it's not rocket science.
It's much like deciding if you are going to build or repair your house yourself. Do you have time? Can you develop the level of skill to do the job well enough to make you happy? Probably a professional will do it faster and with a lot more polish.
But if you are willing and able to do some simple things yourself, it can be very rewarding.
If you already do a little video, here are a few tips to making it better.
1) Use a tripod. Hand held can be ok but if you want to use this video in a larger project or archive it for possible use later, it's worth having nice still images.
2) If you are interviewing someone or collecting a speech - use a microphone! What they are saying is AS important as the video - maybe more important. If you get good audio you can add images later that match with what they are saying.
3) Light or tape in good light. Your images will look much cleaner. Showing on an HD screen, fuzzy images really look bad.

If you want to talk more about video, see me in the Oil City Transit Studio, 27A on the second Saturday of every month.

A Wonderful Life

In my last post, I mentioned that my objective was to develop soundtracks, upload images to the handy software and mix in custom video. This mix takes it to the second level. Photos by Holly Berlin and Mike Henderson, uploaded. Then we recorded Front Porch Folk playing at Gail's house using a couple of flip cams. I mixed them and created a medley in Final Cut Pro. Uploaded the soundtrack and let the handy internet software do the rest.

Here is the result.

Fairy Gardens for You

This was a fun project highlighting Mary Beth Dunn's Fairy Garden and kits. I used the photos provided by Holly Berlin and uploaded them into a very cool little piece of software that does the work from there.
One of my objectives is to use the power of this software combined with some custom audio and video work to produce something very unique.

Rock On Oil City!

July 9, 2011 in Studio 27A at the National Transit Building in Oil City. We had fun.

I've enjoyed collaborating with Susan Williams, Venango Area Chamber of Commerce Director and technology guru to create several videos. She gathers clips on her flipcam and I serve as her editor. Video does not have to be an expensive or long process to serve your purpose.

I like to say "content is everything". This video is a tribute to Bob English, awarded the Citizen of the Year honors at the February 23rd Annual Dinner at Cross Creek.

"Art is Smart"

Nature's Recreation