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Maureen

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Posts posted by Maureen

  1. When Starting to create a presentation...

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi Eric

    My very first AV was 45 minutes long = 100 years history of our village.

    I couldn't cram 100years into less than 45 minutes!

    The local audience loved it but I have never shown it outside our village.

    Since then I've been following the KISS method but all I find are little frogs and toads never the handsome prince :):o:blink::):D

    Correction about your reference to the RPS Distinctions........

    You are refering to the recommendations for

    SUBMISSIONS FOR THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY LICENTIATE DISTINCTION IN PHOTO HARMONY

    The RPS differentiates between AV sequences and Photo Harmony sequences for their distinctions

    AV Distinction applications must have a total of

    one or more Sequences of a total of not less than ten minutes
    for the Licentiateship.

    Next RPS Distinctions Panel meeting will be on October 3rd in Bath. contact Andy Moore , at RPS Bath

    andy@rps.org or Robert Albright FRPS robert@robertalbright.co.uk if you are interested.

    Good to get a plug from a non-member Eric. :D:rolleyes: The RPS meetings are all open to non-members too folks

    Check out their website and see if there are meetings near you if you wish to attend. :D

    I think the most important point here is helping newcomers to get started and giving as much good sensible advice as possible.

    Andrew has come to a good source of info and hopefully will find lots of pointers he can follow.

    I know the images must come first
    ... not always the case Andrew in fact the more you progress the less this is true.

    My advice is always create your work for yourself and be happy with what you are producing.

    Guidelines are there to help but never treat them as tram lines,

    don't be afraid to try new things.

    Listen to advice but keep a clear head about what you want to achieve.

    Judges don't always get it right but it is good to hear the views of others.

    Above all, go ahead, create and have fun doing so !

  2. Female voiceover in german and polish

    in Slideshows & AV Shows

    Posted

    Hi Lennart

    I have Polish friends and could record a short piece for you.

    Could you please e-mail me the words?

    It may take a few weeks as I have to go away and not sure when I will see the young lady who I think would have a very suitable voice. She speaks many languages including German.

    I lived in Germany for many years not far from Bergen-Belsen, it is the only place in the world I could not take any photographs. The atmosphere was so intense.

    Best Wishes

    Maureen

  4. Sound in Pte show

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    My question is regarding the windows that come up on your computer screen or projected image when you adjust the sound on the laptop.

    Is there a way to hide this window?

    If I have to tweak the sound levels part way through a show using the laptop sound control, it is very distracting to have your show super imposed with the plus/minus sound volume window showing up while you do it.

    Anyone tried using Volumouse software (free on web )

    Useful little utility if your laptop doesn't have a volume control wheel

    May not be what you need here but could be useful at times. :D

  5. AWARD WINNING SHOWS

    in Slideshows & AV Shows

    Posted

    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 :lol: ). 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" B) 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 :D ! 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. :D

  6. AWARD WINNING SHOWS

    in Slideshows & AV Shows

    Posted

    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 !

    :rolleyes:

  7. AWARD WINNING SHOWS

    in Slideshows & AV Shows

    Posted

    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

  12. Buying a Projector

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi Tony

    You have already seen the Optoma 1920 px by 1080 px projector when you came to Waves.

    They also had a new Alienware laptop built to match it, etc

    Wantage AV Group and Wessex DI Group have also bought new Optoma 1920px by 1080px projectors and we are delighted with the projection and results.

    We also showed some HD AVs at Waves (maybe you weren't there when they projected them.

    Robert, my husband, has just created a new sequence using his Xmas present (Canon 5D Mk2) which projects beautifully on the HD system and looks amazing on a 50ins HD television too.

    When you project you need to set your laptop / computer up correctly to clone the image and also decide which resolution takes priority if necessary.

    Sounds like some didn't set that up if you saw the edges of the laptop screen.

    Hope to see you again at Waves one day.

    Best Wishes

    Maureen

  13. Congratulation Igor and Development Crew

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Thank You Igor and all the Wnsoft Team.

    Once again you have produced an excellent product and we are all very priviledged to be able to continually update the new versions of PTE free of charge. this is so rare and very much appreciated.

    Your product is a World leader and deserves its place as the best there is for our slideshows.

    THANK YOU

    Love Maureen

  15. Colour Calibration of Monitors - Hints & Tips

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Hi

    Felt it best to start a new thread rather than continue under the previous Adobe RGB or sRGB thread

    Irmgard Kaiser (Kessi) asked

    One of the factors I find incredibly frustrating is calibration of the LCD monitor and the projector. I have been to so many sites to look at HOW To's, but just cannot get it right. I know one can use instruments like Spyder, etc, but the price is quite heavy. Are there any hints or tips you could possibly have on calibration of monitors.

    I regard the question of RGB or sRGB as under Colour management (ie images) , whereas Calibration would involve setting up the equipment first.

    Rather over simplified and a better and more lengthy explanation can be found with Wikepedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_calibration

    I know there are those far more expert than I, to explain colour calibration to you and unfortunately I do not have much time. I can only give my opinion and tell you what I would advise.

    Firstly there is no substitute for good hardware calibration using one of the many devices (Colorimeters) such as GretagMacbeth, Spyder, Eye-One etc

    Don't forget that older monitors do not always retain the calibration settings for very long. Calibration should be done regularly, not once and then forgotten.

    However calibration should be carried out by a small number of people (preferably one or two) who know how to use it, i.e not a different member of a camera club using the calibration equipment on the screen every week.

    Even calibration equipment can very occasionally like all equipment, go wrong or give a false setting, so believe your eyes and maybe double check with a chart.

    If you wish to quickly (and cheaply) check for calibration use one of the many calibration charts available.

    The most useful chart I have found is Canadian and unfortunately I cannot remember the source on the Internet (my apologies to the Camera Club who hosted it) but a copy can be downloaded here.

    You will quickly be able to see that every detail of highlight and shadow information will be correctly seen if you can view all the squares and their smaller inside squares.

    It is a quick cheaper option to the use of the calibration devices but not an alternative, if you can afford them.

    GretagMacbeth also have a colourchecker colour rendition chart.

    or download John Henshall's colour chart here :

    http://www.epi-centre.com/charts/charts.html

    Hope this helps Kessi

    Best Wishes

    Maureen

    post-72-1231930285_thumb.png

  16. Adobe RGB or sRGB?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Ken Rockwell's article http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/adobe-rgb.htm

    This subject is not as simple as just choosing one or the other.

    I feel there is a better explanation given at

    http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials...dobeRGB1998.htm

    with clearer gamut diagrams.

    Lots of Photoshop books also cover this topic in greater depth.

    As someone who works with prints and projected images,

    I usually use the old general rule of deciding if the images are for

    AV work = projecting = set camera to sRGB

    prints = set camera for RGB

    Convert the image in Photoshop if necessary. :rolleyes:

    Worked so far for me, my work has been projected across different monitors, big screens, etc in many different venues and countries without problems, and printing has been consistant without colour problems and good enough for International Salons, etc

    Often calibration is a far more important issue.

  18. Copyright Free Music

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I think it is longer than 50 years and when they die the copyright belongs to their estate and is still valid.

    Current legislation extends the protection period to SEVENTY years after the death of the creator and an infringement of its provisions can give rise to legal action.
    from the IAC site relating to UK copyright.

    FYI

    No such thing as copyright free - we should refer to it as royalty free

    Very common mistake.

    Not very serious.

    Copyright always stays with the author but the royalties are the money makers !

    http://www.theiac.org.uk/central/copyright.htm

    There is also free music .........

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

    Worth reading :

    http://images.apple.com/support/itunes_u/d...ht_Overview.pdf

    Huge subject

    but easy to use music from sites where the author has licenced the use of their work without requesting royaties, or buying a licence as we do in UK.

    Sound Workshop for anyone interested :

    Sunday January 18th 2009

    at Aldbourne SN8 2DG Wiltshire England

    http://www.digwessex.rps.org/homepage.htm

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