Today was the first sessions into multi-media. I know I SHOULD be able to do this, but I just never got around to it. Now I understand the disconnect between video and still photography even more.
Some newspaper staffers have been engaged in a program (experimental?) called the Platypus Project. They were charged with shooting video and stills at the same time. How on earth anybody could juggle the two at once is beyond me. I have always known that juggling a camera and a reporter's notebook at the same time is a feat very few people do well, and I think the same applies here.
We broke into teams of three today and played with some Sony HD video cameras. The way I move and work with my still cameras is simply an impossible thing to do with video. (Unless you are wanting to make your audience feel like they are watching "The Blair Witch Project" and are handing out dramamine for the motion sickness).
The video stuff is nice in respect of not having to worry about things so much on the back-end. What you shot is what you got, and there is not really any "fixing" it later.
As we got into the mechanics of Final Cut Pro (video editing software that is very high end) I suddenly realized what I was working with was actually very similar to working with sound editors like Roxio Media Creator Suite or Audacity. Stacking layers in a visual timeline, with overlaps. Certainly there is an abundant amount I need to learn before considering myself even partially capable of editing anything into an acceptable package, but at least now I see where to start playing with things.
I also see that this software and the video files themselves in HD format are HUGE resource hogs. If you are going to play with them, you will need to have some incredible memory and computing power.
But it is something along the lines of Capt. Kirk yelling at Mr. Scott for more power - how much power is there, and will we need to change the laws of physics to get there?
Jeff Jones
Miyamura High School
Gallup, NM
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The amount of memory required to edit HD and even operate the software is taxing in more ways than one! But after today's session, I am convinced that accessibility and ease of creating video projects is leaps and bounds from what they were 5-6 years ago. Given the computers we were using with their software and setup would easily put us back $3000 a piece, once you have these in your computer labs, your students are ready to go.
ReplyDeleteIt would still take overcoming a high learning curve to master the interface and hidden menus/shortcuts, but eventually your class will be state of the art 21st Century.
Good luck to all of us as we leap into digital media!