[philmont] photo options at Philmont

On Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:47:38 +0000, bill55@comcast.net jammed all night, and by sunrise was heard saying:

> With the digital, I have to confess that I haven't yet gotten to the point of getting
> the photos out of the camera. I bought a new computer this week, so
> I'll probably take the time to figure it out, print them or save them to disc,
> and all the other wonderful things that can be done.

That's often the lament of digital users these days, but it doesn't have
to be. If you're not comfortable in computer editing, most photo shops
and even Wal-Marts have kiosks that'll read your memory card, let you
make basic improvements, and get prints of those you want. It's also
very common to upload to one of the many, many free or nearly free photo
sites (most of which offer print services).

However, in modern times, it's worth considering learning to make a
photo slideshow as a video. I did a nice one of our Troop's campout at
Gettysburg two years ago, and show this in my Photo Merit Badge class as
an example. It's a nice form because everyone had a DVD player, and the
cost of replication is negligable. I actually make dual-mode disc, which
play as DVDs on DVD players or as WMV/HD players on PCs and some
high-definition players. But I digress...

> I can't even see the display well enough (compared to focusing tight
> and sharp with my FG) to know if it's a good shot or not. I guess
> it's idiot proof",

Well, that's progress. Even my digital SLR (Canon EOS Rebel Xt) doesn't
have a viewfinder comparable to my trusty old Olympus SLRs. Of course,
the ability to preview a photo is great in critical situations (check
your camera.. even on a small screen, you may have the ability to zoom
in on the image for a better critical look)... but I wouldn't likely
waste the power on the trail, anyway.

> Turning to video cameras, obviously the weight of previous models ruled them out,
> but this is no longer the case. I could easily afford such a camera,
> but I have hesitated because I have a certain amount of fear that I would be
> recording hours of stuff no one would want to watch. A film that did
> not "tell a story". (I'm also a counsellor for photography merit
> badge-obviously there's more even a counsellor can learn).

I do that one too... and I'd like to get a cinematography program going
too, at some point, but there's only so much time.

Chances are, you'll get lots of video, most of which is not that useful.
This is normal... when I shoot even a structured event such as a wedding,
I probably have 2-3 times the video I'll actually use. That's the way it
should be, just as you don't use every photo you snap. Shooting
documentary style, it's much higher ratio still. On the final production,
1-2 hours tops of compelling video is watchable by a general audience.
If there are still photographers, you may be able to use their stills
for cuts or other bits within the final video.

> My point is to practice, practice, practice before the trek, with this as with all
> pieces of equipment.

Yup... in fact, I'm trying to get a basic set of gear ready this month,
as we're doing our first shakedown next month, and I want to get a
better idea if my intentions match my stamina on a longer hike.

> We've all been treated to "home movies" where the "photographer" simply turns
> on the machine and lets it run, pans up and down the Empire State
> building in half a second, takes hour after hour of subjects waving at
> the camera or hiding their faces.

Yup... my Dad used to shoot single-8mm film, back in the dark ages. This
was actually a short 16mm roll. You'd put it in the camera, wind it up
(it was spring driven), shoot 3 minutes, flip the roll over, then shoot
another 3 minutes. This was before autoexposure, before autofocus, of
course, though the Bolex did have a three-lens turret on it. And of
course, editing was literally cut and paste. It was amazing how long 6
minutes of shaky, out of focus film of wide ranges of under to
overexposure seems to last... and of course, no sound. So yeah, you need
to think of editing as an absolute necessity, and don't bother with the
video if you're not planning on it.

-- 
Dave Haynie 
dave@daretowntroop60.com
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