Posted by Elliott Neep on January 7, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Hi everyone. I have just been playing around with ways to present a photo essay online. If you have a spare moment, I would appreciate your feedback on this 1st essay of the deer rut. Does the display and slide show work? Does it make sense?
Great idea and works very well. Good story with a nice collection of images.
Tom beat me to it regarding the sound, a bit of soft background music would enhance the presentation IMO,
Posted by Chris Lloyd on January 7, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Really like the idea. A really fun and interesting way to tell a story without having to read page after page of written work.
I agree regarding the sound, but maybe some seasonal noises that the Deer may make, like antlers clashing or stags roaring etc...
Regards Chris.
Posted by Rob Fisher on January 7, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Elliot,
Agree about the sound track, that could really add some atmosphere.
Really like the format, works well.
Rob
Posted by Paul Everett on January 7, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Nice job Elliot, well done. Would like to see the photos full screen but don't know if thats a techie issue. Also agree that sound track would really bring it to life.
That works well... the sound track idea sounds like it could be complicated but may be worth looking into... are these a mix of Richmond/Scotland images?
Phils, just said something that pin-pinted one thing that would make it better ... that is all images for the same location as that way you feel you are following an actual event.
Posted by Craig Nash on January 7, 2008 at 4:08 PM
I think it's a great slide-show. I love the tenderness of image #11.
And I disagree about the sound. IMO there''s no need for it. I want to look at the photos - it's a visual thing - and what you think is a good soundtrack, I might hate, and it would completely put me off an otherwise excellent collection of images.
A friend of mine has produced some slide-shows with stunning photos of his safaris - the photos are great, but they've been ruined (IMO) by some very cliched 'African tribal music' soundtracks.
Posted by Elliott Neep on January 7, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Hey, thanks all for the feedback - looks positive to me. Phil, yes it is a mix, mostly Richmond Park, Highlands, Isle of Mull. In the final production I will make the images bigger (and check my spelling hehehe). I know you all mentioned sound, but I'm not sure what could run alongside it. I don't have the equipment to go out and record my own. Any suggestions? Michael - my worry also!
Posted by John Varley on January 7, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Works very well Elliott, I'm on dial up so its a bit slow (the timer) thingy at start up is a good idea.
The wording is concise and to the point.
i think this works well, you have some excellent images there. however, to play devils advocate a little, and i realise how this would demand a lot more hours in the field, to make it really strong, i think it needs a bit more context as to what the rut means to the deer in a year round sense, as in there are not enough images such as the first or last one showing the deer in their non rut state.
this isn't a negative criticism, but just how i htink you could make it stronger verging on the truly excellent.
regards,
mark
Posted by Ian Andrews on January 8, 2008 at 3:49 AM
Cracking series.
I agree that a soundtrack might spoil it. It wouldn't worry me though as I never have the speakers turned on!
Ian
Posted by Mark Sisson on January 8, 2008 at 3:50 AM
The journalist in you comes through here! Nice idea, good collection of images (although I think the one location/follow the story piece would be beneficial) and a well constructed tale - not sure about the sound myself: it could help, but it could also ruin it as it's a horribly subjective medium.
Mark
Posted by Andy Astbury on January 8, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Elliot - the one thing I would be tempted to do is wrap the sequence into a single pane flash movie - that way you only see one image at a time, you can fade one image into another instead of having them all spread across the screen.
And if you put the movie into a pre-loader and include a progress bar you could possibly increase your image sizes without viewers getting bored waiting for the movie to download, which is always the danger with flash.
You obviously know how to use Flash, but if you want any help with Action Script just ask
Hi Elliot I suppose there is a fixed template you are working too. It 'works' because its simple without too many gimmicks. But for me I think you need to look at the line breaks, some do work, however, I guess because of the template there are two or three words that have been taken down onto the next line that would have made more sense to have all the text on one line. I hate 'widows' single words on one lines, sorry. Also the frame numbers, do you need them? If so, make them half the size
Text on opening frame is not in the same place
May have a fade through rather than moving in from the r/h side.
I am not sure if this is constructive or picky?
Steve
Posted by Elliott Neep on January 8, 2008 at 7:35 AM
Hi Everyone - thanks all for the continuing responses and feedback. Excellent stuff! Sorry for those of you on dial-up - it is a bit lumpy,
Tom, the Edirol recorder - not sure I can justify the spend, although I have often considered it for birds and foxes that respond well to calls.
Andy, the single pane - I can do it that way, but I quite like the way you get a taste of what the next image is.
I am using a plug-in for Lightroom which creates the whole slide show and uploads it to my server. It is just a little limited with the parameters and design. It is very quick and easy though, so I take no credit for the production - just the images and text. I thought the format suited the photo essay better than a bunch of thumbnails.
I have made a similar photo essay for my hunting hyena sequence shot in Lake Nakuru. If anyone is interested it is here:
Posted by Mark Fellowes on January 8, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Hi Elliott
I really like both of these; you've provided structure to your pictures that allows the viewer to become 'involved' with your subjects, rather than casually looking at a series of unrelated images. I particularly liked the hyenas; very well done.
The simplicity of the display works for me, and I have a really strong dislike of music to accompany any web-site (warning - personal prejudice coming up!). By choosing music you're imposing a response on the viewer, rather than letting that come by itself, and even worse, you'll be forced to choose something bland enough to not alienate many of the people looking at your site - do you want pictures as good as these accompanied by elevator music, or something cliched? My first response when I visit a site with music is to leave - they're kind of like those birthday cards with jingles
The only nit I have is that you have a couple of typos. I'd definitely deal with those, simply because it sends the wrong message if you don't.
Again, though - I really like what you've done. It really appeals to the natural historian in me to have more than just a single great shot - with the essays you've made something greater than the sum of its parts.
Mark
Posted by eric weight on January 8, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I love the idea Elliot and as somebody who knows very little about deer, I found it very informative. For me, music would be a mistake. I find that even if I like it, I get fed up with it droning on and on and then I loose interest. The others, with more knowledge than me have offered some excellent ideas, but I think it is all heading in the right direction and I hope that you press on with the concept; it is worth getting right. Eric
Discussion
20 replieshttp://www.enwp.co.uk/gallery/seq_red-deer-rut/index.html
Thanks
T
Great idea and works very well. Good story with a nice collection of images.
Tom beat me to it regarding the sound, a bit of soft background music would enhance the presentation IMO,
I agree regarding the sound, but maybe some seasonal noises that the Deer may make, like antlers clashing or stags roaring etc...
Regards Chris.
Agree about the sound track, that could really add some atmosphere.
Really like the format, works well.
Rob
Paul
And I disagree about the sound. IMO there''s no need for it. I want to look at the photos - it's a visual thing - and what you think is a good soundtrack, I might hate, and it would completely put me off an otherwise excellent collection of images.
A friend of mine has produced some slide-shows with stunning photos of his safaris - the photos are great, but they've been ruined (IMO) by some very cliched 'African tribal music' soundtracks.
The wording is concise and to the point.
see this, it is what I use with a shotgun mike... I use it for a lot of thing as well as nature photography.
Edirol recorder
t
hi elliot,
i think this works well, you have some excellent images there. however, to play devils advocate a little, and i realise how this would demand a lot more hours in the field, to make it really strong, i think it needs a bit more context as to what the rut means to the deer in a year round sense, as in there are not enough images such as the first or last one showing the deer in their non rut state.
this isn't a negative criticism, but just how i htink you could make it stronger verging on the truly excellent.
regards,
mark
I agree that a soundtrack might spoil it. It wouldn't worry me though as I never have the speakers turned on!
Ian
Mark
And if you put the movie into a pre-loader and include a progress bar you could possibly increase your image sizes without viewers getting bored waiting for the movie to download, which is always the danger with flash.
You obviously know how to use Flash, but if you want any help with Action Script just ask
Text on opening frame is not in the same place
May have a fade through rather than moving in from the r/h side.
I am not sure if this is constructive or picky?
Steve
Tom, the Edirol recorder - not sure I can justify the spend, although I have often considered it for birds and foxes that respond well to calls.
Andy, the single pane - I can do it that way, but I quite like the way you get a taste of what the next image is.
I am using a plug-in for Lightroom which creates the whole slide show and uploads it to my server. It is just a little limited with the parameters and design. It is very quick and easy though, so I take no credit for the production - just the images and text. I thought the format suited the photo essay better than a bunch of thumbnails.
I have made a similar photo essay for my hunting hyena sequence shot in Lake Nakuru. If anyone is interested it is here:
http://www.enwp.co.uk/gallery/seq_hyena/index.html
I really like both of these; you've provided structure to your pictures that allows the viewer to become 'involved' with your subjects, rather than casually looking at a series of unrelated images. I particularly liked the hyenas; very well done.
The simplicity of the display works for me, and I have a really strong dislike of music to accompany any web-site (warning - personal prejudice coming up!). By choosing music you're imposing a response on the viewer, rather than letting that come by itself, and even worse, you'll be forced to choose something bland enough to not alienate many of the people looking at your site - do you want pictures as good as these accompanied by elevator music, or something cliched? My first response when I visit a site with music is to leave - they're kind of like those birthday cards with jingles
The only nit I have is that you have a couple of typos. I'd definitely deal with those, simply because it sends the wrong message if you don't.
Again, though - I really like what you've done. It really appeals to the natural historian in me to have more than just a single great shot - with the essays you've made something greater than the sum of its parts.
Mark