Slideshow: technical hints

NOTE: Your slideshow should be modeled after the slideshows we viewed in class (although they do not need to be newsworthy - you may push the format as long as the sequence creates a narrative. Consider how you wish to affect the viewer - will you create an emotional arc?

Editing the Audio

You can edit your Audio using Garage Band or another audio-editing tool into a brief (40-second to 1-minute) narration track. Don't include music unless there was music playing as part of the natural sound backdrop. The audio file should be short enough so that your photos fit comfortably in the audio timeframe. Save your audio as an .mp3 file. Garageband allows you to choose Share/Export File to Mp3. However, if you have i-tunes you can also select your sound file (within i-tunes) and convert it right in there (choose Advanced/Convert Selection to MP3). Listen carefully to the audio in the slideshows (nytimes examples) to better understand levels and tapering.

A few bits of info to help you with your audio edit. Remember, Soundslides ONLY ACCEPTS MP3 FILES.

1. If you choose to edit within Garageband, some versions of Garageband allow you to Share/Export to Mp3. Some earlier versions won't have that option. SO what you need to do is choose Share/Send Song to i-Tunes, and then in i-Tunes, select the "song" and then choose Advanced/Convert Selection to Mp3.

2. Finally, if you're in Garage Band and you want to fade in or fade out your tracks (and you should), here is a video tutorial to show you how to click down the track that has the audio control points....

Building the Interactive Audio Slideshow

With your photographs and your completed .mp3 file, you're ready to build the slideshow. Using the 10 best images you have, build a slideshow narrative with audio. You can do this using a program you are comfortable with already, or use the flash-based SoundSlides software, which you can download onto your computer (demo version is just fine for this project--you don't have to buy the software, but you will need to have a Flash Reader on your computer).

Saving your Slideshow: Save your slideshow on a CD or USB and bring it to class next week, when we will view it in class. You need to save ALL the folders within your project on the CD/USB to make the slideshow work (not just the .swf file). When all those folders are in one place, you activate the slideshow by opening up either the index.html file or the .swf file

Project 1: Sequential Imagery

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audio slideshow

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resources: New York Times' One in 8 Million, long photographs, faaast, the crooked road, 17th grandstand, chucking out, sauta, David Lynch's Interview Project

Due next week Jan 26th:

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1. Read brief article: Frozen Fire

2. Interview an interesting person you know. Formulate your interview questions in advance. Sshare with us something that we might not have access to, ie. interviewing your friend from Otis might not be that interesting. Record the interview (recorders available in the downstairs video lab). You can also use your computer to record the audio via skype or another program. Record sound from the space the person inhabits, or audio that relates to the conversation you had. Keep a log of your recordings.

3. Present audio as sound excerpts (we will have a computer cart for your use). Describe your plan for your audio slideshow. The examples above are pretty newsy; your content can be more abstract or expressive. You can choose to illustrate the content of the interview, develop a photographic theme centering on one interesting comment, or create tension with the audio content through contrast. Show us 2 test images that represent your plan.

Due Feb 2nd:

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1. Read article: The Post Photographic Age

1. Shoot a series of images that follow the plan you presented to the class. Take 80 to 100 images (bring all to class on usb). You can also record HD video and present stills if you wish. Print the 20 best images 4-up on 8.5 x 11 paper.

2. Present a rough version of your slideshow with at least 10 images and 40-60 seconds of sound. Audio can also consist of diegetic sound (sound that occurred as image was being taken or from the environment), sound taken from other sources (online, etc). The images should be enhanced by the sound but not rely upon it.

NOTE: You can use Soundslides free demo, iMovie, Keynote, Flash, or whatever simple program you feel comfortable with that combines still images with audio. I will post more info on Soundslides as it is the standard.

Due Feb 9th:

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Final slideshow due for in-class screening!