AV News 182 - November 2010
Festival Reflections
Rosemary Wilman Hon. FRPS
As you know I am not an AV worker but, as
President, have enjoyed attending a
number of functions which are outside my
area of practice. Like many Society events
there was the chance to meet with friends
and make new friends and with 10
countries represented in the audience this
had an international dimension.
As President enjoy the opportunity to
speak to both members and others, who
may be potential members. There was also
an enthusiasm between sessions to
discuss and share knowledge with those
less experienced in the medium.
So, to the sequences. There were some
wonderful concepts, excellently researched.
As I watched I was considering both the photography and the sound track as
well as the sequence as a whole. It was the photography which surprised me
most, particularly the dominance of other photographers' work, including
historic images in some sequences. I was expecting only to see the
occasional archive image. From conversations I had and comments I heard
I do not appear to be alone in these thoughts. Whenever other
photographers' work is used both copyright and attribution must be managed
correctly. Whilst I must assume that permission has been granted, as this is
a requirement of the Festival, I do not recall seeing attribution in all cases,
which is something The Society believes is essential.
The sequences which inspired me most were those with excellent
photography, which were enhanced by the sequencing and sound track to
provide a message, which, as a whole engaged the audience and left me and
I am sure others, (almost) wanting more as the sequence finished. Perhaps
sometimes less is more, as there were some sequences with excellent
elements, but lost impact in their length an even had material for more than
one sequence.
Although we did not see any, Audio Visual work is beginning to include
video clips, another sign of changing technology. It is with this in sight, along
with the development of HD video on DSLRs and other time based uses of
technology, that The Society is looking at a review of these media, through a
website survey (to October 31) and the Distinction process to ensure we stay
abreast of current practice. There is a full explanation on page 48, which has
also been published in the Society October Journal.
Finally I would like to thank the committee, led by Ian Bateman FRPS, for a
very well organised event, which kept immaculately to time and also thank
everyone for making me so welcome.
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