AV News 201 - August 2015
W C PF AV Day
Ann Owens
As has now become the norm for a Western Counties Photographic Federation
event - the day was bright and sunny in Clyst St Mary, Exeter! Not ideal
photographic weather, perhaps - but neither was it conducive to sitting in a
darkened room all day! Ah well - "whatever", as the kids say!
Very ably organised this year, by Alan Boothman and Sheila Haycox, both
experienced AV workers, the whole event ran on oiled wheels. These two must
have something right when they made a few changes to the event, as the entry
had increased. Notably, these changes were to include the new Photo Harmony,
category, as instigated by both the RPS and the PAGB - and to simplify the
dreaded Music Copyright requirements! Yes - a Music Licence was still needed!
Future entrants are urged to check the website to see what's needed to comply.
Thirty-three sequences were viewed throughout the day by some 60
attendees. Storyboards featured the very emotive ‘AZ’ by Robert Albright, which
still brings a lump to my throat, even though I've now seen it a few times. No
stranger to top honours Nationally and Internationally, this was the winning
sequence, which also got the Audience Vote!
All the winners from Saturday 11th April are shown on the following page. I'm
sure this will be of interest - and full details including photographs are on the
WCPF website at http://www.wcpf.org.uk/pages/wcpf-av-2015.php
The Short 3:21 Category winner, which was just 1'55" long, demonstrated the
value of a short, very well produced AV. Crafted by Pam Sherren of Paignton
Camera Club, it was so emotive, with some wonderfully blended images. The
new Photo Harmony category was won by Jane and Stephen Lee of Dorchester
Camera Club, who had the honour of winning the new trophy for this event,
which is theirs to keep!
Also in this popular category, were some stunningly beautiful sequences
showing the mastery needed to weave top-notch images with appropriate
music. In fact, this was a point made on several occasions by the judges,
husband and wife team of Joan Ryder Rathband and Clive Rathband.
It is not simply a case of collecting
surplus images from a photo shoot, and
putting them together with music. Often,
Joan said, images let a sequence down
because they had not been properly
processed, and the music had either not
been carefully considered - or had not been
carefully listened to! So - CARE is the
watchword! This couldn't be emphasised
enough. Get to know and 'feel' the music
and then think about the transitions to suit controlling fades - or making snap cuts
where appropriate. A 'watermark' image is
also important, especially when 'wrong'
format need to be used. With an underlying desaturated or diffused background
image, very often this disparity in sizes is then less obvious.
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