Great Smoky Mountains - a Vision in Tranquility

Dixie · December 14, 2005

I haven't been on much since returning from my visit with Harry shooting in the wetlands. I have been spending most of my time working on a video to showcase some of my Great Smoky Mountains landscapes. I have finished my first cut on the video and have it posted on the PhotoDex web site. If anyone has the time to take a look at it and give me feedback, I would greatly appreciate it. Comments good, bad, or indifferent are welcome.

Video link: Great Smoky Mountains - a Vision in Tranquility

I am very interested in getting honest opinion since I am planning on using the video to hawk my talents with potential clients.

thdizzy · December 15, 2005

Dixie...If you really want to nit-pick this thing we need to talk on the phone (on my dime since I love your work).

The piece is great, great, great; great musical score too. There are a few missed transitions and i believe the opening text can be slowed down.

Email your # and I'd love to talk.

Dixie · December 15, 2005

Thanks Todd. I'll send you a PM in the morning with the number. I can be available day or evening as long as I know in advance about what time you'll call.

Dixie · December 16, 2005

thdizzy wrote:

Dixie...If you really want to nit-pick this thing we need to talk on the phone (on my dime since I love your work).

The piece is great, great, great; great musical score too. There are a few missed transitions and i believe the opening text can be slowed down.

Email your # and I'd love to talk.

.

Todd, still haven't heard from you. Did you receive my PM with the phone number?

Anyone else care to critique and provide suggestions? I am working on the transitions which Todd mentioned.

WaterfallRich · December 16, 2005

I'd love to see it, but am hesitant about installing and running the software needed to view it. Might be paranoid, but...

livinginoz · December 16, 2005

dixie, i just looked at your galleries, and they are very impressive. you have been to and appreciated many of the places i love in the national park chains. i used to have 3 weeks of vacation i could take all at once, and i wondered around the west every fall. my last trip was to yosemite in 2000. thanks for bringing back the memories.

Dixie · December 16, 2005

WaterfallRich wrote:

I'd love to see it, but am hesitant about installing and running the software needed to view it. Might be paranoid, but...

Rich, it is basically a codec plug-in for the video format they use. No spyware, pop-ups, etc. associated with it. It only takes a few seconds to download at 3.25 mb and it only has to be done once.

It is called the Photodex Presenter and you can read the data on it by clicking the link.

Dixie · December 16, 2005

livinginoz wrote:

dixie, i just looked at your galleries, and they are very impressive. you have been to and appreciated many of the places i love in the national park chains. i used to have 3 weeks of vacation i could take all at once, and i wondered around the west every fall. my last trip was to yosemite in 2000. thanks for bringing back the memories.

Laurie, you're welcome and thank you for the kind comments.

WaterfallRich · December 16, 2005

Wow!
That was outstanding! (thanks for the info on the software download) Your images are beautiful and the music was wonderful. I love the way you transitioned from b&w to color and fall scenes in many of the photos. Best of luck - your potential clients will be very impressed.

Dixie · December 16, 2005

WaterfallRich wrote:

That was outstanding! (thanks for the info on the software download) Your images are beautiful and the music was wonderful. I love the way you transitioned from b&w to color and fall scenes in many of the photos. Best of luck - your potential clients will be very impressed.

Thank you for the input, Rich.

I notice that you are from Asheville. You are welcome to join me to shoot anytime I am in GSMNP. I go up there 6-10 times a year and normally spend 2-3 weeks up there during the fall. I usually make it known here on DGrin when I'm headed that way. ...or if you send me a PM, I will save it and let you know each time I am headed to the park.

I didn't mention it before, but if you right click on the video you can select Full Screen as well and get an even better idea of what it's going to look like when played from a DVD player onto a TV.

WaterfallRich · December 16, 2005

Dixie wrote:

I didn't mention it before, but if you right click on the video you can select Full Screen as well and get an even better idea of what it's going to look like when played from a DVD player onto a TV.

:jawdrop I'm so glad you mentioned that - your video is truly an inspiration and the full screen is outrageous! Hope you don't have bandwidth restrictions, because I watched it 3 times.

The only historic building I've photographed in the Smokies is Mingus Mill. I really like your shot looking down the mill race. I shot from a similar angle and had one leg of the tripod in the mill race. Didn't realize there was a mill with a water wheel in Cades Cove. Have added that to the long list of places to shoot. I just moved to the Asheville area in 2003 and am still learning just how much is in the area. It's a landscape/nature photographer's paradise. I'd like to eventually put together a DVD with waterfall video I've taken combined with photos and music like you have done. Thanks for the inspiration and invitation to join you on a shoot!

grimace · December 17, 2005

Dixie,Awesome photoslide/video. If I were a client I'd be very impressed. I've been to many places but never the Great Smoky Mountains. You certainly convinced me to add it to my list of must sees.

Sam · December 17, 2005

Dixie,While I haven't looked at all your work, what I have looked at is very nice, and I think any client will be impressed, but I do not like to keep downloading scores of little programs for this or that. While I am sure your comments about no viruses, etc. are valid, there may be others who like me will just close the window and move on. This will be a missed opportunity for both you and the prospective client.Is there a way to view the video from online or from a disc without downloading a program?Jus my thoughts,Sam

Allen · December 17, 2005

Absolutely awesome! Very professional. I loved the b&w transitions
to color. Ever think of adding an IR transition version in? Only nitpic
is I would love to pause at times to absorb the beauty. Probably
there but missed it.

This is a gotta see, the plugin loaded with no trouble.
AL

Dixie · December 17, 2005

Sam wrote:

Dixie,While I haven't looked at all your work, what I have looked at is very nice, and I think any client will be impressed, but I do not like to keep downloading scores of little programs for this or that. While I am sure your comments about no viruses, etc. are valid, there may be others who like me will just close the window and move on. This will be a missed opportunity for both you and the prospective client.Is there a way to view the video from online or from a disc without downloading a program?Jus my thoughts,Sam

Sam, the project is for a DVD. I just put it on-line to get some critique on it. My prospective clients will receive it on a DVD (in fact I picked up the blanks this afternoon).

Photodex produces the software that I used to make the video. They provide the free bandwidth for their users so I use them for the review process.

Thanks for your input as I do appreciate your thoughts.

Dixie · December 17, 2005

WaterfallRich wrote:

I'm so glad you mentioned that - your video is truly an inspiration and the full screen is outrageous! Hope you don't have bandwidth restrictions, because I watched it 3 times.

The only historic building I've photographed in the Smokies is Mingus Mill. I really like your shot looking down the mill race. I shot from a similar angle and had one leg of the tripod in the mill race. Didn't realize there was a mill with a water wheel in Cades Cove. Have added that to the long list of places to shoot. I just moved to the Asheville area in 2003 and am still learning just how much is in the area. It's a landscape/nature photographer's paradise. I'd like to eventually put together a DVD with waterfall video I've taken combined with photos and music like you have done. Thanks for the inspiration and invitation to join you on a shoot!

Rich,

No problem on the bandwidth. Photodex produces the software I used for the video (ProShow Producer) and they provide the storage and bandwidth for free (thank goodness). Since you are interested they do have free 15-day demo downloads of their two programs for doing the videos from photos (ProShow Gold and ProShow Producer). Regretfully, the programs do put branding on the video unless you purchase and register it, but at least you can get a feel for it.

Dixie · December 17, 2005

grimace wrote:

Dixie,Awesome photoslide/video. If I were a client I'd be very impressed. I've been to many places but never the Great Smoky Mountains. You certainly convinced me to add it to my list of must sees.

Thanks, Adam. If you want a shooting partner when you do decide to do the Smoky Mountains just give me a shout.

Dixie · December 17, 2005

Allen wrote:

Absolutely awesome! Very professional. I loved the b&w transitions
to color. Ever think of adding an IR transition version in? Only nitpic
is I would love to pause at times to absorb the beauty. Probably
there but missed it.

This is a gotta see, the plugin loaded with no trouble.
AL

Thanks, Al, I appreciate your comments. ...and yes, there is a pause/play and skip forward/backward by slide in the lower left-hand corner of the player. I also have the DVD version on-line and with it you can play the different chapters separately. The DVD version is one edit before the one I have linked. There were some minor changes to the slides and I also added the end credits for the one I have linked.

Allen · December 17, 2005

It is my imagination or is one slide shown twice. It's of a small building
with a log across the foreground. About 4 or 5 apart about 1/3 in.

I was running full screen and don't remember any nav buttons.
Again, it was gorgeous,
AL

edit: No's 11 & 13 of rocky, same sceen, slightly different

Dixie · December 17, 2005

Allen wrote:

It is my imagination or is one slide shown twice. It's of a small building
with a log across the foreground. About 4 or 5 apart about 1/3 in.

I was running full screen and don't remember any nav buttons.
Again, it was gorgeous,
AL

edit: No's 11 & 13 of rocky, same sceen, slightly different

You're right - no nav buttons in full screen. Sorry about that.

Two different shots taken two days apart from almost the same angle. The leaves started changing so I went back to Roaring Fork and went through again. One should have the right end of the log chopped off.

The side with the log is the front of the cabin. There are similar shots of the back as well which were also taken two days apart.

grimace · December 17, 2005

Dixie wrote:

Thanks, Adam. If you want a shooting partner when you do decide to do the Smoky Mountains just give me a shout.

Don't be surprised if I take you up on it. In another reply you mentioned you go there frequently. When's the best time of year to go? I'm sure fall is beautiful but hard to forecast for.

Dixie · December 17, 2005

grimace wrote:

Don't be surprised if I take you up on it. In another reply you mentioned you go there frequently. When's the best time of year to go? I'm sure fall is beautiful but hard to forecast for.

Fall is absolutely great. I spent 2½ weeks there this year shooting the fall colors. It takes that long because different areas and elevations change color at different times once the colors start.

Clingmans Dome and Cataloochee start the earliest. You have 2-4 days per area for prime color. It is really amazing how fast it goes once the leaves reach peak.

Spring is also good with the new flowers, etc. Additionally the crowds haven't really grown too large yet. The peak months are June, July and August with July averaging about 1.6 million visitors. October, when the fall colors come in, is fourth with about 1.1 million visitors.

Other than some road closings, winter is also a great time to shoot. Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail are both closed during the winter. Roaring Fork is schedule to reopen on March 10th and Clingmans Dome on April 1st. Other areas are subject to temporary closures at anytime during the winter due to snow and/or ice.

My recommendation is to stay away from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for lodging because of the traffic. I always stay in Townsend which is near the southern end of the park near Cades Cove. There are a number of full hook-up RV facilities there as well as several nice motels.

You can get more info from their web site - GSMNP.

If you have any additional questions just drop me a PM.

ian408 · December 17, 2005

I think your production is a great way to show your work to clients. The video
is nicely produced and flows at a good pace. Bonus, it's a great way to
get a feel for the park and it's relaxing too

I think this is a piece you should sell. I wouldn't give it away. In fact, something
like this could be a money maker for you.

If you were to give it away, perhaps a much shorter version. Like one or two
minutes tops. You could make it an adobe photo presentation and give it to
perspective clients on a CD business card.

There's just one minor nit. There's a shot with clouds in the Cades Cove
section (I think that's the section) that's got a bit of a halo where the clouds
meet the trees. Maybe it's the sun?

Ian

Dixie · December 19, 2005

ian408 wrote:

There's just one minor nit. There's a shot with clouds in the Cades Cove section (I think that's the section) that's got a bit of a halo where the clouds meet the trees. Maybe it's the sun?

Ian

Thanks for the input.

Ian, it may be the monitor or the way I have it calibrated, but I haven't been able to find the slide you mentioned. I may have to look at the original to make sure. Could you please describe the slide a little fuller so I can pick out which one it is.

ian408 · December 19, 2005

Dixie wrote:

Thanks for the input.

Ian, it may be the monitor or the way I have it calibrated, but I haven't been able to find the slide you mentioned. I may have to look at the original to make sure. Could you please describe the slide a little fuller so I can pick out which one it is.

I'll go back through it for you. Then again, it might be me.

Dixie · December 19, 2005

Ian, the 13th slide in the "around the park" was a stream with rocks from my way of counting. However, I've come up with a solution so you can tell me for sure which slide it is.

While viewing the video just press ALT-PRTSCRN when you reach the slide in question. You can then paste the clipboard into PS and reduce it. Then just do a file attachment and I can see exactly which one you are talking about.

.