My first ever Video editing adventure.. so be gentle

[cefleet]

Ok I posted earlier that I had done my first wedding in sept 1.. we that was kinda lie.. but not. This is a wedding that I did a couple of months ago, but I did it just to see if Anna (my wife) and I would like this line of work. We got paid 0$.. and spent the cost for the tapes (high eight and mini dvd  ).. so  I really didn't count this one but I would like to show the highlight video. We used 1 sony High 8 Camera and 1 sony mini dvd so ... yeah.. and this is the first thing that i ever edited with cinelerra (I used to use kdenlive) and I use a you-tube clone I installed on one of my servers to upload the video, so the conversion didn't do to well for the video.. but hey we got to start somewhere.  Let me know what you think.
http://www.fleetwoodcreativegroup.com/wedding/

[HankCastello]

Living out in the country as we do, we don't get the fastest DSL in the world.  It took nearly five minutes to get to 25% loaded and it would only play for about 1 second, then a wait of several seconds before it would play another second or maybe even two seconds.

I finally gave up.

I set the bandwidth of my Flash videos to 256k (in Premiere Pro) and they seem to play fine for all but dialups.

Anyway welcome to the wedding video biz!  I'll try the link again when I have some time.

[damian]

Not too bad.  Cheaper camera's, straightforward edit, but a good setting to shoot everything in.  Good lighting definitely helped you out.  Seems like you have a feel for getting certain shots, it's just a tad plain for my taste....more of a documentary style.  Seems like straightforward coverage though.

[BillGrant]

cefleet,
Thanks first of all for posting. It takes alot of guts to post your work in public, especially new work. Let me tell you that the issues I see here have nothing to do with cheap cameras or lack of great equipment, so put your wallet away. I can say that what you have here is farther than I was with my first edit so not so bad. And also these are things that afflict every new shooter and editor... Here you go, oh also just MY OPINION> not gospel, not truth. My opinion. OK
First, maybe I've been looking at 16x9 for too long but the shape of the screen seems off. Maybe too skinny. Check your settings in the JW setup or your Html and make sure it isn't off. Should be an equivalent of 720x480... in whatever ratio.
Second, the biggest issue I see with the shooting is that you seem to be so far away from what's happening. So, as a viewer I feel seperated from it. I feel like I'm sneaking in to watch this family's celebration.
Third, dive headlong into camera steadiness. The first stop is the Von Lanken's DVD "moving camera techniques" great investment. IF you are closer to the action, you won't have to zoom so far in. The wider your shot, the more likely you are going to be steady.
Fourth, try your best to limit the shots you allow in the edit to just those that are necessary. Ask yourself, "is there anything happening here?" If there isn't abandon the shot and move on. It must move the story forward for it to really be visually pleasing. It breaks my heart every time I can't use some brilliant shot that I thougt would change the world.
Point is that you are on your way. MAinly because you are here posting work and asking for critiques. Good for you. Also remember that brides love to see themselves on TV, so they're going to love your work. Improve for yourself, and they will follow suit. Good luck, and keep em coming.
Bill

[HankCastello]

After letting it load 100%, I was finally able to play the video. 

Bill posted an excellent critique, I really couldn't improve on it.

I will agree that the format (although your specs are 400w X 300h) is not 4:3.  Seems like the pixels got misinterpreted. i.e.: software did too much thinking and messed up your pixel shape.

And I would add:  close-ups!  Where are the close-ups?  Weddings are about emotion and nothing shows emotion like close-ups, and fortunately, video is at its best when doing close-ups.

Also, pay attention to composition.  Some shots had too much headroom, many ignored the Rule of Thirds.  Try angles - like when the carriage was coming straight for the camera, it might have made for a more interesting shot to be off a bit to the side, giving the frame some depth.

(By the way, after all the years I've been shooting, I still find myself sometimes making these same mistakes!)

You had the technical stuff down pretty well.  Focus, exposure, etc. looked pretty good.  All-in-all, pretty good for a first work.  You're going to do fine.

[cefleet]

Hank- Yeah the thing is hosted on my VPS that really is only for testing purposes however it is 22mb file. I thought that the App scaled it down, and It looks like it did but apparently not as much as I would have liked.. and it made it look worse than i wanted it to. I have a Real server in a data center for my production stuff (not video yet but my web Applications).  I will look at it and see what i can do.

Damian- Yes sunlight was a great help. it was a very hot day in south GA. I see where you are coming from about being plain, thanks for the observation.

Bill- Thanks for writing a critique. First of all the shape is wrong. I noticed that but I was running out to do something so I posted it any way.. if you look at the source code Ileft out the embedding dimensions so I guess it stretched it ( i thought it would get the size from the video not from some hidden default setting....thats what you get for assuming anything) I will change it as soon as im done with this post.
As far as being far away.. yes I agree completely  and how you said it felt is how it felt to me being there.. the first time I met the bride she was in that bath robe thing.. and I'm convinced the groom hated me notice the vary long distance on the grooms photo shoot. I kept my distance and I think the video shows it.
The steadiness was by far the biggest issue in my opinion. I have shot for my church for a while and it never has been an issue (we use gl2s and xl1s).. maybe the heat, or the fact that i was zoomed in the whole time, or that i was nervous, or the fact that i forgot to eat lunch or drink water.. idk but I have been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out how to fix the shakiness, and I am now convinced that the best solution is to shoot it steady  . Ill look into the the dvd you mentioned thanks!

Hank posted whil i was writing- thanks hank

[BillGrant]

Well,
You know, what I meant by my distance comment is kindof echoing Hank's sentiment. Closeups sell emotion. Get in there, get closer no matter what. Also vary up your framing. Go wide, medium, close and extra close. Get all over the place. Find those interesting things about the venue or the day. Find cute kids to shoot. A lrge part of this business is getting over grooms and groomsmen that "hate" you. I get it all the time. So I act like a dork and they laugh at me. Well guess what, the laugh's on them becuase I got them laughing on video, now I've got something! Get chummy with everybody. Talk to them while you're shooting candid stuff. Disarm them with your personality and shoot until the cows come home. Let me let you in on something else. You may always be nervous at weddings. Maybe not as nervous as you are now, but I still get alot of butterflies when the processional is about to start. The main thing is if you get involved. Get in there and mix with the people. The VIDEO will come out feeling alot closer to the event. Whether you feel closer or not! And I would say until you master handheld camera work. Do NOTHING critical handheld. Play with shooting handheld shoot ancillary shots but no critical work. Your product and your bride will thank you
Good luck...
Bill