With advanced video editing software, it’s not hard to add special effects to a photo or video: blur, ripples, waves, mirror reflections, tiling and so on.
What is hard is figuring out what adds value. In this respect, video editing is just like text editing, where adding graphics might or might not improve the final product.
So this was an interesting exercise: trying out different special effects and seeing which ones worked with which photo. The next step? To use them to add ambiance in the context of a story.
I also continue to work on my starting and ending credits, adding short music clips called “stings” when the soundtrack I’ve chosen for the main body of the video won’t work to cover the credits as well.
The problem with filters (same on Photoshop) is that they look so obviously like filters. Generic. Beautiful photos but you don’t need the bells and whistles.
Barbara – Yes, I enjoyed trying them out, but don’t think they added much to the photos. Next week’s video uses a few that I think do add value: one by taking the eye off the rain itself to highlight the wind action (let me know what you think), and one by adding some interesting but not intrusive colour.