Railroad Depot

spamgnome · Feb 20, 2019

This is my 1st attempt at video editing. Be gentle

ShermanFlyer · Feb 20, 2019

For a first attempt, Awesome job. Keep at it.

2nckayakers · Feb 20, 2019

Ok gentle it is.... Try to cut it a little more into segments rather than really long shots. Long shots are great as long as you are looking at something interesting, but if the long shot shows the same thing over and over it doesn't really go anywhere. The next thing is when you do cut into smaller segments, try to keep the movement all in the same direction. For example in that shot starting at 0:52, you start out like you are going to do an orbit, but then you go into a quick spin around to the right with no real focal point and then you wind up almost doing a 180 turn that you immediately cut off into. All that motion blur with no object to focus on makes some people dizzy. Being a railfan myself, here is what I would consider; try showing more than just the roof of the cars. For example between 1:10 and the end, what if you had flow that same path but focused your camera on the side of the cars and locomotives rather than the roof of them. Or something else that might have been interesting is fly down between the cars and slow down to almost tripod mode where you can focus on one specific car, or locomotive.

Hope this helps, Keep it up!

spamgnome · Feb 20, 2019

2nckayakers said:
Ok gentle it is.... Try to cut it a little more into segments rather than really long shots. Long shots are great as long as you are looking at something interesting, but if the long shot shows the same thing over and over it doesn't really go anywhere. The next thing is when you do cut into smaller segments, try to keep the movement all in the same direction. For example in that shot starting at 0:52, you start out like you are going to do an orbit, but then you go into a quick spin around to the right with no real focal point and then you wind up almost doing a 180 turn that you immediately cut off into. All that motion blur with no object to focus on makes some people dizzy. Being a railfan myself, here is what I would consider; try showing more than just the roof of the cars. For example between 1:10 and the end, what if you had flow that same path but focused your camera on the side of the cars and locomotives rather than the roof of them. Or something else that might have been interesting is fly down between the cars and slow down to almost tripod mode where you can focus on one specific car, or locomotive.

Hope this helps, Keep it up!

Excellent feedback. Thanks!

MJFargo · Feb 21, 2019

2nckayakers, I think, gives excellent feedback, and you show some obvious innate talent that practice will make perfect. For me the only time I was taken out of the footage was the cut @ appx 1:05 when the camera is both turning then moving forward and an abrupt cut to a different scene. We always like to use all our footage, but learning what is "the best" comes with a willingness to...well, edit. Remember, everything matters (maybe not to everyone but that's a rule of thumb I start with). A soundtrack, for instance, makes a very strong statement and you should consider how it relates both to the footage as well as to the viewer. Sometimes just an ambient sound/composition works best, rather than a ballad that has specific meaning as to time and place. I will add that you made me want to visit the location in person, so knowing you had a good subject shows an advanced sensitivity. Thanks for posting this..

2nckayakers · Feb 22, 2019

MJF is right, we always like to use all our footage, but the reality is using all our footage isn't interesting to anyone but ourselves. I am still working on doing a video on my technique for editing, but basically what I do is go through all my footage and start clipping it into segments. When doing this first edit, I cut out all the herky jerky moves, the quick directional changes and things that just aren't interesting at all. Once I have done that I pick out a soundtrack that I want to use, if I haven't already done that. Never pick out a soundtrack to try and fit the length of your video, pick out one that goes with it. Like with trains you might want something that conveys motion or has an industrial feel. Once you pick the soundtrack then you edit everything down to fit into that soundtrack making your scene transitions coincide with the beat of the music or major transitions in the music. When you do this edit you are going to have to cut out some stuff you really think is good, but that is the reality of good editing. You keep the best of the best, or you keep what fits your storyline. Try to keep it under 3 minutes. Most people loose interest after about 3 minutes.

MJFargo · Feb 22, 2019

I'm even more guided by the soundtrack than 2nckayakers. I spend a lot of trying looking for a soundtrack that has the "feel" I'm trying to convey, am ruthless in not making things too long (always leave them wanting more) and frequently use sound editing software to cut things down. THEN I'll put the footage that best enhances the soundtrack, cuts and transitions chosen for that as well. Many people don't evaluate/respond to that (a lot of friends/family don't even have their sound on when viewing videos), but it guides me into creating something that is a whole, not a string of images that used to called "how I spent my summer vacation." There are many copyright free or nominal fee for purchase soundtracks available for use. You don't even need a very large library of those to get started. But I think it's as important as your image...at least that's been my experience.

bushie · Feb 23, 2019

spamgnome said:
This is my 1st attempt at video editing. Be gentle

CP Rails

Can't see your video. Dont subscribe to the cloud you use

2nckayakers · Feb 24, 2019

MJFargo said:
I'm even more guided by the soundtrack than 2nckayakers. I spend a lot of trying looking for a soundtrack that has the "feel" I'm trying to convey, am ruthless in not making things too long (always leave them wanting more) and frequently use sound editing software to cut things down. THEN I'll put the footage that best enhances the soundtrack, cuts and transitions chosen for that as well. Many people don't evaluate/respond to that (a lot of friends/family don't even have their sound on when viewing videos), but it guides me into creating something that is a whole, not a string of images that used to called "how I spent my summer vacation." There are many copyright free or nominal fee for purchase soundtracks available for use. You don't even need a very large library of those to get started. But I think it's as important as your image...at least that's been my experience.

Oh believe me, Soundtrack is very important to me. A lot of times I can hear the soundtrack I want when I am out filming. Many times I film to the soundtrack I want. I too edit my soundtracks down. A lot of times I end up cutting out big swaths in the soundtrack so I can get it to a time that I am happy with. I have three youtube channels and looking at the statistics most people want no more than 2 minutes. If you go more than that, you better have some good footage, or a story that they need to see the ending.