How to set up a Nature Slide Show

[rene_theberge]

I've finally got enough quality

slides (and a new projector!)

that I'd like to respond to

several requests from family

and friends to do a slide show.

I've mostly been shooting

flowers (regular and macro)

with some landscapes and a

few creatures (frogs, insects,

etc.). Could anyone give me

some pointers about how to do

a show? I'm interested in

topics like are there

guidelines/rules one should

folow in order of slides, number

of slides before people get

bored, etc. I'd like to have this

ready for Thanksgiving.

[ydobon]

<P>There's a whole <A

HREF="http://db.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-one-category.tcl?topic=photo%

2enet&category=Slide%20Projection">section on slide projection</A> in

the regular photo.net Q&A forum. There's <A

HREF="http://db.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0007Gs">

one thread (Composing of Slide Show)</A> that covers this topic

thoroughly. There are a couple of additional comments in a <A

HREF="http://db.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000CMh">

thread dated six months later.</A>

 

<P>In a nutshell: plan ahead, write a storyboard, stay below 40-45

minutes, stay below 80 slides, don't be a bore, and practice,

practice, practice.

[howard_creech1]

Rene, I will offer a little advice that may differ from what Sean

provided (although his suggestions were thorough, and the additional

info was helpful) First, since you are somewhat limited in subject

matter...you will have edit ruthlessly. Show only your very best

slides...a short show with stunning slides will be enjoyed much more,

than a longer show with lower quality slides. From the description

of subject matter that you outlined above, I would show two or three

flower slides (maybe choosing to group them seasonally, or by color)

and then a shot or two of one of your critters, then a few more

flower shots, followed by another couple critter shots, etc. Limit

the show to 15 minutes (6-8 seconds per slide times 80 slides equals

8 to almost 11 minutes) factor in a couple of questions (allow your

audience to ask questions as you go) and a couple of longer

explanations and a natural time frame of about 15 minutes will just

happen. Prepare well and practice several run throughs....and

remember "leave them asking for more" Good luck and have a good show.

[ydobon]

<P>Howard has excellent advice. Since you are addressing friends and

family, there is a good chance that they will like much of your work.

However, a really concise slide show might fit in better to the

Thanksgiving weekend activities when lots of people think more about

eating or watching football than looking at photographs.

 

<P><U>You</U> need to figure out what these people can tolerate; after

all, you know them better than we do. If there are a bunch of kids or

elderly folks, 20 minutes is probably tops. Oh yeah, if you try this

after turkey dinner, don't expect people to be awake much longer than

that either.

[john_womack]

Good question. I've given a number of these and found that somewhere

about 72 (or so) slides, the collective brain begins to disolve, no

matter how good the pictures are. If you are doing if for a group of

spcialists (all nature photographers, or naturalists) then you can

expand to several carosuels. I also have grouped many of my shots by

season, beginning with autumn, (since I live in the Blue Ridge

mountains), go to late autumn, winter, spring, summer and then come

back to autumn again. It took me a long time (too long) to realize

that everytime I show a less than really good slide, the attention

level plummets dramatically. Only the best pictures will do, although

I do use a few (say, fog shots) for quick transitions. Good l

[rich_ruh]

I've had good luck giving a yearly slide show for friends of two

trays. I have an "intermission" between the two trays, where

everyone eats, drinks, and mingles.

 

<p>

 

For my subject matter (outdoor travel photography is as good a label

as any), I've found that good story-telling is just as important as

the pictures. An average looking slide with an accompanying story is

just as good (sometimes better) as a stunning scenic with no

narrative. A mix between the two types works best for me.

[m._huber]

I usually add music. I plan on about 30 minutes (the length of a TV program). People seem adjusted to that time length. Shorter than that, they feel short=changed. The idea of a refreshment break is always good. Also have a few back=up slides if they want more. In spite of all the jokes on home shows, it is not unusual to have requests for more. Personally, I always throw in some "good" slides to make the "great" ones have more impact. My biggest problem is not allowing time for questions and comments. You can judge from your audience. It's best to end with the audience wanting more.