Chairs: Dave Bunnell, USA, and Urs Widmer, Switzerland
Description: This salon is for multiple-image computer presentations less than fifteen minutes in length, which can include music, narration, animations, or video. Video may not occupy more than one-third of the length. The Salon uses digital projectors and Windows-based computers hosting PowerPoint, Slide Show to Go, and Windows Media Player. If other software is required to play the program, it should either be formulated as a self-executing file (*.exe) or include a run-time player. Presentations can be submitted on either CD or DVD.
Entry Requirements: All entries must be mailed to Dave Bunnell, P.O. Box 879, Angels Camp, CA 95222 USA and must reach him by 15 May 2009. Include a self-portrait as a digital image. Also please complete and print the entry form and mail it with the media.
An alternative is to transmit your program over the Internet via yousendit.com if it is under 100 mb, sending it to davebunnell@underearth.us. Another option is to host your program on a website or ftp server and provide download details in an e-mail to that same address. If you submit your entry by using either of those methods, please also send an e-mail indicating that the entry has been submitted and attaching a digital version of the signed entry form, or mail the entry form if you do not have Acrobat Pro.
Please contact Dave at davebunnell@underearth.us to make inquiries about the salon.
Rights and Conditions: All entrants retain copyright and all moral and intellectual rights to their work. Credit and copyright notice will be included with all images displayed. Digital copyright information will not be removed from any image. The UIS and/or NSS request(s) the following rights, which are optional. Indicate your agreement with any or all by marking either of the box(es) on the the entry form:
 |
The UIS and NSS may use a representative image in low resolution on Web sites to announce the winners of this competition.
|
|
The NSS may reproduce this entry on CD/DVD for inclusion in its Audio-Visual Library. The CD/DVD will be lent to NSS members at no charge.
|
Judging Criteria Judging will be done prior to the ICS by an international panel. All entries will be judged, but only the winning entry will be shown on Salon night. Other entries accepted for show will be shown at another time during the Congress.
A good multi-image program begins with good images, presented in an interesting way that engages the viewer and maintains interest. Its purpose can be educational or simply to set a mood. Ultimately, it should entertain, whether it informs or not. Besides still images, presentations can include pans and zooms, animations, and short video clips, but the latter should occupy less than one-third of the presentation's length. Audio tracks can include music, narration, and sound effects. Programs should include acknowledgements at the beginning or end that give credit for any music or image contributions not the work of the entrant.
Important Note:
Downsize photos in your program to around 1280x1024. This is the highest resolution of most projectors, and having bigger images can result in synchronization problems between sound and images if the computer's processor isn't fast enough.
Entries will be judged on four factors:
Image Quality (1 to 10 points). Generally, images should be well-lit, well-composed, sharp, and with good depth of field and good color saturation. Judging will also take into account the needs of the overall presentation. If images add to the flow or story of the presentation, not every individual image needs to be of the highest possible quality.
Image Selection (1 to 10 points). How well do the selected images tell their story or set their mood? Are there too many? Are they varied enough to sustain interest? Are the images relevant?
Presentation Impact (1 to 10 points). The sequence of images is judged for its effectiveness in conveying a story, idea, or mood. Does the music interact well with the images and support what the program appears to be communicating? Do the transitions used support the flow of images or distract from them? In general, it is often best to keep the presentation simple and not try to overwhelm the viewer with all of the features of your software. The same is usually true with the audio; one or two transition types often work best.
Presentation Technique (1 to 10 points). Technique will be scored according to how effectively the presentation is put together. Do audio clips seem to start and stop in the right places relative to images? Are transitions applied properly? Is text readable and used well, and not overused? Many presentations involve dissolves or fades. When sequencing images, consider how elements in one will look when dissolving into the next. Timing and placement of dissolves is another feature that counts in both technique and impact.
Software sources:
A growing number of programs are available for creating multimedia programs. Some of these are surprisingly inexpensive considering their power, and one of them (Photo Story 3) is free. Below is a list of some of the more popular programs:
Slide Show to Go
PicturesToExe*
ProShow
Microsoft Photo Story
Microsoft Powerpoint
*For examples of multimedia programs made with PicturesToExe, and tutorials, visit: http://www.beechbrook.com/pte/
