ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Monday 17 March 2014

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS. (17/03/14)

I think that I’m going to have to forget a video of the Falls of Foyers. We have been out twice today and got a good soaking for our trouble. At least the 5D II keeps the water out better since I gave the card door a smear with olive oil. I used to panic when I found water droplets in the card slot. It is a much better camera than the Olympus but the build of the case is nothing like as water tight.

_MG_3180    Loch Ness. This is about as good as it got.

I took some video, I’ve got used to hearing my voice but still need electrocution lessons. The video was uploading fast but I watched the Grand Prix on I-Player, I-Player is heavy on usage. A bit like Suzy Perry. She is an air head but has a lovely tummy. Like a Kelly Doll she is; knock her over and she bounces straight back up; I’m starting to have a sneaking regard for her. I ran out of data and Hutchinson won’t give me anymore. They are aware of the problem and say they are sweating blood and guts to fix it. I’m now on Highland WI-FI. It is like waiting for paint to dry but better than nothing…..Mondays?…I ask you? It’s been a right royal pain today. One perhaps should be on contract but if one is how does one keep track of usage. I go all winter on £15.00p per month and then in summer with F1 and MotoGP it costs a tenner more. No chance of any motorbikes this year, that’s a pity.

It’s been a trying day.

48 comments:

  1. Hi Adrian, great video on such a crappy day. Your dogs are movie stars. They sure are cute. I have a question, how do you get the video on to your blog? I may wish to do so as I am now a video creator as well. I guess I just have to query the internet. Hope your weather gets better soon.

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    1. Horst, you have just got a superb video recorder. What I do is go into the camera memory. Drop contrast and sharpen to zero. Tell it to shoot at 1/50s. Then I adjust exposure either by aperture or ISO. ISO is favourite but with my cameras anything over 800 causes noise. You need a video editor.
      I use Photoshop CS6 or Lightworks but any will do, Edit with or without sound and render. Once it is rendered save it and upload to YouTube or Vimeo. Then it's just a one hit job to drop it into your post.
      I was pleased with this on YouTube. There wasn't the chopping I have had before.
      I render at Codec 648 or something. I forget. Forgetting is a problem.
      If you have bother then ask. I'll look the real numbers up.

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  2. It does look a murky day, however the dogs had fun by the looks of it. I took a very similar photo by Loch Etive a few years ago, now there's a magical place if you ever have time when you are around Glen Coe. Hope the weather cheers up for you soon.

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    1. Cath, the dogs always have fun. I am thinking of glen Etive. There is so much to see here. Even on bad days.

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  3. I like the video especially the choice of music, well edited too. The dogs were great I had to chuckle at the one who wouldn't go to far in shame you never saw you wainbow :o)

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    1. Douglas, Terriers aren't swimmers. They do their best. Yours could wade in.
      I barely wasted any secondage today. I just switched the order a bit. I need o think before I open my mouth.

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  4. At least the water today looked relatively clean! :)

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    1. Monica, it is potable. Well, it was till those two went in.

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  5. So THAT is what everyone thinks is the Loch Ness monster? It's just a row of old posts! An interesting bit of insight into the technical trials and tribulations of a nomad on the road Adrian. I am in the pub killing time with a beer at the moment, while Amanda is studying around the corner, and so will watch and listen to the video later. I hate hearing my own voice, always really weird and 'not me' ish. I hope the weather improves.

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    1. Gary, I speak too high and too sharp. I did a shoot with proper sound engineers and sounded like a complete wanker. I've learned to speak as if I'm at least there if not that interested. It is not easy. I have to work focus, light and audio. No wonder I forget the script.

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  6. Lovely video, Adrian. I like the look of the loch, your dogs, the daffodils, the reflection of the trees in the water, your soothing voice, the type font, and the music. Surely you will win an Oscar next go-round.

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    1. Bob, thank you. It is my most boring video but I would claim it as my best.
      Soothing isn't something anybody has said about my voice before.
      I may have been blessed as in my old job when the shit hit the fan the crew did say afterwards they appreciated a calm voice.
      I'll have to get Uma to star for an Oscar. Uma Thurman on the casting couch. Dream on Adrian. I have all on lugging the gear about.

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  7. Ah, so that's the sound of your voice, unless there's somebody else. Great video and picture Adrian.

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    1. Bob, of course it is me. I am a traveller. Do you know any travellers that can get a voice over in the middle of Scotland within an hour of shooting and posting a video?
      It is a bugger editing video but this is the best yet.

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  8. If I might be so bold Adrian - your reassuring voice - with a hint of Woodbines and Derbyshire -makes me believe that you have - alas - missed your vocation. You should be a recording artiste - specialising in talking books for children. There could be a series - "Storytime with Uncle Adrian" and you could start by recording the fifteen Secret Seven novels and the twenty one Famous Five novels - including my personal favourite - "Five Go To Billycock Hill".

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    1. YP, I never thought my voice was reassuring. Crew on boats used to say 'F' off but when the crap hit the fan they would always listen to the bloke that wasn't shouting,
      I can talk the talk but can't walk the walk.
      Send me the stories. I'll talk them and send them back.
      Be interesting if nothing else.
      I think if you are making a video of rain and have the bare faced cheek to post it then at at least give it a bit of gob.

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  9. Excellent video Adrian..only you could make an interesting video about a grey, rainy day!
    A couple of things are worrying me though...have you got a new fetish thing going on?....greasing your head last thing at night and filling your camera with vegetable oil?...what a man does in the privacy of his own house (camper van) is his own business I guess...buuut??....[;o)

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    1. Trevor, I have to say that I'm happy with this video. I'm a bit slow or maybe special needs but this went together all thirteen clips seamless. I did drop a couple of clips of the dogs onto a second video line. No need really.

      You are beyond the pale. It is a donkey's years old head I was greasing. Mine is also ancient. Just been ont tinternet regarding that. Can't find any advice. I did the head with Copper Slip, Copper Slip is heat proof and sticks to everything.

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  10. Adrian it seems really nice to be there a little mist over the water is a bit mysterisch especially if there are still popping up two monsters.

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    1. Bas, when Cobie is well come over. It is a good place and after Easter it will be full of Dutch people.

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  11. Hey Adrian, I was just playing with Microsoft video maker on Windows 8. I was surprised how easy it was, I guess I will have to get a membership to Youtube so I can post these videos.

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    1. Horst, it isn't difficult but editing I find hard. Shooting is hard as well because you have to keep exposure constant clip to clip otherwise it looks crap. It is all fun.

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    2. PS. Use video editor but look at other freeware. The windows one does give hundreds of transitions between clips but control over fade tends to happen only when you pay for software.
      Lightworks is free and stunning though you may have to convert MVI files into something it can read. Eye frame is a good free converter. I mostly run both CS6 and Lightworks and see what works best. Both have virtually unlimited video and audio time lines. This video was done with two audio tracks, and three video tracks. Maybe two of the latter. One held the titles or text but when the dogs were playing I ran an extra video track to avoid fade in there is still a bit of skip but I am getting better.

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  12. All too much these men swooning over your voice Adrian. I can't even play the vid on my iPad so will have to watch it tonight from home.

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    1. Carol, I know, I know. I might have to turn into one of those. How are you fixed for rescue duty? I'll pay half your airfare if you can convert me back to an all singing and dancing man.
      That's the trouble with Apples they tempt but then don't perform. Seriously it is the best video of next to nothing I have done.

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    2. PS. apparently the voice is so good that you may not sleep soundly. I think you will be fine. Most ladies think I'm a right tosser.

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    3. Haha Funny fella ~ half my airfare ~ that will get be half way across the Indian Ocean like that Malaysian flight.

      I will send you the HTML that I use to make sure any You Tube video is playable on a mobile device. You don't have to convert it for Apple.

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    4. Carol, I have the HTML. I'll paste it in next time. I suspect if I use Vimeo it is already there.

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  13. I give you full marks for getting out in nasty weather. Too many of us softies would just stay in the house.

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  14. Those dogs are stars. How did you get them to stay quiet and out of the shot until you wanted them? Or did you add that bit later? Your voice sounded quieter than it did on a previous video but that just might be my memory failing me (as it often does) or the volume key.

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    1. Pauline I hold the stick out of shot. I did used to shout at the camera. I got myself tucked away out of the wind as well. I haven't got an external mic so have to try and remember to talk close to the camera. I have thought of recording the voice over afterwards. I'll give it a go.

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  15. Sorry you've had a difficult day, Adrian. May tomorrow bring you sunshine and nothing but good things. I tried watching the video but I too have a slooooow connection.

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    1. Hilary, Yesterday was a good day. It is bouncing down here now.

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  16. Those pooches are soo cute, they steal the show!

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    1. Maria, they are the show. I don't know what I'd do without them on a wet and soggy day.

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  17. Me ha gustado mucho. Ver el lago,los perros disfrutando y esas ya campanitas ya florecidas.
    Estupendo Adrian.
    Buen martes.
    un abrazo

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    1. Laura, es una buena cosa que tenía a los perros.

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  18. Enjoyed the rainy outing with you narrating. Pups are adorable and obviously don't mind getting a bit soggy to have an outdoor adventure. Hope the skies dry out before too long. Have a great day!

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    1. Terri, the dogs love getting wet and filthy.

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  19. At least two out of the three of you don't care how wet they get.

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    1. John, Alf is usually a little more circumspect but they don't seem to notice weather.

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  20. When I first saw the video with the background music, I thought I was watching a promo in a wool led mill, but I got into the mood and the stars of the show. I thought I spotted Nessie for a moment but then it was a spot of muck on my laptop screen !

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    1. Jay, I should do a DVD. They seem to be able to sell any crap in Woollen Mills.

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  21. HI Adrian I loved the video even thought the weather was not great, you managed to make somethings of it. Very relaxing and peaceful to watch and I loved to see the dogs enjoying the stick throwing and retrieving. I would love to be able to put 2 sound tracks on some of my videos however I do not think I have the equipement nor certainly the expertise such as yourself.

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    1. Margaret, I'm sure you can add extra sound tracks. Most editing software allows it. I convert to MP.3 as they are much smaller files. Lightworks even has posh equalisers.

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  22. I must be dreaming. So many plaudits for what has to have been the nearest 3 minute video to a photograph (excluding the pooches) I've seen for a long time. It has to be your charismatic presentation that has beguiled everyone.

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    1. Graham, I must admit to being pleasantly surprised. I will develop the style.

      ' Minimalist Video.'

      I ought to lay the voice over on afterwards. It's not easy doing it live. The big problem is that the sound is embedded in the video footage. I have yet to find a way of editing it.

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