Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #23

India 1997:  Taj Majal

This is another clip from our first trip to India.  It opens with some interesting but lengthy street scenes as we approach the outer gate.   Passing through the gate, we begin to see the Taj Majal.  But the cameraman [me] is so entranced with the experience that image framing is poor.  [Who can blame me?]
Video Director Studio 200 allowed me to create titles that explain no video cameras were allowed within the Taj.  So there's a "first ever" digital slide show.

Returning at sunset, the video switches back to better-framed video of the Taj.  Listen closely at the transition from stills to moving video ... you can hear one of the audio glitches that were part of the Video Director technology and explained in my previous post.
Total running time of this clip is 06:12.  Music is the Beatles' [George Harrison] "Within You." [An excellent choice, but see below for my comments regarding copyright.].


Lessons Learned:
Ruthlessly trim video and slideshow to keep your audience interested.
Good music makes video more watchable.

Suggestion:
Replace the music with a royalty-free selection.
Start the music at the beginning of the clip.

Music Copyright Considerations:
This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 1997 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.
Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.