A visit to one of the most iconic places in Ohio, Marion!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYzoy0Z-56A
We spend a Grand Day of Train Watching in Marion with many trains to be seen! Hope you all enjoy!
David
Still need captions, then there's that two minutes of blank screen...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Oh boy, more youtube channel advertisments.
I think we're all capable of going to youtube to look for train videos. The constant spamming of the forum with them is getting old.
Look - it'd be different if "prorailproducions" would actually participate in discussions - and not just drive by to peddle his wares.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
zugmann Oh boy, more youtube channel advertisments. I think we're all capable of going to youtube to look for train videos. The constant spamming of the forum with them is getting old. Look - it'd be different if "prorailproducions" would actually participate in discussions - and not just drive by to peddle his wares.
I agree. Isn't advertising for commercial products (other than Kalmbach stuff) strengst verboten?
Still need to make the productions pro in quality; not just in pronouncement.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
You've got those two segments where the screen is just black for an extended period, along with that little blip at the end with the white CSX hoppers, for no apparent reason. Your production skills appear to be in decline. Maybe it's time to give up on the free demo of your video editing software, and buy the "shrink wrap" version?
I can watch trains anywhere, but I'd have to travel to that location to see the tower better. Perhaps you could have focused a greater share of your time to the location specific items, and given more attention to the inside of the tower?
OK, some basics.
Tell your viewers where you are. Marion, OH. Make a nice title page.
Tell your viewers about the location. Include some history - this junction was once used by the Pennsy, the Erie, and the Big Four, and by their successors.
Tell them about the lines - here you have the Sandusky District, Columbus Subdivision, Mt Victory Subdivision, and who knows what else. Do your research.
Tell us about the facility - looks like there may be a viewing platform, the caboose, the tower. Perhaps include scanner information for those who may be interested in visiting after they watch your video.
Add a graphic showing the current trackage and who's who.
Take a scanner and listen to it. Tap into the knowledge of other railfans who may be there. Take notes.
When a train arrives, tell us about it: "First to arrive for us was XYZ RR eastbound manifest 12X." If you choose to include such info, ID the locos. You can do that later, once you're home.
If you change locations, tell your viewers about it - ie, you moved from the viewing platform to trackside on the CSX tracks, f'rinstance.
And yes, I have done video production, as videographer, producer, and "talent." I regularly work with our public TV station doing on-air camera work, both behind and in front of the camera.
You're getting a lot of helpful suggestions from everyone here. Pay attention.
Convicted One You've got those two segments where the screen is just black for an extended period, along with that little blip at the end with the white CSX hoppers, for no apparent reason. Your production skills appear to be in decline. Maybe it's time to give up on the free demo of your video editing software, and buy the "shrink wrap" version? I can watch trains anywhere, but I'd have to travel to that location to see the tower better. Perhaps you could have focused a greater share of your time to the location specific items, and given more attention to the inside of the tower?
Our new video editor has been giving us a few bugs, but the audio and video quality did improve. The dark scenes have been fixed all is well...
ProRailProducionsThe dark scenes have been fixed all is well...
One thing that I really hope you will think about, is the net effect of your product.
"Why should anyone want to watch your videos"?
We can all watch trains "blow by", anywhere in the country. So,...watching a non-descript freight pass by in Timbuktu really isn't much different than watching one in Podunk. The net effect is pretty much the same.
But, you as the videographer have the opportunity to change that. You can change the "freight blowing by in Timbuktu" into a "trip TO Timbuktu that included a train" for your viewer by including location specific content. Make me feel like I've been there myself after watching your video.
By providing the kind of content that Tree was mentioning, why is there only half a tower there propped up on stilts? Whose idea was that? When did it get installed? maybe a still shot included of the tower before it was hacked up.
And, superimposing text into your videostream is a good way to convey that type of info.
Just show some restraint. Too much of a good thing can get just as tedious as not enough.
When you do your job right, you'll leave the viewer feeling like he's "been there" after watching your video.
One thing that I will give you credit for, at least you, unlike many other youtube contributors, do not have the preposterously long "lead-ins" where the train is approaching, yet out of view.
So many of these guys start their shoot with the train still out of sight, and just let the video roll...leaving us sit and wait...and wait.....and wait. At first it might lead one to suspect the video is not running....until you notice tree branches blowing in the wind, or a bird fly by, or a car roll through on a side street, making the viewer wonder "where is the bleeping train?"....until like 20-45 seconds into the video, a train finally comes into vew.
Thank you for not putting us through that.
Convicted OneOne thing that I will give you credit for, at least you, unlike many other youtube contributors, do not have the preposterously long "lead-ins" where the train is approaching, yet out of view. So many of these guys start their shoot with the train still out of sight, and just let the video roll...leaving us sit and wait...and wait.....and wait. At first it might lead one to suspect the video is not running....until you notice tree branches blowing in the wind, or a bird fly by, or a car roll through on a side street, making the viewer wonder "where is the bleeping train?"....until like 20-45 seconds into the video, a train finally comes into vew. Thank you for not putting us through that.
Too many YouTubers think we want to hear the horn or whistle blowing for a crossing a mile or more from the camera position and then watch the trees sway in the wind for 3 minutes until the train comes in view.
BaltACDToo many YouTubers think we want to hear the horn or whistle blowing for a crossing a mile or more from the camera position and then watch the trees sway in the wind for 3 minutes until the train comes in view.
Three minutes is a tad long, but that lead-in, before the train arrives, is a great time to insert the narrative without interupting the view of the train when it arrives.
Don't just show trains going by. Tell a story.
And I think that's the message from just about everyone who has commented on this thread.
+1
You know, the odd thing is, about a year or so back, somebody posted a link to a youtube video made by some guy who stowed away on a freight traveling along one of the west coast mains.
People here seemed to obsess over the legality issue, the safety issue, and the lack of common sense issues (all of which were valid complaints).....almost exclusively.
And while I would never try to encourage anyone to repeat such a stunt...the guy who made it seemed to know what he was doing. "For an amature".
The edits were mostly smooth, decent continuity, the subtexts informative yet concise an to the point. And the visuals were pretty decent too.
BaltACDand then watch the trees sway in the wind for 3 minutes until the train comes in view.
I've concluded that part of it is misspent ego.
eg: Here I am the cameraman, with my new go-pro camera, making a movie...isn't this great?
When he should instead be trying to put himself inside the head of the eventual audience.
charlie hebdo I agree. Isn't advertising for commercial products (other than Kalmbach stuff) strengst verboten?
Why, yes. Yes it is. Locking thread. -SS
Steve SweeneyDigital Editor, Hobby
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