I created the slideshow below with Soundslides, a “rapid production tool for still image and audio web presentations.”
view the full-screen version here >>
If you really want to get technical, you can always opt for custom flash development or even SlideshowPro / Director, but the Soundslides application is amazingly simple.
In short, here’s how you use it:
1. Pick an image folder
2. Pick an mp3
3. Save
It sizes your images, and automatically adjusts the duration of each slide depending on the length of your audio. Not to mention all kinds of display and export options, and the ability to drag / drop / arrange your photos in any order.
The download is free and functional, and the purchase price is $70. Well worth it, for those of us who wear many hats and haven’t the time for custom development. It affords you the luxury of focusing on photography and audio, and not the delivery.
About my slideshow
The example above was my first attempt using the software, and it turned out ok. In this case, a reporter and I met with the group at the creek. The reporter recorded interviews with my favorite portable recording device, and I walked around taking sub-par photographs.
Back at the office, I imported around 20 minutes of mp3 audio and spent a few hours editing it down to 3 minutes with Audacity. As for the photos, we had over 200 to start with, and culled the final selection down to 50 or so.
Resources & Examples
All in all, Soundslides is a great app for people on tight budgets and timelines. Some might disagree, but I think, depending on the nature of the story, a well produced audio slideshow can communicate better than video.
For anybody considering giving it a try, it’s always helpful to watch a few good examples:
NPPA: Best of Photojournalism 2007 Audio Slideshow Winners (Smaller Affiliated Sites)
NPPA: Best of Photojournalism 2007 Audio Slideshow Winners (Large Affiliated Sites)
April 24th, 2008 at 10:06 am
[...] months ago College Web Guy wrote a post about Soundslides. In the software’s own words, “Soundslides is a rapid production tool for still image [...]