Blame David Masse.
Masse is the author of Life on Two Wheels, part online journal, part riding blog with a dash of life observations to put it all in context. David is one of the rider/bloggers I follow and is completely to blame for this post. His most recent observation, among other things, discussed his interest in entering the video blogging arena, something I’ve been tinkering at with little luck or output for nearly ten years. So his post has me thinking again, especially with only 154 days left until I retire, about how I might integrate video into Scooter in the Sticks.
Producing videos, at least for me, is nothing like a post with images and text. Video requires far more planning to produce, and you need to know what you want to say before you start. My blog posts often come to life as I’m typing or looking at the photographs I happen to have made. The reason I haven’t posted much in the way of video is perhaps I don’t have anything to say. Looking back at my first video it sort of started and stopped with, “I ride my scooter through a rural landscape.” And that was it.
The First Scooter in the Sticks Video — Circa 2006.
Music and images; simple, safe and relatively easy to produce by myself (a lot of setting up the camera (Canon S90) on a tripod and then riding through the scene). But safe in terms of not putting myself out there with something to say. It’s easy to write a narrative. A completely different challenge to speak. Especially to a video camera. I’ve tried many times to create riding related video blogs.
And nothing.
Back in 2006 I posted a video I made in graduate school — confessional, direct to camera, something I thought could be a model for future video blog posts — my thoughts about the Vespa, the landscape, whatever. Here’s that video on memory…
A Video about Memory — 2005
This video is perhaps more like my blog posts than the first one, but the conception, planning and production time is daunting. It appeared originally in a post titled Riding and Memory.
I’ve floundered around for years trying to figure out a way to quickly make riding videos with some meaning beyond talking while I ride along with a GoPro camera leading the way.
David Masse’s post has tweaked this creative splinter causing me to lurch a bit at the thought of video blogging.
Not sure if I’ll find a way to create some meaningful content using video but my search has reawakened…
Thanks David.
Pretty big commitment in time. I’ve thought about it but never had much to say. Many moto blogs talk about many topics but seem to focus a lot on politics over the last year. Maybe just use the scooter riding helmet cam video as a background and talk about photography or some other passion. Some of the area looks incredible to us that are outside of your riding area and it would be interesting to see it.
The time commitment is definitely a concern.If I’m not sure how or what I would say, or visualize, I’m not overly excited to just jump in. A blog post with text and pictures isn’t a big deal so I am more free to experiment.
I can’t see adding politics to the mix. Or much of any sort of legal issue stuff. If I would do any video it would be some sort of variant on personal reflection related to being on the road. At least that’s where I’ve been leaning.
I don’t think I’m nearly conversant enough on the fly to narrate while I ride. And those GoPro images on the road — they all end up looking the same to me so I would want to use them sparingly.
Hell, I don’t know…
Just try to make each video structured. Too many Vlogs are pointless ramblings on disjointed thoughts of the rider. If I take the time to watch one I’d like some connected material with a beginning, a middle and and an end.
Structured. I agree. A focused message is where I would go.
You’re not as comfortable with video as you are with photos because you haven’t done it as much! So go practice.
Practice is absolutely important. I just want to point myself in the right direction before I leap!
Like you and RichardM, I believe I’ve not much to say beyond rambling and I don’t like rambling.
Heck, I don’t even like long voicemail messages, get to the point and hang up!
I’ve sampled vlogs from other riders….came away with beliefs reinforced that it’s not for me.
Yep, exactly. For me riding is a quiet, non-verbal place…and, oddly, so is the internet: I love to read here and I love looking at pictures, but I don’t even listen to music when I’m online.
I do love looking at pictures of, and even video *of*, Vespas and motorcycles, and so your vlog above *does* work for me, but probably because it only lasted 56 seconds; I suspect those who study the internet would argue that’s about our limit for fixed gaze on the screen. Time how long it takes to appreciate a still photograph (about 3 seconds) or read three paragraphs of blog (less than a minute) and compare that to sitting thru three minutes of someone vlog…very different activities. The internet also invites *conversation vs. monologuing; I’ll really only listen for 30 seconds before I need to voice a response…as I’m doing now.
So, nice vlog! BUT…I suspect what made it nice to watch — images *of* your Vespa in situ — will probably kill what makes riding and photography fun for you: filming the video doesn’t ask you to meditate on the beauty of your surroundings, as does looking for stills, and so you’ll spend your time looking for places to safely place a tripod, and suddenly you’ve wasted 20 minutes for a 5 second shot….
The SIP Scootershop videos raise the form to an art, but man o’ man they must decade hours upon hours to produce.
Regardless, glad to have you riding and writing again!
The length of a video is important and there is a lot of research regarding fall off times. Three to seven minutes is generally the sweet spot for instructional video. TED talks are short for a reason as well. When I look at my 56 second video against the time it took to just shoot the raw footage — I have to wonder if it’s worth it. Leaves me asking a couple important questions — “So what, who cares” and “What are you hoping to accomplish with this video?”
SIP has some great stuff but I’m far too isolated to make things like they do. So I’m still wondering…
Dom, you’re a regular chatterbox. Hard to get you to stop talking. (grin)
I’m not sure I could do anything more complicated than a voicemail message…
When I had an active bicycling blog while still living in Gotham, I also got the occasional temptation to throw in video. The problem wasn’t the mechanics of the thing – even a dedicated film shooter like me had a digital camera that could decently pinch-hit for video – and Ive also done a bit of basic-but-respectable thestrical video work in the distant past. I knew the work involved in doing a better-than-half-assed job, which was the problem. A lot more work than I was interested in putting into what was honestly a relatively casual endeavor. It would stop being enjoyable PDQ.
There are very few people, fir my taste. who are engaging enough for me to actually follow their vlogs with anything approaching rapt attention. And for those few whom I deemed good enough to actually hit the “subscribe” button for, I’ve actually recently unsubscribed – I’ve never been particularly televisual as an adult, and this has largely continued into the Interverse. A video production, even a swatting-good one, requires an expense of time I’m somehow more acutely aware of inn the moment than, say reading one of your blog entries. Of course, like you, I’m big on writing and photographing, so perhaps I’m just rewired this way now.
If I create videos I definitely don’t want it to be a bore — either in production or the message. Because of the work involve in total to produce something meaningful, I can see myself chaffing over the process in the near future.
I don’t follow any vlogs right now though I do look periodically. That’s probably why I keep falling back to words and pictures…
A fine hobby for retirement. Utube may be a good place to see how others on bikes film.
IndianaJack drives his big truck all over USA and narrates good entertaining, informative and polite conversations off the cuff. He sets the camera at many different angles that makes you think it’s professional.
I would love to see you and scoot swing along these bonny country roads stopping at cafes etc, that we’ve seen so much off in stills over the years.
Thanks for the posts.
I’ll take your suggestion under advisement. It certainly has some merit. Except for the fact I would be the one talking. What comes out of my mouth doesn’t match what comes forth through the keyboard.
I now know more about Steve Williams after watching his film/video dated 2003 than all of his Scooter In The Sticks postings.
Hah. Just one more little part…
Steve, this video really astounded me…it’s so poignant, so touching…we always say one picture is worth a thousand words and I always say one video is worth a million. As one reader said before me …I know now who Steve Williams is. This is brilliant Steve…please continue if you can there is a real artist in you…there always has been…it’s just more out there with the video. Can you please tell me the name of the song and artist on your riding clip I want to use it on one of my mixed cd’s…beautiful. The clip of your Father is the same as my images of my Mother and Father expiring… exactly… so I know what you have gone through and the staring they do…it’s haunting…what are they seeing or remembering? Pictures are memories…frozen images from our memory forever for us to see…..beautiful Steve!!!!
Thank you for your kind words about the video and my work Brent.
If I’ve found any theme in my writing (or video) it’s been a level of self reflection. Or at times near confession though I am guarded in what I share. It’s an approach that makes some nervous, especially when they think about privacy and such. I don’t share anything here – video or otherwise, that I would not share with a stranger I met on the road or in a coffee shop. I do try to engage topics I feel may have some relevance for others.
The music on the riding clip was part of a music library I used to subscribe to. It is part of the OmniMusic collection — a cut titled “Polar Ice” by Kerry Beaumont. Search for OmniMusic and Polar Ice and you’ll find it.
The photos of my father, as stark as they seem to some, are actually comforting to me. I remember the moments with him and was able to be with him to the end without looking away. It helped me through the grieving process and am left with pleasant thoughts about him…
We share the same philosophy on sharing and discussions with people and our own privacy. I try and keep it the same so it’s comfortable for me. I was also with my Father to his last breath and I held his hand and got to say goodbye… there was nothing more to want or do. You are right, it left me with peace also. Thanks for your tip on music I get such passion from my mixed CD’s and sharing a few to people who also like them.
Those sort of life events are often uncomfortable subjects for both the speaker and listener. It’s easy to brand them morbid without seeing the other elements of the experience. Like you, I was there to say goodbye. If there is anything that makes me squirm, it’s the thought of being alone at the end.
I really enjoyed your video and the music! Any that I have enjoyed (for maybe a minute or two) always have the rider expressing sheer excitement in the ride: the scenery, some twisties or whatever. I have considered it myself but feel (for me) the joy of the ride would be lost if I’m setting up shots with a tripod, going back, turning around and then find a huge truck blows by as I’m leaning into a beautiful S curve.
Give it a shot, do some practice runs and see how YOU feel about it after you’re done. You can bet I’d watch it. Thanks for sharing as always.
You’ve hit on a big, big price when making videos in the field versus constructing something at home. The ride is transformed into work if you shoot on the road. For me, the production process holds it’s own mystery and magic, but the ride itself suffers. Almost to the point that the video becomes false.
That’s what I struggle with — how to produce something honest, simple and not abandon the ride!
Steve I apologize for stirring this particular pot.
It’s tricky ground for sure.
But… it certainly is an interesting challenge.
I appreciate the creative nudge. As I’m sure you’re already aware — video is tough to sort out on a lot of levels. I’ll be watching to see how you solve the problem for yourself.
Your video on memory was a powerful one, Steve. Deep and varying in style. I like it very much. While this one was quite meaningful and a bit dark on the topic, the Vespa ride was moody in its own way without the words.
I have followed some moto bloggers but their babbling about didn’t keep me interested for long. Also I do not like the often used first person perspective. Personally I’d rather prefer a short (3 to 5 minutes) vlog with less words and a bit on the artsy side. So, a combination of your memory video and the scooter ride might be an interesting take on video-blogging.
However, second thoughts with regards to time necessary in order to create a good video with meaningful content, might be a sign to reconsider. Then rather keep at your photography, which is different but beautiful in its own way.
If you’d give vlogging a chance, though, I’d be following you around curiously… I promise.
I made that video for a class in graduate school. It was projected on a big screen in class with a good sound system so it took on an even more powerful presentation. After it was over there was dead silence other than some sniffling back of tears by a few students. The professor said nothing — just waited. Finally a student spoke up and said, “I wish I knew what was going on in my father’s head as well as I know some of yours.”
I think a lot of my introspection is driven by the fact that I never really knew what was going on in my parents heads. As a child you pay them no attention other than for the things you need. I left home immediately after high school so never had a lot of time to relate to them as a fellow adult. So our relationship remained parent-child for the most part.
Anyways, the model you outline combining elements of each video — I’ve been sketching ideas that go that direction. But I’ve not found the formula, path, whatever.
Perhaps one day you’ll visit Scooter in the Sticks and see a new video…
Hi Steve,
Hope all is well.
You and David are looking a bit like pioneers with Vbloging, of course it’s already happening but not in our little scooter community.
I’m impressed already and look forward to more but do fully understand the difficulty in producing this sort of stuff I can never see it replacing a story with words and pictures because some of the things you have wrote about in the past are like gears moving exactly as it’s being written and at times have really made me stop and think about life……don’t think video will be doing that but maybe I’m wrong?
Fair play to you and David let’s see where this goes:)
Kind regards
LEN
I agree, I don’t think video will replace anything I’m doing now. But the possibilities with video have piqued by curiosity. Like you say, we’ll see where it goes…
With the attention span of a dog with Alzheimer’s I don’t have the patience to ride out watching a video, especially if it’s just of somebody yakking away. I’ve always been partial to still photos which allow some degree of imagination to complete each picture. I suppose I’m partial to the written word as well because when one writes there’s a compositional factor figured into what’s being communicated that often gives the reader a feeling for the story that goes beyond the words themselves. When all you have is somebody speaking off the cuff I find it all much less interesting.
I’m pretty much in your court Joe in regard to videos. I don’t watch anyone consistently who’s a video blogger or podcaster. In part it’s the length, but more often there’s just too much idle, unfocused conversation. Can often seem like they were turned loose with a camera and just started talking.
Still, video is a powerful medium. I have to believer there is something I can do with it.