Some Transitions

I'm currently working on a 40min semi historical documentary in FCP X using 95% stills (approx. 300 in all) and am looking for some transition suggestions. I have made use of the cross fade in the past and while happy with that I would like to try out something else which would give the project a lift. I know that you can't go wrong with that transition but I have become a little tired of it. I don't mind if I have to purchase them (already have quite a few anyway) but can somebody make any suggestions for such a project please? Especially somebody who has had experience in this kind of project.

Thanking you,
Whokuni

A transition (and any element or cut in a video) should contribute information to the viewer about the story they don't already have. So, what are you trying to convey in these transitions?

More than information Im trying to progress smoothly from one still to the other. As a movie would do. I just don't have the movie or video clips use. The purpose of the video is to show the history of one of our welfare institutions from its establishment to the current day. Taken that into consideration I guess cross dissolve would be the logical choice but Im a little tired of using just that. Am looking for alternatives.

Thanking you.
Whokuni

Are you animating moves on the stills at all? Most of the time, I find subtle moves with cuts or – on occasion – mixes entirely sufficient for factual content.

But then, I'm an old-school sort of rostrum guy. (for those in the UK: working with Ken Morse, albeit briefly, was a highlight of my broadcast career!)

Editing is not about what you like or don't like, it is about eliciting a specific reaction from the audience. Do you think your audience will think, "Hey, there should be star wipes like in Star Wars!"

Moving smoothly from one image to the next is in fact giving the audience information. A sharp cut relays one emotion, cross fade another, and a star wipe yet another different audience reaction. There is no such thing as adding something to an edit that does not effect the story.

I'd stick with cross fades and use subtle Ken Burns type effects. Unless you have a specific reason the audience needs something different. Remember, you the editor, you're "wants" don't matter. Only the effect it has on the audience matters.

Doing an effect or transition only "because it looks cool" is the biggest rookie mistake, and ruins edits more than anything else. Have a specific reason the audience needs to see it.

That's all.

You are making the transitions more important than the content. That's not the approach to take. Why distract from the message? Cuts, dissolves and some subtle movement are all that is necessary as others have already stated here.

I once did a re-edit of a car commercial that another editor had done and the client didn't approve. The client didn't know what was wrong, he just knew he didn't like it.

The original editor used just about every trick in the book to make the spot "exciting". In doing so I could see that he had so diluted the intended message that it was hard to tell what the point of the spot was.

I took out all the "effects" and went for straight cuts with razor sharp timing and straightforward presentation of the message.

Spot approved.

Thank you everybody for your feedback. Yes I'm a
Ready Ken Burns and while waiting for feedback went ahead and used cross dissolve. As you said it isn't me that I'm trying to please. This combination certainly does convey the desired message so will stick with it. But your feedback has been extremely helpful and I will certainly bear in mind for future use.

Thanking you once again

Whokuni

With only rare exceptions, if the viewer says "Wow, cool transition" you've made a mistake because they have obviously stopped watching the content.

That's also why (not to mention the copyright issue) I won't use popular music. You've suddenly brought up all kinds of extraneous memories associated with the song, diluting the message.