When social media was fresh and new, our world grew smaller. We could now have momentary chit-chats with friends around the world throughout the day. We could share pictures of the momentous occasions and the small moments that shape our lives. I hopped on the FaceBook bandwagon in 2009 and have spent nearly a decade sharing my work with like-minded folks from around the globe.
Social Media Choices
Now, I find myself bombarded with options. I meet people who “gave up” on Facebook, or who won’t try Instagram because it looks “too fluffy.” Many people just find a digital home and hang out there, like some of my friends who are still into the artsier Tumblr. The truth is not everyone is in the same digital spaces and some folks have never really participated in social media at all. Some moments, I feel like I’ve tried them all! It’s not true, there are many more social media outlets than I would have time to use.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davinadevine/
FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/StudioDavina/
Video on Social Media
As I move into a more video-based sharing mode, I find myself documenting projects via Instagram Stories. That software platform has made it so easy for me to effortlessly pick up my cell-phone and make a 15-second video snippet. Instagram Stories, however, disappears after 24 hours, so as a documentarian, I find this a frustrating feature. Throughout the past months, I’ve experimented with the format, using Instagram stories to put together longer videos, but I think this kind of video feels stilted, falling completely flat. It’s a video montage, in a vertical orientation that gets cropped into horizontal or has big black bars on either side. I’ve tried making Facebook Live videos as well, but find the quality is lower due to their own compression algorithms so they look very different when collaged into video with clips from other sources.
Moving forward with video
But the truth of the matter is that a sewing project can only be video recorded once. You have one shot at cutting, at sewing, and finishing. You can’t really “reshoot” unless you have lots of extra material or are making costumes in multiples.
I’ve decided that I really enjoy working with video and that I’ll be making a home for all of my video content on YouTube. As I continue to experiment, learning all the capabilities of my cellphone, and growing some more editing skills, I’m sure there will be many more clunky and choppy videos like the one above. So if you like catching my Instagram Stories, or missed a Facebook Live videos, be sure to follow me on YouTube where I’m going to put everything, even if it’s a little clunky. Since YouTube is searchable, it makes finding the videos you really want to see, a breeze!
Now, off to make some video!
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
Saturday, November 19, 2017