In a couple of recent posts, I've mentioned the video content iStockphoto is now providing. At the Church 2.0 Forum last week in Los Angeles, I asked a rep from iStockphoto if video on their site was a positive thing. She said absolutely.
But video streaming, although popular overall, is experiencing some noticeable backlash these days. As embeds grow in ubiquity, those who value photo-sharing are complaining about video content taking over.
NewTeeVee reports flickr members are in full-on digital revolt with more than 30,000 members joining anti-video groups.
Too bad the complaining is for naught. The company has made up its mind. Here’s what flickr staffer Heather had to say about the situation in the forums:
I’m not sure what to say to those who don’t want peanut butter in their chocolate (so to speak). Video is now part of the Flickr DNA and while we will definitely be addressing some of the great feedback for ways that the implementation can be massaged towards better things, we’re not pulling up stakes and rolling back.
Similarly, video teleconferencing is increasing in popularity, as is vodcasting (vidcasting). My guess is that video content will be ubiquitous. Video on every web site & on every blog, probably streamed from phones, (phonecast). I don't see video as a threat to photo.
And there are some excellent pioneers using video for the gospel. Here are some links of others in attendance at the Church 2.0 Forum who are producing / distributing great video content: Worship House Media, Sermon Spice, Highway Video, Eight20Eight.
Ah the “purist” come out against any new technology. If you go back to the nineteen-twenties there were many “purist” who felt that the “talkies” ruined the art of film making. Radio would wipeout the need books and newspapers. Television would erode the value of motion pictures and kill the need for radio. Analog sounds better than digital. Looking around my house I still use all of them. Yes, I still watch silent movies (Sunday Night on TCM).
You can “say” something with a still photo that you can’t with video and vise versa. One should use the tool that works best for you and what you want to communicate; however, you can’t really create with a a single medium in mind to communicate effectively in this multimedia-multimedium world.
istockphoto.com has saved me money and hours in pre-production because it is a single source for stills, animations, and video.