Ken Burns brought the Civil War to life using this simple trick!

Editing Tip: Adding Movement to Still Photographs

There are many different types of videos that will require you to incorporate still photographs. Documentaries tend to be high on this list due to their historical content, or lack of footage covering a specific event or person. However, still photographs can be used in any type movie to add a certain effect or mood.

Importing stills into your video is not hard to do. The tricky part is keeping the viewer interested in what they are watching. An easy way to avoid a bored audience is by using the pan-and-scan technique, also known as the Ken Burns Effect. One way you can achieve this effect is by using keyframes.

Keyframes allow you to move through your picture as if it were an actual scene. A great example of this can be found in the beginning of Riding Giants when the narrator discusses the history of surfing. The still photographs are keyframed in such a way that they have just as much attention-grabbing action as the actual footage.

Using still photos in your video is unavoidable at times. Other times it is a conscious decision based on style. By learning pan-and-scan techniques, and mastering the art of keyframes, your videos will never suffer a dull moment due boring, static photographs.

For more information on adding movement to your still photographs check out Editing: Use of Stills in Video.

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