Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q 1:What is the purpose of this site? what are the difficulties with editing?Do you like to share any technical background regarding this site?
Yes, please go to the purpose page, you will find answers.
Q 2: I am enjoying the Video content but I don't like the background music on the Videos because it is in a regional language and I don't understand it. Can you add English music or some other Regional Language Music?
We find it difficult for us to get good music even in a regional Language. We can't maintain different languages music because this is a free site and maintaining multiple languages music takes a lot of time which we don’t have available..
Some people may prefer background music and some people may prefer regional language Music. It is difficult to balance these conflicting demands. So we are trying to have a mix of background music and regional language music. This is the best we can do and we I hope you will enjoy the content. Our focus is the Video content and not the background Audio music. All new videos are using only instrumental music.
Q 3: I want to help you with your work, any possibilities?
Sure, you could. If you are really want to help us,
1. You could just forward our website or youtube video link or inform your friends/folks about this little effort of ours.
2. Share our web site information on your blog/facebook/twitter or groups like yahoo/google.
3. If you find any good Indian movie/general back ground/Instrumental music on the web, you could send us the link or zip file. OR If you found few Indian MP3 CDs(from India or anywhere), you may contact us with titles. If you have Indian devotional songs(Krishna, Rama, Vishnu,...) in any language with most of the words from Sanskrit then that is also helpful. If we have clear details like movie/album name and song name, that would be helpful to promote that good music/song.
4. You can provide us feedback on how we can improve the web site (like spelling mistakes, bad words, broken links, new web features/design, programming, etc.).
5. You could donate something to support the work or you could encourage your friends
6. If you have any free/concession tickets to any theam park near to DC Metro area or the area we are on the trip.
7. Whatever you could able to do for helping this work or you could discuss with us about your ideas.
If you do any help to spread the word about our site, please forward that email to us and explain about that. We may display your name on the web site for thanking your support.
Q 4:Is there a way you can inform us of new video updates?
Sure, Please send us your email address by using 'Contact Us' on left side menu link and we add it to our mailing list.
Q 5:Why are some videos shaking and have questionable clarity?
There are many reasons. Our camcorder is not having higher resolution. We may need to go for High Definition or more CCD, but it
is expensive. Like a movie with budget, we can't able to make the settings or using tripod at different places may be little bit
difficult. For example if we go to Latino festival party, setting up tripod in between the folks is not easy and we can't able
to move around them by having these. So sometimes the shaking is possible if we are on a bus/boat. Even though we have High
definition camera, there might be problem with video size or software.
For example if we make DVD quality then it will have
big size and we may not able to upload that or it may take long time. So we have to minimize the file size. Google also converting
our DIVX file to flash type then we are loosing some quality also. Sometimes if sun shine is not enough or cloudy then also we may not
able to get clear video. We have to enjoy the location and also record for our users, so it is a big challenge.
Q 6: Can I find your videos at other Websites?
Yes, you could find them on Google videos and YouTube by using the keyword 'ourtripvideos'. The YouTube videos are just 10 minutes long because of YouTube duration limitation. For full video you have to watch our web site or Google videos. But latest videos are not available on Google Videos because Google is not accepting any free new videos.
The other web sites may have link to these videos.
Q 7: I like your hard work Can I sponsor an existing or a new video?
This would be an invaluable help to us in getting a better video Camera and better Editing Software. Your name will be displayed as a sponsor on your selected video.
Q 8: I may miss your email or web site link, is there a simple way to find your website on the world wide web?
Yes, you could find us by using Google keyword 'ourtripvideos'.
Q 9: I guess you are enjoying by seeing many places?
Yes, it is half correct.
Going to an event/place is not easy thing. For example, it will have difficulties like - 1hr drive, paid parking, wait in the long lines (ex: metro or museum), moving around the event/place and recording in the crowd.
After recording a place/event, typically need 2 more days of hard work to edit the video for public viewing. It is not easy work. But this work satisfies me. I also feel good that people like you are able to find these videos useful.
Q 10: You are showing theme parks or historic places like Williamsburg. Don't you think there may be copyright violations?
We are increasing the awareness of these places. For example, from our native places, many people may not know about Williamsburg/Sea World/... Through our friends, that people could easily know about these attractions and able to watch. If they have plans to visit US in future then they could visit these wonderful places. Real experience is always different from watching some thing on a Video. If any one complains of any Copyright violations, we will remove the content immediately.
Q 11: Do you have any knowledge about image editing?
Yes, we are already doing that for the web site based as needed
Q 12: There are many web sites to show different places. Why you want to do this again?
We are providing content that satisfies me personally and that can be useful, informative and entertaining to the audience. Our videos are amateur and have a distinctive personality to them.
That may or may not be true. We have a friend in Dubai and requested him to show any online free video
with little bit information about Dubai. But we didn't get any proper video. He is trying to show 5 minutes video from YouTube,
but it is not showing much information. OR we may not find the correct one. But if you find please let us know, we will
add the link to this web site.
Even if there are other web sites, we could also try to put our small effort for the same.
If some people are doing good means, we could also do that. Otherwise always we will watch others and we won't do anything for others.
Q 13: We found our team/band/cultural performance as part of your video. Is it possible to view/get our part of the video separately? Do you have more of our video footage?
Most of the time, we will record only short periods of time based on the event/group. We are doing this work voluntarily; helping people, who either missed the event or want to watch our highlights of the event. It will also help inform others from around the world about these great events.
You can freely use/distribute the YouTube or web site link of the video on your web site. Our Videos are free for public and not for personal/company use.
But for any genuine request from a participating organization, we could help by doing the following :
1. If you clearly tell us the video title/id and the time period related to you, we will try to post only that particular video part separately on YouTube with your organization title and minimum specific information. But we need an appreciation letter from your organization about our web site help.
2. If you need the original/edited footage (if available) without our name for your company promotion purpose, then we need your help with a minimum donation based video footage to help offset web site maintenance and video production costs. A letter should mention that you are not using for any other purpose than promoting that event and not giving to any 3rd party. Once we discussed and accepted then the zip file will be available for download for 1 full day with raw (individual clips)/edited video(single clip).
Note : Appreciation letter will be a scanned letter on letter head. We are not selling any videos and not taking any service charge for any video. Donation is only for site maintenance and to plan new events.
Q 14: We would like to inform about an event or invite to an event? What are the things to consider?
Our intention is to show good things(just highlights - Approx 15 to 30min in total) about the event - no own negative comments or improper edits. We have confidence in cooperation and values. Once we discussed with Organizer, usually the organizer will show the comfortable zone(if they have restrictions OR give one person to be with us to help us) to move around freely without disturbing the event. We have simple and small handheld equipment.
Usually when we complete the video and put on the site, we will send the links immediately to the organizer. If they like then they will forward to their users or use our links on their web site. If they found any -ve/abusive words/schenes then we will remove that based on their request. Organizers will not involve in our editing process or request free copy of voluntary hard work, because it is just free additional publicity and always available online. But orginal video of the edited(without music or extras) or unedited(if available) are available with donation to the Organizor.
You could find our work by seeing live examples on our web site. If you are comfortable with the above process and would like to go forward with +ve attitude and future cooperation then we could plan for the event.
1. The event should be free or may have minimum charge, public legal event and satisfies the purpose for this web site. Weekend day time is preferred. It would encourage us if you mention our name in your news letter or on web site if we agreed to attend. If we attend our intention is not to cover the entire event, just important things while we are there and show a minimum length(less than or around 30min) video to the public/you on our web site. The video is totally related to this web site and not related to anyone else.
2. It should be around Washington DC Metro area or within 4hrs of driving distance.
3. We may attend for the event based on available time or other issues and there is no guarantee.
If we attended the event, the video may be available for public view on youtube/website based on recorded video quality and no technical issues with recorded video.
So please do not depend on our video until we put it for public. You should always have your own arrangements.
Q 15: We would like to learn how to record and edit the video? And also taking pictures and located in DC Metro area. Is it possible for free?
Yes, it is free and no money transaction from both sides. But you need lot of patience to do this work. You have to come 3 or 4 events with us and learn various techniques about recording a video. You should get your own video camera and it would be better if you have HD(Hard disk) or DVD based video camera, it is easy to copy and see the preview. After that, you will also learn techniques about editing a recorded video. So you could try the same at home with your available editing software because the basic idea is same for any editing software.
Q 16: We would like to thank you for your voluntary service OR We found our team/organization clips on your video and we would like to thank you for spreading a word about us. What is the best way to inform you without any cost to us?
Really that is a great push for us to continue this volunatary service. If you are an organization then you could just send us an appreciation letter (on your letter head and email us scanned copy). If you are an individual then you could just send an email to us.
In both cases, you could forward our link to all of your friends to inform about our videos and you may forward that email to us. We will keep your (Organization/Individual) name on our web site for few days for spreading the word.
Q 17: We like the pictures of an event and would like to use for our web site or paper ad or personal(Same for Video Clips)?
We appreciate your interest on our Pictures/Video Clips. These will be available to the event related folks. Individuals may contact us if they are willing to make donation, but you have to identify yourself. But the decision is ours and please don't make any donation before our acceptance. Please identify yourself and relation to the event/organization and show us some proof like web site page or scanned visiting card or something else.
You could use our blog preview pictures post link or youtube video link(you could also embed) or our web site video/pictures link for free. But if you still need the Pictures/Clips :
1. First thing, a) we need an appreciation letter on your letter head for our voluntary work. You could scan it and send by email(No cost and 5 min job). b) Show a proof that you posted our link on your web site/blog/any network/forwarding email to a group of people. That will respect our work and your initiation/interest for future cooperation. This is just to make sure that we are not giving the clips/pictures to unrelated guys. We may verify your information with your web site folks.
2. We are just doing this for public, so you could tell us clearly the purpose and what you could do for us? Queries related outside of US are not encouraged expect if the video related to that particular country. Most of the time you will get edited video without background music with our title. You have to explain us the reason clearly if you need the original unedited video(if available) without our title. You can't distribute our clips to anyone, you are getting just one copy or part of the video for your purpose. Few basic points before contacting us :
A. Tell us why you need them(purpose) - if possible explain with example.
B. How many pics or video clips you want? Are you able to identify them from our blog link(preview pictures) or from the video(ex: From 5th min to 8th minute)?
C. How will you use you use these pictures/video clips? - on your web site or for paper ad(about the completion of event or something else) or personal? If it is paper ad, please send us the links after it published.
D. You have to mention our name (Courtesy - OurTripVideos.com web site) and/or link. If you are getting pictures/clips from us, you have to mention that in the letter(something like - we will use these pictures on our web site or on paper with OurTripVideos information and we will not give to any 3rd person).(OR)
E. Are you willing to give any donation for site/video related costs? Please mention the donation amount in the request email.
If you related to any committee/organization and you just need couple of pictures, then you no need to worry about the donation.
Q 18: Some of the videos on your site are pertaining to foreign countries. The videos are using Indian music as a background. Can't you use more culturally relevant music ?
We have good reason in using Indian background music. To start with it reduces our workload. Moreover we don't have the required cultural background to select relevant ethnic music relating to the countries / cultures being covered in the videos. We also don't have copyrights to use other cultural music. Given our lack of background and copyrights, we decided to produce the other great cultural videos with Indian background music against not producing other great cultural videos at all. We hope you will understand this small endeavor of ours, with open/good heart and encourage us to go forward and produce more exciting and informative videos.
Q 19: Can we able to upload our own videos to your site?
Sorry, as of now we are uploading only the videos recorded and edited by us.
Q 20: Is this site accessible (ADA Accessibility)?
Yes, this website is trying to follow the Section 508 requirements. Most of the features are available for all users. But some of features are not accessbile because of technology or funds constraints. Example : Videos and Google Maps. The alternate ways we provided for these 2 issues - 1) Videos : A. Provided the description of the video. B. Some of the Videos may have the original audio track other than the background music 2) Google Maps - We provided the side bar with links with information like Title, City, State and Country.
Donations
Q 1: Why do I need to give the donation?
It is your choice of personal satisfaction to support a good cause. We are trying to spread the word about the following:
1. The cultural respect in the United States of other countries culture and traditions
2. Informing the world about American culture and daily life
3. Showing the taste of Indian music to the World
4. History/Background Information of the various
Events(Memorial day, July 4th,..),
Cultural festivals(Japanese, Greek, Indian...),
Traditions(ISKCON Rathyatra, National Chirstmas Tree, Lights of Mormon Temple, July 4th Fireworks,...),
Technology(Air Show, NASA, Navy,...),
Games and Teams(Baseball, Teams,..),
Vaction places & Beaches(Miami, San Diego,...),
World Famous Cities(New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, DC,...),
Historic places(Williamsburg, Philadelphia,...) and many more...
5. Unique voluntary work to show the videos for free with full details and links to the respective event/place. Each video is a unique event with different background information
We will continue this tradition as long as we can. But Donations will encourage us more.
Q 2: How do you use our Donations?
Donations will be used for the following purpose:
A. Maintain the web site and plan for new assignments which includes travelling/ parking/ rental/ entrance costs. Ex: Visiting Toronto, Canada. Tijuana, Mexico.
B. To use best video editing software and video/photographic equipment.
We need to pay the tax for this donation.
Show/Hide Answers
