Key points for video editing

From the reading there were several highlights that I noticed:

• Set the scene with a wide shot and then go closer.  Our minds eye surveys the scene and then focuses on small details
• Try to have cut aways that are relevant to the material being discussed–because I a lot of my video before I knew any of this some of my cut aways may be generic–but I do have some relevant ones.
• I particularly found the outline format in the article on writing copy helpful.  I outlines the lead-in, the lede, the middle, the conclusion with details describing each section.  This really helps me understand how I can organize my information.
• I also don’t thing I have enough variation in my shots as far as wide, medium, and tight goes, but I do have some.
• I did well using a tri pod and not panning or zooming.
• I tried to change up point of view, but I probably don’t have enough of this.
• I know I don’t have enough action and this is due to a lack of people fishing and the fact that some of my footage didn’t tape because I was at the end of my tape and didn’t realize it.  Live and learn, right.
• There was a lot about multiple cameras and staging shots that isn’t relevant to us.  But I did like the idea of getting different shots of repeated actions.
• In one of my interviews I didn’t use the rule of thirds because I hadn’t learned it yet.
• I liked the part about editing being part selection, arrangement, timing, and presentation.  This makes sense to me, including all parts of production, especially what you choose to shoot in the first place.

 

Video analysis

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/0807-pollution_killing_flowers_fragrance.htm

This story is about how pollution is affecting flower scent.

I like the b-roll and nat sound in the video.  In particular the shots to demonstrate pollution sources.  The narration seems effective and the sound bites are well placed.

I feel like there could be more information.  Exactly which pollutions are affecting the flower scents.  How much of a problem is this for bees.  Why should I care about bees anyway.  If its affecting flower scents is it affecting other scents.

I am very new to the news world and it is hard for me to see how this story would be different in print.  The video insinuates that car and powerplant pollution are responsible for the problem but doesn’t actually say that it is.  They just label it as general pollution.  In a print story it would have to be more cut and dry.  You would have to say that either it is just pollution in general or specifically emmissions from cars and powerplants.  There is no good way to give the visuals of pollution without refering to something specific.  In this particular case I think the ambiguity of pollution in this story is a weak spot.

 

Learning by example

I listened to the story about Yoking.

Listening to this story after I completed my project is probably not the order I was supposed to do it in, but I might have been able to glean so much more in this after the fact manner.  Besides this is just the beginning in terms of my production of audio stories, hopefully.

The first thing I noticed was the nat sound intro.  It might have been nice to have an intro that was a little more obviously a church.  That intro, just told me that it was some sort of gathering–I felt a little disoriented.  But throughout the rest of the piece he has really nice use of nat sound and a great variety of nat sound.

His transitions are seamless and the whole piece flows nicely.  His introductions or lead ins for sound bites were much less formal than I did mine, and I think they are much better that way.  He just says who someone is and gives some info about him or her and then lets the character speak.  I use more of a “here is what so and so had to say on that matter.”

His format was helpful to observe as well.  He introduces his first character right away and gets us interested in him.  Then he gives us facts then back to the character, some more facts, back to the character, then a new character, some more facts.  The soundbites from the characters are like pieces of candy strung along the way between facts and they relate to and back up the facts.  All the time the nat sound fades in and out doing the same thing, relating to what he is saying and introducing the next sound bite.  This makes the whole piece seamless.

I like the closing music at the end, but it seemed a little long.  I wonder though if it wasn’t produced that way to meet studio needs or with the expectation that the anchor could cut in when needed.

 

Breathtaking

I have been looking at the pictures of the year in the lobby of the J-school for a couple months now and everytime I visit them, they take my breath away.

They don’t all have the same qualities but here are some of the common traits that set them apart from regular photography.

They catch a moment that tells a story.  Some are obvious moments like the guy thrust into the air by a blast behind him, other are more subtle.  Regardless they are human stories and catch a moment of someone’s or some people’s lives.

These pictures connect with the human.  They show emotion.  The photographer has to be close to his or her subjects to catch these moments.  An example of physical closeness is the portrait of the year with the girl with one tear starting down her cheek.

The photographer must be careful what he leaves in the frame of the camera and what he excludes.  This is the only way to focus in on a moment.  It is an art of connecting with people and knowing what others need to see in order to connect too.

To me these photographers must be brave.  Some of them put themselves in danger’s way, but it is more than that.  They are putting themselves close to their subjects and daring to see what is really there.  It may be joy or terror or grief, but they have to be close.  I think that can be difficult.

All reporters need to be able to get close to their subjects.  It may be through the hard to ask questions, or getting the microphone right up there, or putting the camera in someone’s face, but we all need to do it.  These photos are an inspiration and set the bar high for our aspirations.

 

A New Dimension

La Belle’s the Great Picture Hunt gave me a refreshing view of photography and a nice definition of photojournalism.

Many years ago, I went through a phase of studying photography.  I tired of it, because it came to seem more like a technical endeavor than an artistic one and it seemed one-dimensional.  But La Belle has given me new enthusiasm for photography and has helped me understand the added dimension that photojournalism adds to photographic endeavors.

By engaging in photojournalism a new level has been added to my photographic aspirations.  I previously regarded photography as a strictly aesthetic endeavor.  But now I see it as something more.  La Belle has added this idea of the hunt for an image that isn’t only aesthetically pleasing but also relevant.

I wish La Belle had covered tangible tips for how to blend in and how to make your subjects comfortable so that you can shoot them candidly.

One thing I have avoided in the past, but that is a critical element to photo journalism is taking pictures of people.  I find it difficult to feel comfortable and to make them feel comfortable.   David Snider touches on this in his introduction.  “It’s not the heat, it’s the timidity,” he writes.  Then looking at his photos it becomes obvious that it is possible to overcome this timidity and learn how to shoot candidly.  Snider seems to suggest that the only real cure for this dilemma is to go out and shoot people.

With that in mind I am glad that I read both these assignments before I began my own photo assignment.  I am even more excited to get out there and shoot now.

 

Convergence to stay?

I read these stories with a some butterflies in my stomach, thinking, “You mean convergence journalism might not be here to stay?”

I have chosen this field for a couple reasons.  One I can’t imagine not needing to have a background in multiple mediums in the future.  Two I just envision stories being told through multiple mediums.

I am somewhat shocked that more of my fellow grad students have shied away from convergence, and I wonder if they know something that I don’t.  So I read these stories with a little bit of concern, afraid of what I might find.

My conclusion from the two articles is that the biggest problem with convergence journalism is defining it.  Does being a converged journalist mean that you are a backpack journalist, a one man band?  My answer would be sometimes.  But there are other models too and a journalist that can not only work in different media but understand the different media will be necessary in any future of journalism.

I think it is clear from both articles that backpack journalism is here to stay, the question is to what degree.  There will always be the need to cheaply send one or two reporters into situations that don’t warrant a whole team.  These people need to be able to function across mediums as needed.  And the fact is that there are going to be people out there who want to do this and who are going to do it anyway.

But both articles mention another kind of convergence journalism, other than the “backpack” model.  This I believe is here to stay.  In this model the different modalities of journalism come together to tell a story in the most effective way.  However rather than a one-man band approach, a team goes out to get the story.  Isn’t this convergence media too?  I think this is most likely the model to survive.  The public demands this sort of 360 degree reporting and realistically one person can’t be doing all these things at one time.  Yes I could one day go into a situation and get some photos and some video and some audio and then write about it, thus being a “backpack” journalist.  But while I am shooting video there are things I am going to miss as an interviewer.  One person can’t cover 360 degrees all at the same time.  A person would have to do a little bit of each at a time.

I think I will probably specialize in writing for print and radio, but I feel I need to know about video and photography too.  Sometimes I may be a videographer, but more importantly I need to understand the strengths and limitations of the particular mediums I am working with so that I can tell the best story whether I am on my own or working as part of a team

Another model the articles bring up involved the producer/editor being a linchpin of the converged story.  In this model the reporters are out gathering material and sending it back to be edited and presenting.  This person also needs a thorough understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different media.

All of these models are here to stay.  Today’s journalism has a little bit of everything for everyone.

 

By the Hair of our chinny chin chins

Well, we got er done.  There were a few glitches in the production but we rolled with the punches and I think you will find there is lots of interesting info the swine flu and viruses in general.  As always, it was a humbling experience, and once again I listen to any news broadcast or talk show with renewed awe.  I can say this though, it is so fun to go interview people and research all this stuff.  I just can’t wait until I get to spend more of my time doing it.  Right now I spend more than the allotted 10 hours, but it also has to take the back seat to other responsibilities.  But not for long.  Soon I will be off to graduate school and if my stars are lucky I will even be headed out for the summer to work at an assistantship.  So keep your fingers crossed.

Because it is the end of the semester, my internship is over and eventhough I hate to have it come to an end–it is just in time for me to complete my final projects and get ready for exams.

Thanks for listening.  Hopefully there will be more in the future.

swine flu show

 

Recession Impression on Mental Health

I think I am improving and today’s show went fairly smoothly.  Thanks to James for engineering.  It makes all the difference in the world to have a solid engineer so that I can focus on content and my performance.  I still stumble reading the news but practice, practice, practice.  I should really practice reading it before I go on, but there never seems to be enough time.

With this show and some of the recent news, the impact of the recession is really starting to hit home.  In my research I read stories about how people haven’t been able to afford their medications and then they end up not being able to keep their jobs, then they really can’t afford medications.

Unofficially, Medicaid filings are up, addiction treatment is up, and people seeking help for depression and anxiety are up.

Funding for treating these problems seems to still be up in the air.

I feel like November’s news was scary, but now what we are seeing happening is the on the ground affects.  The stock market crashing is abstract.  AIG failing is removed but people not being able to buy needed medication that is real.  People having to choose between feeding their kids and healthcare needs is real.  I know that these issues have been around forever, but they are definitely on the rise and I expect that the cost of these sorts of problems to society in the long run will be large, much large than the cost right now.

Here are some links for you:

Governor Ritters Press release on Recovery Act funding for Health Care
The Denver Post:  State Legislature’s “ugly list.”
Recession has mental health advocates worried
Medical professional grappling with recessions impact on health

To see more on my the news brief’s go to:  http://www.sciencenews.org

For the story on Pea Aphids click here

For the story on the Prokaryotes being outdated click here

To read about the Rhesus macaque tantrums click here

If you need a referal to a provider, you are having trouble paying for your mental health care or you need other information on Mental Health issues in Colorado you can contact the Mental Health Association of Colorado at 720-208-2220 or 800-456-3249 or online at mhacolorado.org

Here is my show recording:  4-24-09-mental-health

Cheers, maggie

 

Weeds

Leafy Spurge: It may look pretty but what it can do to rangeland is not pretty.

Check out what’s up with Leafy Spurge, tumble weeds and others in my program below.

With a little help from my man Oz I now have a copy of my program on Invasive Plant species in the correct format.  Thanks Oz.  And better yet, I know what mistake I was making, and next time I can do it myself.  So a link to my interview with CJ Mucklow from the CSU extension office is below, enjoy.  CJ is a wealth of knowledge on  invasive plants, or weeds as the rest of us might know them.  And his deep western voice is worth a listen too.

Here are some other links you might find interesting:
Here you can find a complete list of invasive plant species in the US and links to their pictures all from the US Dept of Ag.

There is a lot of good stuff on CSU Extension website.  Their expertise goes well beyond weed management, check it out.

That should get you started, here is my broadcast.

Invasive Plant Species

 

My new flyer with a spelling error