Rebecca Sell

What I learned about multimedia by producing multimedia

2009-10-21T11:42:00.003-04:00

A lot has changed in the past 6 months... actually, the past year and a half. I finished up grad school at Syracuse University, returned to the Free Lance-Star, and over the summer moved to Athens, Ohio to start a job as Assistant Professor at the School of Visual Communication at Ohio University. We picked up everything and trucked our way out here, bought our first home, and started again. Not going to lie... there's been anxiety along the way. I really enjoy working for newspapers and really believe in what they do, but even more in what they are capable of doing.

Since leaving, I've thought about what I've learned in the past year about multimedia, both in newsroom/workplace and in general. Here are 10 out of the many.

1. It takes Time, Time, Time...

There's no way around it. It takes time. Time to learn multimedia. Time to plan multimedia. Time to talk multimedia. Time to collaborate on multimedia. Time to do multimedia. And even more time to do it right.

And there's that question of whether or not the time is worth it in the newsroom.

Right now, most of that worth is tracked in views, or hits. (Sometimes in other ways as well, such as response, quality, awards, etc.) More often than not, multimedia does not drive a lot of traffic. What is difficult in this sense is that, in the print product, there is no way to track if one story is read more or less on the page than another story. On a website, there is. It can be seen if crime stories are read more than budget stories, if videos of sports get more hits than feature videos. Some of this can be put on the quality, some on how it is played or where it can be found, some on whether or not viewers are willing to take their time to watch it.

So do I think it is worth the time anyway? You bet. We're storytellers. We're journalists. We don't choose to write stories or take photos because more people will read or look at that one (well, in the ideal we don't).

Multimedia, to me, is about taking the tools available in front of you and using the best ones to communicate to readers, sometimes more effectively than in one way alone. So yes, I think it's worth the time.

And this time is money. If only more places would realize it is worth putting in the money to train people, or even better, pay them for the time they are putting into learning the new skills or reward them for broadening their skills, or not being afraid to let people specialize... and not asking all of this for a reduction in paycheck and fewer hours a week...

2. Can't do one video and assume it is going to be worth selling.

I'm a believer in quality in the quality vs. quantity debate (which as the debate continues, quality seems to be winning). But I also know that if I picked up my still camera one week a year to tell a story, I wouldn't have much luck in telling it at all. But that's how we think about doing audio and video. Sure, it is about quality, but in order to have the quality, you have to keep doing it, and more often than one video every six months (unless that video took you six months to work on).

In addition to that, I don't know about you all, but my first still photo wasn't one I think anyone would publish. Same goes for multimedia. The more you do it, the better it will get. But so many places are saying it isn't worth doing, or short projects aren't worth doing, in the first year or two that professionals are learning to do it.

3. While quality is definitely better than quantity, are you passing up good stories with that thought? Is it an excuse?

It is a fine line where the quality over quantity debate becomes an excuse. I've seen people get excited about working on an idea, even small ideas, until they hit a challenge, or it doesn't come out the way they thought. Then the quality debate comes out.

There's nothing wrong with doing a small, quick project. Quality isn't always long-term stories. If you want to be a photographer who thinks multimedia and does multimedia, it is a good idea to look at stories in front of you and think about whether or not there are possibilities in it. Doesn't mean every story will have it or that what you were thinking of as a possibility won't work out the way you thought. It also doesn't mean that daily assignments don't have potential either.

4. We can't expect everyone to do everything and to do it well.

The movement to have everyone able to do everything seems to be drying up, which in my opinion, is a good thing.

There's nothing wrong with being a still photographer. We should still be masters of the craft that we choose to pursue, whether still photography or other skills. That also doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with being a still photographer who understands multimedia, and even one who has the skills to do it when asked, or one who actually wants to do both.

To me, it should be more about embracing those who want to do multimedia. Nothing wrong with learning new skills when you want to... keeps you current and excited and better at what you do.

The investment needs to be put into their excitement to learn new tools to tell stories. Be willing to take the time to teach them to do it and get the equipment so they can do it.

On top of that, it's about bringing people in who have the job of doing multimedia. You want the content? Have people who have the job of producing it for you. Reporters and photographers and editors and designers and website producers each have their role, and sometimes those overlap and people are asked to cross over. Why not have the role of multimedia present as well?

There is a reason that more and more jobs out there are asking for the multimedia skillset.

5. Push boundaries / take risks. There are very few steadfast "rules".

This beast of multimedia is changing and developing fast.

People are doing new projects every week, the content is getting better and better, as is the communication value. Look at the multimedia that was being done four years ago vs. today. Not getting into one being better or worse than the other, but look at how much it as grown and changed.

Embrace that. There is no rut to get stuck in. Ethics and honesty are among those rules that need to be kept in the journalistic world, and well they should be. But the development of the narrative in a video has so many different approaches to it, as does taking any still photograph or writing any story or designing any page. The way content is put together in an online multimedia package... well... the sky's the limit.

Try something new, and be ok with it failing.

6. Collaborate and don't be afraid to talk shop.

Share the work of others with others. When you have an idea for something, talk to peers about it. I'm not a fan of talking about the job outside of the job, but to me, that's different than talking about work outside of the job.

Let's talk about what we're working on, and talk to others we want to get involved in the process or project. Collaborate with those who have the skills. You don't have to be a one-man-show to produce great multimedia work, and you don't have to have all of the skills to do it either, if you're willing to talk to the people who do.

7. It's not your role to make the money, and it shouldn't be, but it is a reality that the content can help others to do so.

We have to be careful not to get caught in the trap of only doing multimedia that is sellable to advertisers, just as newspapers shouldn't shy away from stories for the same reason (which goes back to not only doing stories that will get hits). Journalism can't be about that, and never should.

But that doesn't mean that when a big package is coming, or a new way of presenting the content is going to be released, that we shouldn't let the people in other departments know about it either. That's just helping others plan and do their job, and don't be afraid of continuing to do yours regardless of what happens there.

8. What media is the best story-telling platform?

Whether it is the written story, photos, slideshows, audio slideshows, videos, interactive graphics, databases, or other, you can use these tools to communicate more effectively the story you are telling. Have fun with the ideas! Get excited about using these tools, and working with others who have the skills to do them, to tell people a great story.

9. Don't try to do both at the same time, but at the same function.

My best tip to someone needing to do two or three things at the "same time" is to not think about doing them at the same time.

If it is a photographer, when you are shooting stills, shoot stills. When you are shooting video, shoot video. When you are gathering audio, gather audio. Once you make the decision to put one piece of equipment down and pick the other up, be ok with that decision. Do you smack your hand on your forehead when you miss a moment with your still camera when there is no audio recorder with you? Sure. That doesn't go away when you have both. But be focused on what you are doing when you are doing it, and you will have more success.

Instead of learning how to do it all at the "same time", you need to learn how to make the best decision about what moments you choose to gather what. Then you know you are using the best tool when you choose to pick it up, and be ok with the tools that are hanging over your shoulder. They'll get their turn.

Along with that, spread the love if you have the staff and support to do it (easier said than done these days, I know). Why have one person do it all when you can have two people work together?

10. Play. Play with the equipment, play with the software, play with the creative process.

Look at multimedia projects. What do you like about that one in particular?
Take the video camera home with you. How would I tell a story about painting my living room?
Take that video into Final Cut. How can I cut it together?
Before you started in the first place, sketch out a storyboard. Before you cut it in Final Cut (or whatever software), sketch out another one. Write your story in one sentence... what's it all about?

The more you play with the whole process, with different gear, with new plugins, with how you approach editing a piece, with how you look at the great work being done by others, the more ideas you will have, the more skilled you will be, the better storyteller you will become.

One to remember and remind

2009-06-01T20:47:00.006-04:00

This was one of those assignments that hit a chord with me that will resonate for a long long time... probably forever. I think there are those times that you do an assignment, a project, an event, or take one photo that makes you understand why you do the job that you do. It is not one of the stories you whip out when talking with other photojournalists over a beer about experiences you had in the field, but maybe one of those experiences you share when having one of those private, quiet and personal heart-to-hearts about the profession that we are in. One of those stories that you know made you understand why you do it.

This was a tough one for me. I woke up in the middle of the night one night wondering if I should go for it, and then if I could do it the justice it so deserved. This family was willing to share something so... I can't even think of a word to describe it... that I knew it needed patience and care and quiet. And all that worry for a portrait and an interview. No big deal, right? But this one was different.

This couple taught me something about what I hope to be as a parent should I ever get the chance. They taught me something about the experience they went through. They taught me the importance of bringing attention to an issue, such as mental illness, which is swept under the rug and hidden from public conversation and difficult to get funding to help by insurance. They shared their story with a purpose, and that made me want to tell their story with purpose. It even made me want to seek out stories in the future to continue telling about the issue. And for that I am among the hundreds of people who think of them, will remember, and I thank them.

For more information, go to Faces.

So many assignments we go on we sigh when we get. This one made me sigh too, but in a totally different way. This is a tough time for our industry, for our careers and for our profession. I think it is the perfect time to find those assignments that make you sigh, make you see the person's purpose for telling it, and make you realize why it should be told. Regardless of everything else that makes you wonder why you do it, stories count, maybe some more than others, but they count and matter.

Ray

2009-05-14T18:10:00.003-04:00

My husband and I have been going to Einsteins Bros Bagels since we met. It's right across the street from where he works, the people who work there were friendly, and there's Ray.

Ray Kasper is one of those local characters who you know even if you don't actually know him. He's always in Einsteins with his wife, his nephew, a friend, a new acquaintance or maybe just himself. He always has his own mug, sits in the chair with the plaque on the back that the store gave him, may have one of his books of poetry out on the table in front of him, and always sits at the largest table. Ray doesn't do this to take the space, but to invite others to sit with them. He may tell them a joke or start a game with a bored child at a nearby seat, but he's always friendly.

And he's been doing this for more than a decade.

I've met Ray and chatted with him numerous times, but Tuesday, the very last day that the store would be open, I got to shoot Ray for the paper. Hearing his story and getting to know who he actually was made me think of the people we see every day that you know but don't really know, and how lucky we are, even in this trying time for our business and industry, to get the chance to hear the stories, happenings and moments of the characters around us.

Definitely worth it.

I asked the same question many asked him, "So Ray... where do you go from here?" He's not quite sure yet.

Maybe Chick-Fil-A.

Maybe somewhere else.

But it has to have a few things: good coffee, be a clean place, and have nice people who work there.

I don't know where he'll end up, but I'll be interested in tracking him down. And see what characters he brings with him.

The Great Train Race

2009-05-05T15:15:00.000-04:00

Inflatable Planetarium

2009-05-01T16:03:00.000-04:00

Wild Bunch Wildlife Rescue

2009-05-01T16:01:00.003-04:00

My last project here will be on a wildlife rehabilitation center and the one-woman-show that runs it. What I'm really excited about for this is that the woman, Diana O'Conner, is very open to me being there, and I will hopefully get to spend the night at some point. It's always nice when you connect with someone on the projects where you work, and I'm getting an understanding as to why this passion means so much to her.

Paul Stefan Home

2009-05-01T15:58:00.005-04:00

A quick series of shoots I'm doing on the Paul Stefan Home. The ladies and their children who live here make it a nice time going, and are very friendly and open about their experiences.

Snow Day

2009-03-27T18:05:00.003-04:00

These were taken earlier this month on the last good snow of the year (probably). So, the photographers hit the road in search of news and weather (which was everywhere).

About 4 days a week I get up early to coach some rowing before work. On this day we were inside, so I grabbed a couple of photos on my way there.

Did it need a sign?

Trying to keep the floors clean from the slush.

I don't know if it worked out well, but it looked like fun.

Dreams of a First Home

2009-03-16T12:56:00.004-04:00

The Free Lance-Star began a series last week to localize and put faces on the stimulus package. It's called The Stimulus: Bringing It Home. This began with an idea by Mike Morones, my co-worker here in the photography department, initially dealing with Obama's agenda. We planned that one out, but due to some happenings at the paper in January, it never took off. That plan got adapted by a reporter, Bill Freehling, to now be this series. I think it should prove to be some heartfelt stories and a strong package, running occasionally over the next few weeks, and being 15 stories long.
It's been a lot of work planning it out, building the multimedia presentation for it with the help of Alex Russell, and then updating that as the stories run. We're going to keep working on it and improving it throughout the series as well. Figure why not make it all that it can be when we actually have the chance to do so?
I was lucky enough to get to shoot the kickoff story, and I was actually happy with out it turned out. Got to meet a couple of great first-time home buyers, who give my currently renting and leasing self some hope.
Tracy and I spent hours talking and chatting as we waited for delivery men to arrive and handymen to show up. I really enjoyed our conversations.

Child Support

2009-02-10T06:12:00.002-05:00

Child Support - Ghana is one of NGOs I've met that really touched me. I'll write more about it, but here are some photos of their projects. I had the chance to spend 2 days with Eric Coomans and the other volunteers in Wa, Northern Ghana.

A children's home where 10 children live with one house-mother when their parents are not able to take care of them.

A hospice center. Hospice here does not mean the final stages, and while many are no longer here, some leave once recovered. Rashida is 24 years-old.

A rehabilitation center for malnourished babies and children. Being one of the poorest regions in Ghana, the malnutrition stems from not being able to afford food.

A home and training program for young women. These women would have otherwise been sent to Accra for a life of carrying water and goods on their heads to make a living, which often results in becoming a commercial sex worker to get by. Instead they are being trained to sew and in hairdressing, and have their own business which they run.

I want a hippopotomus for Christmas

2009-02-09T16:44:00.002-05:00

Seeking Shade

2009-02-09T16:19:00.001-05:00

Still not used to it

2009-02-09T16:14:00.001-05:00

RAAP

2009-02-09T15:59:00.004-05:00

RAAP, or the Rural Aid Action Programme, is an NGO based in Hain, Ghana. Their mission is to develop the region, and much of their work revolves around giving independence to women.

As one of the programs, women are given goats as livestock to help earn a sustainable income. In return for the goat given by RAAP, each woman must give a goat born back to the organization, who in turn passes it on to another woman.

Some women also have the chance to get a donkey and cart, which can in turn provide an income by being rented or used. It is also better for the woman's health, decreasing the need to carry heavy loads on her head.

The Village Savings & Loan program gives women in a village the chance to save and borrow money on their own. The men have a separate group.

Working with this organization for a couple of days was very interesting and really showed the amount of good that a small action and mission can do. The women were given independence and confidence. I was not given the opportunity to photograph as freely on my own as I would have liked, but enjoyed meeting these women.

Faces

2009-02-09T11:07:00.007-05:00

Woman and wife of the chief trained in making batik cloth.

Yes, it's a kid picture, but I like the face... and the bunny.

Chief.

CID Ghana

2009-02-09T09:45:00.006-05:00

CID Ghana, or Cooperation for Integrated Development, is a development organization in Tamale. It supports communities through schools and resources and development through educational skill-training programs.

Wish I could have spent more time with them, but I was able to get some material about their projects in the day I was there.

One of the projects is to build a toilet next to one of the schools that CID-Ghana supports by providing a teacher, fixing up the school and working with the ministry of health to give the students one meal per day. This is to encourage parents to let the children attend school.

Along with sponsoring the school in Kotingli, a small village, there is also work being done to make things more sanitary by building a toilet for the school and to provide cleaner drinking water. Until the filtering system works, there are chemicals put into the water to make it clean so it is usable.

The water also dries up every year, forcing women to walk up to 22km to fetch water each day, carrying the large loads on their heads with their children helping as well. The filtering system is almost completed as well.

There is also a goal to train women in skills so they can help support their families. As someone told me in the North, if there was a Nobel prize for anything in Ghana, it should go to the mothers. Women do the cooking, cleaning and caring for the children, as well as often farm work to try to support the family financially. Not all of the money earned by men is returned to the family, but what is earned by the women is. They trained the women to make batik cloth to sell.

One of the things I really noticed in the villages was the teamwork environment. When a house needs to be built, all of the men gather to help build it in return for dinner. It's about helping each other to support the greater community. When food needs to be made, two women may team together to make it. I think much of the world could learn from that.

Heading North

2009-02-09T09:37:00.005-05:00

I decided to head with a group of volunteers up North to do some work for other NGOs. They were kind of touring the different projects, and I was able to do small amounts of day-work to give them something.

I usually prefer to travel a little more low-profile and by my own schedule, but we made it up and back safe and sound in the decorated trotro.

After a box of toys went flying off the top.

Home Visit

2009-02-09T09:20:00.003-05:00

Later in the day we went on a home visit to two of the children sponsored by Light for Children. The home visits are meant to update the profiles of the children and check-in on how they are doing.

It's a tricky situations sometimes as well. AIDS comes with a big stigma here, and just because a child is sponsored by Light for Children doesn't mean he or she has it. It is not discussed during the visits as sometimes even the children or the rest of their family do not know for fear of being stigmatized and cast out of their living situation. As a journalist, I tread lightly in the situation.

In all, though, the home visits are a good chance to check-in on how school and life and family are going and for the volunteers to meet the kids, who are welcoming but can be shy just like any kids, whether they are used to meeting obronis or not.

Journey of Hope

2009-02-09T09:05:00.005-05:00

Finally access to internet again! It's amazing the bit of withdrawal you go through...

The following day after the Malaria talk, a group of volunteers went to a school to deliver the Journey of Hope talk (a program to educate about the prevention of HIV transmission. Faithfulness, Abstinence or Condom, and pick the best for the time in your life.)

One of the projects I'll be doing is a short piece about the Journey of Hope.

It's been interesting doing work for some different NGOs here. It's a mix of cultural differences and balancing controls and communication. I'll admit, there were times of frustration, but hopefully in the end each will get some work that will help their cause, either showing what they are doing or showing the issues.

I really do believe in the work of grassroots NGOs. They struggle to stay up, but small things go a long way.

Take Journey of Hope. There are questions of the volunteers of how to take it to the next level in delivery, and there is a push to focus on abstinence for the teens. But the students have a chance to bring up questions about HIV transmission, such as can you get it from deep kissing or sharing food?

School Visit

2009-01-28T04:21:00.003-05:00

Tuesday the group from Light for Children did a visit to the Yaa Acchia Girl School in Kumasi to give a talk about malaria.

The students performed skits that they had rehearsed for a long time, and the group gave some malaria information. At the end, with the speakers pumping out music, the students had us join in on dancing.

Wednesday will be another visit to a school to deliver the "Journey of Hope" educational message about HIV/AIDS, then back to the school to finish up yesterday's work, to the market to gather food for a cook-out, hopefully home-visits with the children, then a cook-out before leaving tomorrow for the North to visit a bunch of NGOs.

So it begins

2009-01-26T05:57:00.004-05:00

Finally in Africa.

It was a long trip, but not a bad one. I don't think I've ever had to show my passport so many times in a 24-hour period. The plane took me from Washington D.C. to Frankfurt in 7 hours, then about an hour and a half through customs in Germany, and on another plane to Lagos, Nigeria as a quick stop before heading on to Accra, Ghana.

I am currently in Ghana volunteering as a photojournalist for Light for Children and hopefully gathering some stories for other organizations. I picked up extra work here and there to fund the trip, and am doing it because it can help in a different way, but also because I really believe in service, and lately have a need to feel like I am doing something for a reason bigger than myself.

Once arriving in Accra, Light for Children was kind enough to have someone pick me up and Poppo definitely made life easier! He was there to greet me with a big bottle of water, got me to the guest house where I stayed for the night, introduced me to the group of volunteers he works with, and gave me an introduction to Ghana dos and don't over dinner by the Gulf of Guinnea. (Don't use your left hand in relation to others, whether eating or waving, Obroni means White Person or Foreigner but is not an insult, etc.)

The next day we went to the airport to pick up another volunteer and together hopped on the bus to head to Kumasi. There were some interesting movies played on the bus, and as I was asked when I got into Kumasi, "Did they involve a story line of someone cheating on someone else? They usually do." And they did.

Last night I got settled in with my host family, who are incredibly hospitable, then talked with Sebastian about the upcoming three weeks, what the group has been up to, and what we hope to accomplish. We both agreed have a general plan and play it by ear. This morning I met with Yaw and learned the history of Light for Children.

Haven't taken any photos or interviews yet, but am learning and reading a lot quickly. Today the volunteers return from the North, then tomorrow go to a school to give a presentation. I'll be heading along for that, and on Tuesday we all go back North to observe and work with a few other NGOs there. We came up with some ideas to propose, and we'll see what I can get done. We go about a day and a half with each one, so it will be quick work.

Upon returning to Kumasi, I will really dig into the work with Light for Children... going on educational events with the volunteer group, spending time with children and their families, and following those who run the organization.

For now, I'll keep planning and getting prepared and educated on the missions of the groups, and hopefully get my cell to work today!

Pics from the Inauguration

2009-01-21T16:08:00.004-05:00

Charlie Brown

2008-12-28T19:17:00.001-05:00

For some reason the weather feature today reminds me of Charlie Brown when Lucy would hold the ball for him... And that being in Virginia in winter isn't so bad sometimes...

Lil' Different

2008-12-24T12:51:00.002-05:00

So we've got this series of very short audio slideshows running over the next week or so. What I'm trying to do is start off with just the first one, then continue adding to it as each runs, but you can still see the ones from previous days. Hopefully it will keep people coming back, or give them a chance to see ones that are gone, plus by tying together the multimedia in a simple way I'm hoping it will give it more oomph. Check it out over the next week here.

Surprisingly Accurate Predictions

2008-12-18T08:04:00.004-05:00

This was made by the Museum of Media History in 2004. I've seen it a few times, and it amazes me how surprisingly accurate it is given it is now almost the end of 2008. The more reading I do, the more I wonder if customization is where it is at for the future of presentation in our industry.

Who Wouldn't Love It?

2008-12-11T22:16:00.003-05:00

It's like a big treasure hunt. May take you 5 hours to find the 5 houses you're looking for, but once you turn the corner and see the glow of inflatable Santa Clauses on motorcycles and trees blinking to the beat of carols playing through your car radio and snowmen blinking so bright the image stays on the back of your eyelids when you blink, I ask you: who wouldn't love the annual Holiday Lights Tour?

Parade Fun

2008-12-07T12:42:00.004-05:00

It's the time of year again...

Tried to have a little fun with the parades yesterday. I don't think videos always need to be shots and voices and interviews. This is all ambient audio, but I thought it would be a different way to give the flavor of the holiday parades.

Response to Post

2008-12-02T09:46:00.002-05:00

This is a response to the Multimedia Muse email by Angela Grant on News Videographer that I also think has a key point.

I received an email today from Multimedia Muse, a new web site that highlights inspiring works of multimedia. It’s basically a promotional email trying to get people to use the site. But it contains an inherent thought that I believe damages journalism, and is one of the reasons why our craft is going through hard times.

I’m all about good, quality journalism. But the inherent thought in this message is, “We [journalists] know what is best for you [audience], and we don’t care what you want.”

I think it’s important that we get past this old-timey idea. People do know what they want, and they know how to go out and find it. If we’re not willing to give it to them, because we have a high-and-mighty view of ourselves and the importance of our work … They will find it elsewhere, and totally ignore us.

If a great work of journalism drops on the Internet, and no one is watching, does it still have an impact?

I’m not saying we shouldn’t do great journalism because of that. I’m saying we have to work it in within the framework of giving people what they’re looking for. If it’s necessary to rework some of our quality standards (putting cameras in the hands of writers, soliciting reader’s pictures for their homepages, littering our multimedia pages with TV news videos) in order to fit the bill, we have to do it.

This is not about us!

Email with a valuable point

2008-12-01T15:36:00.002-05:00

Got this email from Multimedia Muse, a website that displays a variety of multimedia to give a venue for the work we do. I thought it had a meaningful point, and one that put into words what I think, from discussions I've had with photographers at my own newspaper and other photographers out in the field, many of us are feeling and gives a thought on what we should continue to strive to do in these hard times. I've really enjoyed checking out the work on the site, and Well Said!

Two months. Seventy five stories. A ton of hits. If we didn’t have bags over our heads you’d see tears of gratitude in our eyes.

And yet these are dark days, my fellow photogs; our industry is sinking, being pulled below the surface by all those newspapers and magazines that can’t get their act together.

To borrow a phrase first coined by Thomas Kean of the 9/11 Commission, much of our nation’s print media suffers from a “failure of imagination.” At least in relation to their photo departments. The Web is bursting with visual potential. And yet major publications are selling our craft short: putting cameras in the hands of writers, soliciting reader’s pictures for their homepages, littering our multimedia pages with TV news videos.

We at the Muse don’t believe that what works for TV works for the Web. We don’t believe in the inclination to make multimedia bigger and more flashy, but rather smaller and more personal. More precise. With craft. We also don’t believe that posting amateurish imagery, no matter how cheap to obtain, is going to help publications to balance their books. Readers have a high degree of visually literacy; it’s the pictures that are going to sell a story. If you agree, and if your hard-earned project isn’t getting the play you think it deserves, don’t allow it to go under-noticed. Fight the power. Stick it to The Man. Send it to the Muse: www.multimediamuse.org

New Camera

2008-12-01T11:50:00.002-05:00

The next version of the D3, the D3X from Nikon . Not quite an answer to the Canon with its video capabilities, and the main difference seems to be a bump up in the megapixels at 24.5.

A Good Cause

2008-11-26T08:46:00.003-05:00

This year Operation Photo Rescue lost its annual funding due to the economic times we are in. If you have a couple of extra bucks and want to help the organization, it would be used well! Every little bit helps. For those of you who don't know, OPR is an organization that restores damaged photographs for victims of disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods. You can read about its origins in the OPR Blog.

Donate Here!

Couple of Interesting Articles

2008-11-25T10:01:00.001-05:00

Good article about the state of newspaper websites.
Call for change in the publishing industry.

What Ya Love

2008-11-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

I never take enough photos of family members, but I think it's important to shoot what and who you love! Catchin' up with 3 of the 4 nieces and nephews:

Jacob becoming all boy

Must be nice to still fit in the sink.

Dan the Man

Jail Tour

2008-11-21T12:41:00.005-05:00

So I got to go on a tour of a new addition to the jail yesterday.

Recycling

2008-11-18T09:08:00.004-05:00

I really do enjoy shooting, even something like recycling. I got to follow around two workers who pick up the recycling in the city for a few minutes, and enjoyed the hustle that it was running after them.

The Election through multimedia storytelling

2008-11-09T13:25:00.002-05:00

A great wrap-up by The New York Times.

Last Regular Season Game

2008-11-09T13:23:00.001-05:00

There will be something both sad and not sad about the regular football season ending. The paper did some good coverage and got a lot of hits through the High School Football page this season (each team got its own page. But there is still so much room to grow for next season. Would it be better to do just one video of the game of the week each week? Could we do a sports wrap-up video previewing the games that week? Maybe add a blog for each team or a notes from the coach section? And so much more.

The Big Day

2008-11-05T11:16:00.001-05:00

Well, election day has come and kind of gone. We blew it out on the Free Lance-Star's website, which was great to see. The web team really pulled it off, and 17 reporters and photographers contributed to the Live Blog throughout the day, editors got everything together for print, and designers pulled off a re-plate for the newspaper no problem.

My day started at 5:30 a.m. with the polls opening.

From there it was back to the office to get things up online for a slideshow and the Voices of Voters videos that would be posted all day. Each photographer went to vote when they caught a break. My precinct was pretty slow in the afternoon.

In the evening, I booked it over to the surprisingly slow polling station nearby and caught them emptying the tabulator. They definitely didn't get the rush they were expecting.

The photographers did a great job throughout the day covering the region, and Suzanne and Pete helped gather footage to put together the wrap-up video.

All in all, for a relatively small staff, they all rocked it!

Election Coverage

2008-11-01T10:38:00.002-04:00

The Election coverage coming from the Free Lance-Star Tuesday is going to be a first-time for the newspaper. It's going to involved photos and slideshows updated throughout the day, video voices being updated from morning to evening, live blogging, changing headlines from national and local stories at the polls, interactive result map, a wrap-up video and more. For a small newspaper, it hopes to be some extensive coverage, both online and in print, from words to photos. And what's better than that? There is a bit of excitement about doing it, too. Stop by fredericksburg.com to check out more on Tuesday!

Fall pics

2008-10-31T13:59:00.000-04:00

Crowded

2008-10-29T09:37:00.005-04:00

I have to admit, I don't like shooting in large crowds much, but covering pieces of history like the Obama rally and Palin rally that happened in Fredericksburg makes it worth it. Here are a couple of photos from Palin's rally on Monday, and the video is online as well too.

A half a game

2008-10-28T18:20:00.001-04:00

Something for the paper...

And something just because...

Back Focus

2008-10-24T11:11:00.002-04:00

Check out the new blog from the staff of the Free Lance-Star

Hodgson-Rigsbee

2008-10-12T18:23:00.001-04:00

My good friend, Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee just posted some new work recently. He's found his own style and lifestyle that I envy.

Online Presentation

2008-10-12T16:51:00.003-04:00

So I've been trying to give a kick to some online presentation by building simple Flash interfaces. The way I see it, we have always put effort into some stories to make packages in the paper... why not every now and again online when it fits? Some are my work, some are the work of the fab FLS photogs. Unfortunately, once they run they're hard to find, but here are some links:

Point of Connection - An art show at a local art workshop center with studios and a gallery.

Local voices speak about the economy. There are videos done by Portsia Smith, who can get anyone to talk.

College students talk about the drinking age.

High School Football team pages

Redskins slideshow Has a lot of photos from Mike Morones who goes the extra mile to cover every Skins game he gets the chance too, plus other photogs go every now and again.

Are they done for everything? Nope. But they don't take a long time to put together, and add something to presentation of things that have archive possibilities such as the football shows or combine different medias.

Drool in the Pool

2008-09-17T14:27:00.006-04:00

Most of what I do now involves multimedia, including presentations of daily stories like this:
Montpelier Restoration Celebration
I enjoy doing the presentation of multimedia and slideshows. Just like we wouldn't throw stories and photos onto a newspaper's front page without putting some sort of thought into it, we can do the same with web, and try different things. Some have been more successful than others, but it's a chance to experiment and provide something extra for web users. Hopefully, eventually, this will increase the unique users coming to the site.

Every now and again, though, I do get to shoot some photos. For me, it's like taking a deep and much needed breath. I hope that eventually shooting video feels the same, but for now, shooting stills keeps me swimming.

Peru

2008-09-14T16:27:00.007-04:00

For the last week in South America, we headed to Peru. In the matter of a few days we had the extra journey planned and headed our way out of Chile.

It was very different heading to Cusco, the starting point to get to Machu Picchu once in Peru. The city is about 20% tourists, and locals do not appreciate having their photograph taken, except for those who pose as part of their profession to earn tips. This I can totally understand in the sense that the people don't want a camera shoved in their face every two seconds, among other reasons. This was an interesting experience as a photographer. Some were friendly anyway, and regardless of whether or not I have pictures of it, the trip was outstanding. The people were welcoming to us, and the culture rich.

Machu Picchu is definitely the gem of the country, and one of the largest tourist destinations. The ruins around Cusco are also worth seeing, but once you are Macchu Picchu you begin to think of the You make your way to Cusco, and from there either pick up a hiking group (you can only hike with a guided group now) along the Inca Trail or the Peru Rail train. There is the backpacker's train, which is the way we traveled, but they also have a deluxe train with dining cars and a dome top. If you decide to trek, porters carry the supplies for the four-day journey. You can also get dropped off of the train at a couple of different points to do shorter versions of the hike, again with a group.

Machu Picchu is currently under major threat. With over 300,000 tourists visiting it each year, and over 60,000 who take the Inca Trail, the amount of use could contribute to the ruins tumbling down the mountain and the trail is littered with waste. The requirement of guides did not help this issue much. There are talks of putting a cable car up the side of the mountain to decrease bus traffic, but a project such as this could bring tourism up to 400,000 visitors a year, which would be unmanageable. It is hard when you do go as a foreigner to not feel like you are just another tourist visiting, but we did our best to hold ourselves to a standard, thinking of conservation and respect and picking up waste when we saw it.

Once in Aguas Calientes (named for the hot springs in the town and the destination for Machu Picchu), the streets are lined with restaurants and artisan's stores, through there is also a large church and a farmer's market near the town square.

The first day we were there, by the time we got off of the 3 hour train ride, we didn't have enough time to get to Macchu Picchu, but our Hospedaje manager suggested another hike across the valley. We were greeted with a mountainside of ladders to climb up, and then up the top of another mountain from there. Once at the top, we had our first glimpse of the ancient city. It must have been something to come across that place when it was in its full glory.

After having our dinner and trying Inca Kola (which tastes oddly like strawberry bubblegum), we got our tickets for the park the next day. If you ever go, get your tickets and bus tickets the night before. We opted for the bus to do the sunrise (which is totally worth the early hours), and when we got to the stop a half hour early there were already over 100 people in line! Bus after bus after bus loaded up and snaked their way down the river and up the mountain.

We found our spot and relaxed as the sun rose. It is like magic watching the city appear from beneath the clouds. A guide from a trekking group that arrived from the Inca Trail started playing a flute just as the sun cracked through the clouds to reveal the city. We spent all day in the city, making our way through the ruins, doing the hike up Wayanpicchu (which is way harder than it looks!) and seeing the city from high above, hiking our way to the Sun Gate (the last portion of the Inca Trail), and hiking our way back to Aguas Calientes. There are a ton of tourists visiting the city, but for whatever reason you kind of forget that anyone else is around you unless you take a moment to bond about what an experience it has been.

After hiking back to the city, we had a dinner of alpaca and a dip in the thermal baths (as Phil found out, do NOT get any water in your mouth by accident or there is hell to pay the next day!). We used the second half of our bus trip to go to the top again the next day and hike back down, then caught the train back to Cusco. The Japanese tourists sitting around us definitely made the ride home worthwhile.

Recent Work

2008-09-07T13:52:00.002-04:00

So here is some recent work! Eventually, I'll fill in the holes from the rest of the Chile/Peru adventure and actually finish the editing on the project. But let's be honest... it will probably take me awhile!
After finishing up some high school football swfs to add to the paper's site, and continuing with a LOT of planning and the regular old editing duties, I've been doing a lot of video lately. I have to admit, I still love still photography. I really enjoy the times when I get to shoot probably because I don't have the chance to do it as much. There's something unique about the work, and as one friend put it long ago, it's nice to "walk quietly through the universe." I'm hoping to to get started on more projects this fall that employ a variety of medias.
But I do what the job calls me to do, and have been enjoying video for the most part. Editing it on deadline, however, is by far a different story! There could always be something better, just as a lot of us feel about our daily still photography.
I've found that my system is to capture what I need, then cut down the interviews, then put together those in a storyline, adding the other footage as I go. I generally work in "chapters" throughout a video piece, and as I finish each section I go in and put the final touches on it. This helps me to know what the style will be from the beginning. Once done, I then decide whether or not still photos will add to the video, and how to fit them in.

Anyways, here are some recent projects:

Washington & Lee vs. Nandua I will be doing one of these each Friday night for the entire High School Football season, as will the Web video staff.

Not a bad way to spend a day. Plus I shot two days worth of photos for the print newspaper.

The Library of Congress opened this neat place near Fredericksburg.

Has been awhile...

2008-08-27T09:34:00.002-04:00

So I've been lacking on the posts lately...
Soon I'll post the rest of the Chile story and photos from the last-minute trip to Peru and Machu Picchu (that's right... Machu Picchu! And let me tell you: it is everything it is cracked up to be!).
About two days after returning, I started work again at the Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Virginia as Multimedia Editor. It has been a process transitioning into the new role, and the work-load has been heavy! It won't lighten up any time soon, but things are growing and changing. Here are some recent projects from the photo staff:

Bob Martin's piece on a wheelchair racer

Splash & Dash

Historic Find at Ferry Farm

Fair Colors

back North... Chile up by 5.

2008-06-18T08:33:00.003-04:00

So we´ve been away from internet for awhile, and are now back in Santiago, Chile. I have lots of pictures to post, which will be coming soon.

Chilean Patagonia was fantastic. I spent 2 and a half weeks there, and definitely feel like I could have spent more time.
About a week and a half ago we grabbed a bus to Cochrane, about a 9 hour ride into Patagonia. There is one road that goes the whole way, and is a beautiful ride.

Cochrane was cold and wet, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. I´ve never seen weather change like it does there. We climbed a hill overlooking the town (where there is a big COCHRANE sign that resembles the HOLLYWOOD sign), and when we looked one way, turned our heads, and then about 8 seconds later turned our heads back and could no longer see 30 feet in front of ourselves as a fog had settled in over the whole town.
The next day we grabbed a bus to La Confluenza to surprise the friend of a contact I had made and were greeted by 6 dogs and Juan Pablo. Spent the day there getting a really good look at the Baker, doing an interview, and grabbing the bus back to Cochrane from the side of the road.

From there it was on to Caleta Tortel, one of the coolest places we've been ever. It is a small city of 500 residents on the side of a mountain with no roads, only wooden boardwalks and stairs and walkways connecting everything. Needless to say, we got a workout! Met some really cool people, did a lot of walking and hiking (including a bog at the top of the mountain where when I would step, Phil (15 feet away) would move on the jello-like surface.

A few days later and back to Cochrane, then a bus to the small town of Puerto Bertrand which was next to empty, but beautiful, staying with a sweet woman in her hospedaje who picked us up when we seems stranded with no room. A lot of fly-fishermen visit here in the right season. Grabbed a bus from the side of the road back to Coyhaique from there, made travel arrangements for the rest of our trip, and flew back yesterday to Santiago.

As Phil would say, while I have loved Chile and Patagonia, it has definitely kicked my butt! A few good slips on falls on the winter ground and down a flight of stairs in, a solid dog-bite, and right through a plank in Tortel. Nothing but grace, that's for sure!

From here I have a bit more work to do in Santiago, visiting some fruit production factories, seeing the city and region, and hopefully getting an interview with the company working on the dams, HidroAysen. They have not been willing to go on video yet for an interview, or even just audio, at the places that I have tried in Patagonia. So I'm going to try again here, though my hopes are not high. You never know.

Saturday we fly to Cusco and Sunday it's on up to Machu Picchu, taking a detour the last few days for another stamp in the Passport.

more photos

2008-06-05T18:32:00.009-04:00

I'm staying in Coyhaique for the week, continuing to study Spanish and take lessons, reach contacts, see the area and plan for the next week! there is currently a trucker strike in the country, and this region may run out of diesel, so there is a chance that my travel plans could be stalled for the long run... such is life, I guess. Hopefully it does not shut down the country.
Regardless, some more photos:

The view from the hospedaje's backyard I'm not in.

bus terminal

gotta love wires mixed with la vista.

she and i bonded on the ice in the street.

not a lot of daylight these days.

tonight: film about the dams and patagonia. tomorrow: hopefully the weather will be nice and i'll go for a hike. saturday: last spanish lesson and phil arrives. sunday: hopefully to cochrane by bus.

Coyhaique

2008-05-31T20:11:00.007-04:00

Now I´m in Coyhaique, the center of the defense of the land in Patagonia. I´ll be spending the next week or two seeing what I can of the land and the people here (it is Winter, so not the height of outdoor season to say the least, but a good chance to get to know the people). Hopefully I´ll be able to get what I can of the outdoors.
Most people use the wood stove for heat, cooking, etc. since gas and electricity are increasing in price.

A teen juggles in the street to earn some extra money.

Signs and graffiti opposing the construction of the dams and power lines can be seen throughout the city.

Puerto Montt to Coyhaique

2008-05-31T20:08:00.002-04:00

First I traveled to Puerto Montt before making it to Coyhaique, the center of the defense of Patagonia.
Puerto Montt bus terminal.

My current bed in Coyhaique... right next to the wood stove... yes!

A day with scientists

2008-05-31T19:52:00.014-04:00

I took a day to spend some time with scientists from New Mexico Tech studying the volcano in Chaiten, a huge volcano that erupted in early May. No one is allowed within 50 km close, but the group was using instruments set up on farms to gather information.
Based in the town of Castro.

Farmland where the instruments were set up.

Collecting pumice on the shoreline.

Checking the gear at another site.

Landowners are reimbursed for their time and power.

Rosa, one of the owners.

The volcano plume.

Another landowner.

Heading home.

2008-05-31T19:48:00.004-04:00

So the project that I am starting on is regarding the energy crisis in Chile and the proposed building of 5 dams in Patagonia, which would change the ecological landscape as well as the lifestyle, creating a "highway" of wires.
I´m currently in Patagonia, meeting people and seeing the region. It is a project that I hope to get what I can now, as the region is in winter and is much more active some the spring months. Maybe I´ll have the chance to return. But it is a good time to work on it at the same time because it is a current and forefront issue at the moment.
I started off in Santiago, which was just a chance to get my feet underneath me as well as think about the use of energy. The energy supply the dams would produce would be shipped North to the Central region, including Santiago. I´ll be returning there to really focus on this portion.

Chile Travel

2008-05-29T15:05:00.002-04:00

So I'm currently sitting in the airport at Puerto Montt, Chile. My flight to Coyhaique was canceled due to the Chaiten volcano. Hopefully it will go tomorrow, but maybe not even then. But it's given me the chance to catch up on some things.
Yesterday with the scientists studying the volcano was fun. Got to see the countryside that I normally wouldn't see. People are only allowed 50km close to the volcano, so there is not much to view there, but it was still interesting nonetheless.
Here is a photo from flying over the mountains and into Chile. For now I'm back to the hostel I stayed in, Case Perla, which is more of a home-stay than a hostel. Down the hall is the parent's and daughter's bedroom, and the bathroom is shared with the family. But it is cozy and warm with a good breakfast, so it's all good with me.
My plans coming up are to make it to Coyhaique and settle in there, then try to meet with different people fro NGOs that are involved with the proposed dam building projects. From there I head even more South to get a good look at the Baker River, one of the two potential homes to the dams, and possibly the Pascua, as well as the towns that will be affected by the project.

Chilean Whirlwind

2008-05-27T17:28:00.002-04:00

As of right now I'm currently sitting in the airport in Santiago, Chile. I arrived Sunday afternoon (today is Tuesday), and it has been quite a whirlwind. Mostly because I keep losing things. Don't know why, it's out of my character, and I think it's my subconscious way to keep me on my toes and teach myself a lesson. I have not done a lot of photography just yet, but I have done a lot of research and travel plans. Made it to the hostel Sunday afternoon and walked around for awhile getting adjusted, found a little restaurant with soup and a beer, and crashed for the night early. Monday was spent mostly making contacts and travel plans, which have since changed as of today. And today has been a trip of a meeting with the publisher and reporter at the Santiago Times to have the chance to talk with them about the work they've done on the energy crisis in Chile and the proposed dams in Patagonia (the project I'm pursuing while I'm here). It's a step-by-step process, and in a way I'm glad I'm making contacts as I go though making the travel arrangements is stressful. My plans of taking the bus South to Coyhaique have now changed to flying to Puerto Montt and taking the bus to Castro tonight so I can spend the day with some scientists from New Mexico who are studying the volcano in Chaitel, which has evacuated many towns. Then Thursday I'm flying to Coyhaique. That's all the plans for now, and photos are coming soon!

Personal Webiste

2008-05-24T10:18:00.001-04:00

www.rebeccasell.com

Intro to Video

2008-05-20T07:54:00.001-04:00

A very basic introduction to video through the camera and Final Cut for beginning users.

Thesis II

2008-05-20T07:27:00.002-04:00

When looking at how to build and present multimedia, it is important to understand what is happening in newsrooms now to adapt to the changing readership climate.

More and more emphasis is being placed not on the number of hits a page receives, but on the time spent on the pages by individual users, which can be seen in a study by Nielsen/Netratings. With technology such as AJAX being used to build pages, users can interact without having to reload. Therefore the time that they are spending on an individual page may be longer, but the count of page views lower.

So what does this mean for multimedia? It has the chance to increase the length of time on a page, which can in turn produce revenue by increasing the cost of ads on pages that will keep viewers on them for a greater length of time.

Readers are currently shifting to get their news from online newspapers, as did Michale Stephens. Stephens, a long-time subscriber to the South Bend Tribune, has dropped his subscription to become an online reader, using a NetVibe page to add RSS feeds from the South Bend Tribune and from other newspapers, as well as podcasts and blogs. He requests that the paper continues to provide access and also makes their Archives free.

Newspapers are struggling to maintain revenue in this changing market.

“…But I won't sugarcoat the news: by not filling jobs that go vacant, by offering buyouts, and if necessary by layoffs, we expect to reduce the newsroom staff by approximately 100 employees from what it was at the beginning of the year.”
(Excerpt from Valentines Day speech by Bill Keller, Executive Editor for the New York Times, announcing that 100 employees will be cut this upcoming year)

With this turn in getting news online, there have been many ideas in the past as to what the format for telling stories should be. More often than not, it's writing them for the printed newspaper and then putting the same information presented in the same way online in the form of an article with photos or graphics. There are characteristics of how readers view information online that can boost the presentation.

- Online readers are just as likely to be a methodical reader as a scanner, whereas a print reader is more likely to be methodical.
- Both print and online readers retain more information when alternative story forms are used (graphs, charts, etc.).
- Navigation is the first stop for the eyes online, whereas photos and headlines are for print.
- Lead packages and stories got more attention in both print and web.
- Large, documentary photos got more time from the eyes in both print and online, but graphics drew more eye time online.
- Web ads with motion got more eye-time, but print ads, whether half or quarter page, got equal eye-time.
- When it comes to the amount of text read, online users read more text that print users.

So what are some newsrooms doing? The South Bend Tribune has changed their newsroom structure by making it a Reverse Publishing environment. According to Victor Ortiz, the New Media Director for the South Bend Tribune, the web department is moving into the newsroom. The center of the newsroom will have a big-screen display of websites and the sites of competitors, and that area will be surrounded by the web department, Breaking News and 24/7 staffers, as well as Copy Editors.

"The priority lies in speed and availability, although multimedia and interaction will follow. As part of the reorganization we are implementing a new budgeting process that will help us focus on the multimedia elements of a story. We have also created a new position, Web Commentary Editor, to help focus on the interaction with readers. We have just started this process and have a ways to go before it's all fully implemented, so it's early to say what the consequences are."

Newsrooms are also using other forms of distribution, including Microjournalism, PDF Availability (though throwing the print-product online is important, it does not make for an online newsroom), SMS Alert, RSS feeds, etc.).

Some newsrooms are also changing the way reporting is done. Mojos are being used more and more frequently. A Mojo is a Mobile Journalist: reporters who have high-tech tools such as audio recorders, still and video cameras, and laptops and spend much of their time on the road hunting for stories and putting several up on the Web a day. Their job is to provide constantly fresh web content. The worries of this kind of reporting are the importance of the content and its quality and whether or not it is being sacrificed.

This adaptation of the newsroom may change the way reporters and photographers do their jobs, but not necessarily the foundation.

Thesis

2008-05-15T15:04:00.003-04:00

My thesis the spring was on Multimedia Storytelling and its future, including data structuring.

The first part was just a look at what a multimedia story is:

A multimedia story is “…some combination of text, still photographs, video clips, audio, graphics and interactivity presented on a Web site in a nonlinear format in which the information in each medium is complementary, not redundant.” ("What is a Multimedia Story" by Jane Stevens)

Characteristics of a multimedia story include:
- User has the ability to navigate through the story
- Can include text, photos, video, audio, graphics and interactivity
- Can be adapted to different types of audiences
- Not all stories make good multimedia stories

It's important to know your viewers. Of online video audiences, there tend to be four groups:
- Content Explorers: Ages 35-54, are willing to watch programs on TV as much as online, tend to have incomes of more than $100,000
- On-Demanders: Ages 18-34, more likely to watch full-length videos online
- Sight & Sounders: Ages 55+, 1/3 of online video audience, but prefers TV
- Television Devotees: Skews towards women, would rather watch shows on TV but will use the Web to catch up on missed episodes
(Worden)

Online video viewers tend to head toward television-type videos. This doesn't mean that news organizations should ignore multimedia, but think about who their viewers are amongst the newspaper/online demographic and how to build presentations towards that audience. There is a tendency now to put together multimedia based on what is gathered and what can be done quickly. What if there is more pre-planning for how to present it to the particular audience?

Characteristics of good multimedia stories include:
- Are multidimensional
- Are best told by face-to-face reporting
- Are pre-planned (through preliminary interviews, storyboards and newsroom communication)
- Are linked to previous stories on the topic

There are many opinions as to the length that multimedia presentations should be. Many say less than 5 minutes, or less than 3 minutes, or if it's a slideshow with audio, around 2. In my opinion, it comes down to as long as they need to be. Joe Weiss, creator of Soundslides, commented on this in a http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifPoynter interview.

I think they key, number-one thing is that [most audio slideshows are] too long. ... They'll create a three-minute audio slideshow, and because it's three minutes long, they'll have to use so many photographs. Well, I'm sorry, there just aren't that many good photographs in your edit. National photographer-of-the-year portfolios can be 30 images, and you're telling me you have 30 images from that one news event you were at for two hours, ... it just doesn't make any sense. ... I think a lot of people are making them far too long.

They're not being respectful of the time commitment that their audience is giving them. The attention that someone gives you as a journalist online, that attention is currency.

I would say the second thing [after length] is that, visually ... they are applying the ideals of still, print picture editing, to online picture editing. Essentially, they're not shooting for the medium. There are images you can look at and say, that image does a great job of getting me from this image to the other image. Well, are picture editors, or photojournalists, trained to think about their photographs in that way, that this is a transition image? Are they even shooting those images? In most cases they're not.

If you have a really great image, leave it up there for a little longer. Find a way in the audio, so the audio supports that image, and then there should be times where there's an image that supports the audio. Those two things should exist in the same audio slideshow. ... I think a lot of people [think] ... an audio slideshow is just a vehicle for their photojournalism. And it isn't.

The most important thing is not your photojournalism. The most important thing is not your audio journalism. The most important thing, overall, above anything else, amen, to the end of it, is the story and how well you communicate that to the human being who's on the other side of that computer.

Brian Storm of MediaStorm spoke during his visit to Syracuse University just before judging the Alexia Foundation Competition. Many multimedia presentations produced by MediaStorm are 10+ minutes in length. More than 60% of videos are watched from beginning to end once they are started. Also, he commented on the idea that presentations should be broken up into chapters, saying that it is like asking someone to go click something else/watch something else, and they may not come back.

So there are some thoughts on the current state of multimedia storytelling.

Never Ending

2008-05-02T19:00:00.003-04:00

I don't think the editing process is ever really complete, but there's just that decision as to when it is time to stop.
That being said, here is a slight re-edit of the Vietnamese Community project.

Including Samuel

2008-04-30T18:49:00.004-04:00

During "Mayfest" at SU this spring, Dan Habib visited to speak about his documentary "Including Samuel", a film about educational and social inclusion with his son and other subjects. The film was both informative and moving, providing a look inside the issue and from different sides. Worth checking out! It was also interesting to hear about how a photojournalist takes a look at his own life and family, as difficult as that can sometimes be, and about the move to film-making. To read more about Dan's new position read here.

Multimedia Project

2008-04-28T18:06:00.002-04:00

2008-04-28T10:53:00.000-04:00

2008-04-12T16:08:00.004-04:00

Congrats

2008-04-09T16:43:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Denny Simmons and others. A former colleague from interning at the Evansville Courier & Press , Denny was one of those photojournalists who made you realize how great photojournalism is and how much greater it was that you could be doing something so cool and actually get paid to do it. The enthusiasm has paid off over the years, and I know he taught me a thing or two.

The Prizes

2008-04-09T16:35:00.000-04:00

Pulitzers

Community

2008-03-13T12:59:00.006-04:00

Some recent photos:

A poet in the Vietnamese Community of Syracuse, Vinh Dang writes his experiences of leaving Vietnam for future generations. He is quite an extraordinary scholar, and I had the chance to hear him read some of his poems in Vietnamese, French and English during one of his English lessons, which mostly consist of poetry translation.

The Saigon Hair Salon, while Vietnamese in ownership and employment, does most business outside of the Vietnamese Community. There are always customers waiting.

Doing homework while waiting for customers in her parents' restaurant is the lifestyle for the children of many business owners. The place served Vietnamese food and Kimchi, and were kind enough to let me come over for their New Year festivities of food and gambling candy.

Learning

2008-02-19T13:39:00.006-05:00

(I tried to post the audio cut here, but it wouldn't let me... so I'll post the edited movie soon)

So it's a learning process, and I'm on to using a new camera. The department just got a new Sony V1U camera, which shoots on HD, DVCAM and SP. I've been using it to gather audio on occasion, and occasionally using the Marantz for some additional audio tracks when I don't want to bring in the video. The V1U has been a great camera to shoot with so far. Small enough to handle easily (though it's always a challenge doing video, audio and still simultaneously), and comes with a hard disk to record to with or without tape which can record as much as 270 minutes of footage. Basically I'm trying a bunch of different stuff and experimenting, which is fun to do when you have the opportunity to do so. Using Final Cut Pro to edit.

Here are a couple of sites I've found helpful as well as I learn FCP in the editing (covers some of the basics). I haven't had any hiccups when using it yet, and have found that moving from AVID into FCP has been a smooth transition.
http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=18
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=123085
(this one is helpful when importing from the V1U in HD) http://ifinalcut.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/fcp-capture-from-sony-v1u/

When I edited together the piece, I listened for audio first, trying to make sure it flows well. From there I make sure the shots are the best ones to use with the audio when I have the option (shots for ambient sound) and layer in photographs of still moments on top that were edited on their own will be the final step. Some bad video is in there for the audio track to be under the stills. Just trying to think about the editing of the multimedia in this sense for now and seeing where it goes.

Happy New Year

2008-02-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

I'm currently working on a project on the local Vietnamese community. As a portion of the project I spent the weekend photography New Year festivities. People in the community have been welcoming to me being there, though there are still the normal obstacles to overcome.
I'm also doing this project in multimedia. It's a chance for me to practice and possibly fail. It truly is a challenge, not only in the sense of learning the equipment and a process, but also in that I'm trying it all together: photo, video and audio. It is a full semester of learning FinalCut, Flash, digital audio and video, researching multimedia storytelling and the technicalities of video.

Regardless, here are some images from the weekend.

Hunting

2008-01-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from last Fall of an area hunter. I had met his family the week before and thought he'd be interesting to spend an afternoon with. My first time sitting in a blind on a hilltop for a few hours, and we didn't see a thing.

Lake Effect

2008-01-20T22:28:00.000-05:00

Home Sweet Home.

Pastor Dempsey

2007-12-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

A multimedia project by some folks at the Free Lance-Star, photographer Peter Cihelka and producer Reza Marvashti.

Training

2007-12-23T09:09:00.001-05:00

So Millie is a year-old now.
We've been working on training her.

She's more of a golden go-and-see-er than a golden retriever right now.

She takes a little taunting well.

But all in all, she's a good dog and a good companion.

Nieces and Nephews

2007-12-17T00:13:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of little ones running around this holiday season...

Audrey

Caroline

Jacob

And soon a new one will be introduced! (Jodie at her shower)

Editing Video

2007-11-26T22:32:00.000-05:00

For a group project in a class, Documentary Production, we are working on a short film about a local gentleman named Beut. The three of us spent a lot of time getting to know Beut, learning his story, understanding him... This week is editing week (we are using Avid... a learning process unto itself is all I'll say there). I've learned a few things in this process (mostly through mistakes, others from other people, and all random for now):

- Start off with a vision of the story you want to tell.

- Getting to know the subjects and getting the footage is not all that different from still photography, just different content is gathered (more interviews, etc.).

- Set up your shots thinking about framing and composition and let the action move through the frame.

- Always check the batteries on your external mic and your audio levels.

- Use headphones.

- When shooting with two cameras, having the same type of two cameras is helpful. One with HD and one that is not looks different when editing.

- Stick to the three second rule when interviewing: wait for three seconds of silence before you ask your next question. People may say the best stuff in those seconds, or, if nothing else, you get a clean break for editing.

- Know the story you want to tell, change the way you want to tell it, be willing to continue changing it.

- Let things in that story be discovered by the audience... not everything has to be stated, or stated upfront for that matter.

- Again for emphasis... always check your audio levels.
- And we shot too much.

Dan

2007-11-20T14:37:00.002-05:00

New Media and Newspapers

2007-11-08T10:20:00.002-05:00

It has been an interesting semester being a photojournalist and learning "New Media". I've been gathering the skills of web development and design, audio, video, etc., and also looking at where it is all going in the growing web content environment.

There as so many ways to present news... photo, video, slideshows, audio pieces, combination of still, video and audio, interactive informational graphics, informational graphics, text, etc. etc. etc. Then you have links, comments, rankings, blogs, etc. etc. etc. But what to use, how to get the manpower to create them, and how to use them well/when to use them is the tricky part.

Larry Kramer, President of CBS Digital Media, came to one of our classes. In discussing new media, the conversation led to what this new environment poses for newspapers and news organizations. One of the key points that struck me was that news organizations have a brand, and with the online world need to work to preserve that brand. People get their news in more than one way and the news organization needs respect that. Some are layering local news online with immediacy. In 10 years, newsrooms will be built around News Gathering: there will still be a commitment to coverage, but there will also be work done in all the possible ways to get that news out there. This does not mean that a story needs to be held for the video, but that there is a recognition that the video enhances the story. Someone in that news gathering workplace will be good at each of the forms, and editors will be there to know how to disseminate the news out. Even though news is everywhere online... blogs, newspaper sites, television sites, etc... it is not a commodity. You can do it, and you can do it better. To pay for it, advertisers will go where the people go.

This to me does not seem far different from the way newsrooms currently operate. It's just changing the system, some of the skill-sets, and the ways of presentation. In the end, I still feel that the quality of work produced will win out. Right now, "everyone" can do it... but it is the ones that do it well that will thrive and set the standard in the online news world.

The Fall Workshop

2007-10-16T10:02:00.000-04:00

Here's one image from The Fall Workshop here at SU. I had a great time at this Country Kitchen, though I direct story was hard to find. It was a good place to make some photos, including of these two characters. The place had great pie.

The workshop was an experience where I learned a lot and had the chance to talk a lot of photo talk. I valued the new opinions and views and will take them with me. For example, stop thinking with the camera. See, think, look and make a picture.

Coming back to it

2007-10-11T23:44:00.000-04:00

It's different how the images stand out when you come back to a take later...

New Documentary

2007-10-04T11:17:00.000-04:00

So I'm starting, as a group project, a new documentary. The subject is a Sudanese refugee who is deaf and will focus on his adaptation to learning both the culture and being a part of the deaf community. That second dimension is a challenge as not only did he have to learn American Sign Language, he also had to learn English, as well as the concept of money, etc.
Now the process involved getting proper waivers signed so we can get access to him through a local organization. It is not that they are not being helpful... they are being incredible, providing interpreters, subjects, resources and so on. So we're giving it that time and moving forward as we are able, hoping it will pay off.
I'm hoping along the way to shoot some still images along with the video. It could be an experiment in combining the two well, while our focus for the project will be on the video. That will be a shift for my thinking. I believe that video, audio and still images done well seperately and combined well to tell the story can be powerful multimedia. This is a plan. We'll see how it goes.
Along with that, I came into school thinking I would have all of this time to shoot and do projects. Now I'm realizing and remembering the value in what it was to have a job where that was my day every day. There is not as much time to work on that as I thought, especially with a lot of energy being put into learning new skills. I get out to shoot when I can and carry a camera with me, and know the skills and new knowledge will be an asset when I'm done. I am enjoying going full force in each part of my day. Makes for some long ones, but I try to keep each day full, whether specifically shooting or not. I guess I'm reinvigorated.

EWaste Documentary

2007-09-26T09:50:00.000-04:00

This is my first documentary! The project was under the umbrella of The Digital Age and its Underpinnings. I decided to focus on EWaste. It was interesting learning to use the camera and think in motion, sound and still framing. It still needs some tweaking, but here's a basic edit.
One of the things I learned, that made a lot of sense to me at least, is that when making a documentary and shooting it in the verite style (what I compare to shooting as a photojournalist), it's as if your right hand is doing the shooting and your left hand is doing the editing. Go out and shoot the footage, getting everything. Think on the side about where you want to documentary to go. Once both are done, put the two hands together.

Just Because It's Cool

2007-09-13T15:57:00.000-04:00

Type and Music

Too Long

2007-08-15T06:44:00.000-04:00

So it's been awhile since I've posted, and now that the summer is done I can get back on top of things.
"Bootcamp" is over, and what an intense 6 weeks it turned out to be. It was a long road from not having a clue to finding one, though by the end I think my brain was just one long strand of code. The final product of the class?
GotGiftIdeas.com
It actually works too!
I handled the design and with my group did the implementation of that design and got it up and running.
Photos from the summer coming soon...

Makeover.

2007-07-17T08:59:00.001-04:00

A little girl named China at the day camp decided I needed my hair redone. After a few minutes I had a fab side-ponytail. Not too shabby for someone so young.

It's been interesting working around a group of kids with such diverse ages. They're always honest, many times shy, and occasionally chaotic. It's refreshing, in a way, though it has taken time for them to get really used to me and each day I come is a bit of starting over with the group constantly changing. It is also a lot different depending on the age group. I've found that either everyone wants to have their picture taken, or they want to run away because it's not cool. I'm probably shy too.

Later on in the day...
"What are those spots all over your face?"
"They're freckles."
"Can't you just rub them off?"
"Nope, it's just the way I am. Sometimes I wish I could though."
"That's too bad. I like your face."

My Very First Website

2007-07-12T15:53:00.000-04:00

It's a work in progress, that's for sure. And there's a lot of photos to post. But with learning it in a few days, I'm sure I'll grow and it will get better.

newmedia.syr.edu/rlschmeh

Slideshow Programs

2007-07-08T13:59:00.000-04:00

So here are a couple of inexpensive programs to put slideshows into Flash or slideshows into Dreamweaver.
For this one you can put the slideshow into your Flash production, but then make changes and update it without having to go through your Flash file and make changes that way. Seems to have some production options as well.
www.slideshowpro.net
This one you can add slideshows to your Dreamweave productions... it's an extension.
www.dwuser.com/flashslideshow/v3

Fireworks

2007-07-06T07:57:00.000-04:00

A Start.

2007-07-04T18:24:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pictures from a project I'm starting. It's going to take time and be built over a series of different stories, so for now I'm getting going with a day camp.

14 days and over 6,000 miles

2007-07-01T21:09:00.000-04:00

So I'm jumping on the bandwagon and starting a blog. In between finishing up work at The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA and starting school at Syracuse University, we took a quick cross-country road trip that got us all the way to Seattle. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

It rained a good chunk of the drive out.

Chicago.

The plains.

Luxury Accomodations in Yellowstone thanks to the snow.

Seeing sea lions.

Millie hits the Pacific in Oregon.