Halloween portraits
I shot a series of portraits on Halloween using both ambient and studio lights. The top photo was lit with one 800 watt head, diffused by a large Chimera softbox at camera left. The bottom photo was lit by a red neon light mounted to the ceiling of a shed.
Audio slideshows
Why should photojournalists gather audio?
- Combining photos and audio tells a more complete story
- Audio enhances the photos; photos enhance the audio
- Enables us to get to know our subjects better
- Makes photographers better journalists
- Encourages project-oriented stories
Keys to Successful Multimedia
- Plan the audio. Know the options: Ambient sound, interview, narration, or combo
- What is the best way to capture audio? Which type of mic?
- Focus the story around one subject, keep the approach simple
- Generally, it takes 12-15 photos for a simple audio slideshow
- Pay attention to ambient sounds
- Headphones are a big help when recording and editing
- Location! Location! Location!
- Avoid ambient background sound during interviews
- Ask open ended questions
- Don’t step on subject’s words and thoughts. No uhhh huuhhhh’s
- Have subjects introduce themselves
- Record interviews in short clips rather than one long 30 minute interview
- Purchase the right gear
- If the caption can’t be read in 5 seconds, it’s too long
- The goal in gathering audio is to capture clips to assemble into a package
The Ethics of Audio
- Can we loop sound? No.
- Can we ask our subjects to repeat something on mic? Yes.
- Can we mix sounds from different events for editorial impact? No.
- Can we edit sound bytes containing words such as “ummmm.†Yes.
Lawrence Journal-World Multimedia
Multimedia Software
- Flash: Complex, expensive, slow learning curve. PC and Mac platforms.
- Soundslides: Simple, cheap, intuitive audio slideshow program.
- Audacity: Free audio editing program. PC and Mac platforms.
- Garage Band: Part of iLife Suite on new Mac computers. Mac only.
Multimedia Audio Equipment
- Voice recorders: Inexpensive, good for interviews, bad for natural sound.
- Stereo MP3 recorders: Expensive, clear and crisp sound, easy to download.
- Minidisc recorders: Expensive, clear crisp sound, long download times. www.sony.com
- Mics: Key to capturing clean audio.
Multimedia Links
www.mediastorm.org
www.joeweiss.com
www.magnuminmotion.com
www.nytimes.com
More BMX pics
These pics were all shot on Sunday riding with friends in Kansas City. From top to bottom: Phil Wasson air at Shawnee Mission Skatepark; Phil flattie from a curb onto an embankment; John Mann wallride on an overpass pillar; Justin Mann fakie wallride on the roof of an abandoned building; Dennis McCoy berm slider air at Shawnee Mission Park.
KC Overpass
Exactly 10 years ago this year, I purchased a Mongoose DMC bmx frame after seeing it a magazine advertisement. I passed many riding milestones on that bike, including my first 360, first decade and first broken bone due to riding. I loved the frame, but as I started riding trails more, I retired the frame to my garage wall.
In 1997, I drove to Kansas City for a BMX contest where I met many of the people that I ride with today, including Dennis McCoy, namesake of the Mongoose DMC. Dennis is a legend in BMX and has riden professionally nearly longer than I’ve been alive.
This weekend, we teamed up to shoot a few photos for an upcoming article on him in a european magazine. A portrait from the shoot is pictured above.
