Assignment: Multimedia Story, Part 1

Due: Friday, March 28, by 5 p.m.

Think about a story that needs to be told. Make it simple, make it something you can go back to easily (as you'll be going back at least two more times, probably more, before the end of the semester). Finding an individual will work better than an issue or concept as it will give you a voice to use.

For the first part, you need to produce 3-5 photos that introduce us to your story and subject. Think about an establishing (long) shot, maybe a portrait, some detail images and, of course, the ever present medium shot. Show us who this is about.

As you're shooting, listen to the sounds. You'll be going back to do an interview and to collect natural sounds to layer into your piece.

Your final piece will be around 60 seconds in length, and the average time for an image on screen will be six seconds. Think about what you'll be asking to guide you in the types of images you'll need to shoot.

Light Technique

I find myself becoming more and more impressed with The New York Times, and the quality of their photos.

Just out of curiosity, is there a name to this halo effect that wraps around Hilary Clinton's face?
I can't remember if we learned it or not in 3610.



http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/us/politics/02cnd-campaign.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Assignment: Clips, Light Redo and Portrait

For Wednesday, March 5, please collect five clips, one each of general news, spot news, feature, portrait and sports images. Look for the best examples of each.

For Friday, March 7, have your light redo on the server by 5 p.m.

For Wednesday, March 19, the clips will be on portraits - one great one, one bad one, one you have questions about.

For Friday, March 21, you need to have an environmental portrait on the server by 5 p.m. You choose who this is and you have total control over how this comes together - location, pose, clothing, time, light, etc. Find someone newsworthy and then show us them clearly in their (newsworthy) environment.

How do you define newsworthy? Write the lead graf in your head for the news story, would that play on the front page of the Red and Black?

No Clips for Wednesday, Feb. 27

No need to bring in clips this week, will post requirements for next week's on Wednesday.

Remember to have your Campus Scene photo on the server by 5 p.m. on Friday. Also be sure to bring your camera to all classes this week, we may do some in-class shooting exercises.

ASSIGNMENT: Campus Scene

DUE: Friday, Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. (for review in class on Monday, March 3)

Sometimes called feature photos or enterprise photos, these are stand-alone images that can really get to the heart of a community. They tell smaller stories, slices of life and there are some photographers who are absolute masters at these.

There are two ways of approaching this: wandering and hunting. The former is the more common and less successful way of doing this. You wander around, hoping something interesting just happens to happen right in front of you.

Yeah, it's a very low percentage way of getting good feature photos.

The better way is what David Labelle refers to as hunting (he even wrote two books on it that are amazingly good). It's about planning ahead, knowing where you're going to find great moments, great stories. It involves reading everything and talking to everyone. And leaving your business card with everybody you meet, asking them to call you.

So, your assignment: One amazingly great photo from this campus. Tell me a story, share a piece of someone's life, in just one frame. This is all about moment.


Somethings to look at for more ideas:

The National Press Photographers Association runs an annual Best of Photojournalism competition where there is an Enterprise category.

The University of Missouri runs the Pictures of the Year competition and they have a Feature Picture category you can browse though. (Although that first photo is more of a Spot News image than a Feature, to me.)

ASSIGNMENT: Light

Due on the server by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 22: One photo that shows the beauty of light.

PLEASE NOTE: Set the White Balance to the Sun setting ("WB" button on the back of camera, rotate dial from AWB to the sun icon) - or else all your beautiful color will get wiped out.

Remember we shoot news photos - you need to be thinking about what types of images newspapers run. People and moments are needed.

Clips for Wednesday, February 20, should be one each of hard light, soft light and diffused light.

Assignment: Reading

Please read pages 134-159 and 174-253 in the National Geographic book for Wednesday. (And bring your clips in from last week.)