2. Common Considerations for
Photo andVideo Before Shooting
ï Have a clear idea of your assignment.
ï Have a developed plan.
ï For video, create a shot list (wide, medium, close-up).
ï Use a storyboard if it helps.
ï Take the right equipment: camera, lenses, tripod, etc.
ï Be sure your camera battery is charged.Take extra batteries or charger if
necessary.
ï Have enough space on your memory card.Take extra memory if necessary.
ï Know your rights and responsibilities. But have a backup plan in case
your rights are violated by those who are neither moved by law nor
ethics.
ï Take notes. Document enough information to write effective captions.
3.
4. The Essentials
ï The quality of a photo depends on these essential elements:
ï Subject:The inherent qualities of what you shoot and how you
compose it
ï Moment:The timing of your shot
ï Light: Exposure, shadows, etc.
5. Subject
ï Ask yourself these questions:
ï Is the subject of the photo relevant to the story?
ï Is the subject interesting?
ï Have I composed the shot well?
ï Use âhotspotsâ on your cameraâs composition grid to guide your shots.
ï Strategies:
ï Look in all directions, including up and down, to find interesting subjects.
ï Patterns are interesting to the eye.
ï Consider foreground/background. Depth of field is interesting to the eye.
ï Color can be used to draw attention to a shot or convey meaning.
ï Focus on people (unless the assignment is on something else).
ï Get up close. Get faces.
ï Zoom with your feet.
6. Moment
ï Ask yourself these questions:
ï What the most interesting or relevant times for taking shots of the subject?
ï How do I set up in advance for the shot?
ï Are there special considerations such as fast movement by the subject?
ï Strategies:
ï You have to get over shyness.Take photos of people at events from close
range rather than a great distance.
ï Donât take staged photos; get people acting naturally.The latter is more
interesting.
ï Look for action and reaction shots.
ï Captured moments that convey interesting narratives.
ï Practice! Simulate situations beforehand.
7. Light
ï Ask yourself these questions:
ï What camera settings should I use under the available lighting
conditions?
ï Is there a way I can use light to my advantage?
ï Strategies
ï To reduce blur, use higher shutter speed and lower aperture.
ï Itâs better to take slightly dark pictures than blurry pictures if
youâre forced into a choice.
ï Itâs also better to take slightly dark pictures than pictures that
are overexposed. In the editing process, you can increase the
exposure to add light.
10. Video Capture
ï USE ATRIPOD
ï Check audio levels.
ï Check white balance.
ï Compose the shot well.
ï Similar considerations as still shots
ï No poles sticking out of peopleâs heads
ï Give appropriate frame spacing for things like displaying lower thirds (personâs name, title,
etc.).
ï Have sufficient space before and after the clip.
ï Get enough b-roll.
ï But donât get so much footage that it overwhelms you in the editing process.
11. Editing
ï Often, itâs easiest to start with the audio narrative.
ï Add video footage in step with the audio.
ï Create effective transitions.
ï Superimpose graphics.
ï Music can be obtained for free or at little cost from royalty
free sites.
ï Audiojungle
ï Incompetech
12. Other Considerations
ï As with other platforms, the power of the narrative is key.
ï Start with a strong lead.The viewer will give your video about 10
seconds before deciding to keep watching or move on to
something else.
ï Be creative with editing.
ï Shinya Kimura
13. Resources
ï The Knight Digital Media Center is one of the most
comprehensive resources multimedia journalists.You can go
to it for tutorials and presentations on a wide array of
essential skills and issues in journalism as it continues to
rapidly evolve in the digital age.
ï You can learn a lot by following multimedia experts like
Richard Koci Hernandez.
ï Get inspired!
ï Explore videos onVimeo.