There are a few problems I always seem to run into when taking digital photographs.
1.) Flash versus no flash.
I really prefer the coloring of no flash when taking photos inside. The coloring is usually a lot warmer, with yellowish shades and lines seem softer. But when you put on the flash inside, the picture seems a lot sharper and everything gets this bright blue tinge. I would decide just to skip the flash, but when you do the picture almost always comes out blurry.
2.) Taking pictures of big sweeping landscapes
I've tried, over the years, to take photographs of places I really love. Like a spot in the woods that is just perfectly lit up with filtered sunlight. Or the vastness of the ocean. Or a waterfall. Mostly pictures of the forest, really... yes... I am a nerd/wood elf. Anyways, the pictures never capture what I see. What looks mysterious, or magical or just beautiful to me always seems to look flat in the photo. I want to know how to capture that depth.
Walking around with a camera is a little strange. I took a photo of a line of students holding up political signs, and while some ate it up, when I looked at the photos after there was one girl staring straight at the camera and giving me the weirdest look.
For portraits I took photos of my friends. They didn't seem to mind. Some of them totally loved it actually.
But with photos of college life... I just feel like a huge creep taking pictures of people. I did take one picture of a girl reading on the lawn.... but from very far away. I don't think she noticed/ I hope she didn't. But how do you get candid photos of people just living life without creeping them out or ruining the shot?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Fotos
I didn't find the instructional video particularly instructional, all it really said was be careful with lighting, which I know because I've had lighting ruin dozens of shots. I'm hardly a camera expert and consider myself a pretty awful photographer (I just don't seem to have the eye) but I can take a passable shot.
I know backlighting will wreck a photo. I try and use the rule of thirds. I try and have the subject fill up the frame. And I take lots of pictures, especially since I was just in Spain, but they really never seem to capture it, the essence, the mood, the grandeur. They just always look flat to me.
I guess I've just got to keep clicking.
Here is a photo I took of Jon in class. I wanted to have the brick wall in the background since I thought it looked all scholarly and whatnot. I didn't alter the photo or anything but it might look nice in sepia, since he looks all moody and pensive.
Here it is in sepia.
Ooh, how nice and brooding.
I have a little bit of experience with editing photos. I have Adobe Photo Shop on my computer, which is a really nice program but way beyond my abilities. I used to like messing around with digital pictures when I was younger so I can change coloring, saturation, ect. I would definitely like to improve my photo editing skillz though.
I know backlighting will wreck a photo. I try and use the rule of thirds. I try and have the subject fill up the frame. And I take lots of pictures, especially since I was just in Spain, but they really never seem to capture it, the essence, the mood, the grandeur. They just always look flat to me.
I guess I've just got to keep clicking.
Here is a photo I took of Jon in class. I wanted to have the brick wall in the background since I thought it looked all scholarly and whatnot. I didn't alter the photo or anything but it might look nice in sepia, since he looks all moody and pensive.Here it is in sepia.
Ooh, how nice and brooding.I have a little bit of experience with editing photos. I have Adobe Photo Shop on my computer, which is a really nice program but way beyond my abilities. I used to like messing around with digital pictures when I was younger so I can change coloring, saturation, ect. I would definitely like to improve my photo editing skillz though.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I love Fishermen
Though I am excited about the idea of covering local farms and the troubles they face, I must admit it was my second choice for a multimedia story.
My first idea was fishermen.
I have lived near the ocean my whole life. My family is from Portland, Maine, a community built on one thing, tourists and their lust for seafood. Well, Mainers eat seafood too I guess... but the tourists really go crazy for it.
Regardless, commercial fishermen, lobster men, clammers, ect. are what make coastal Maine work, and it's the same here in southern New Hampshire as well.
I've never been a huge fan of seafood, aside from the occasional clam cake or haddock dinner, I hardly ever think of it or crave it. Most people do. I am sad excuse of a Mainer for not loving lobster, something that brings me shame almost everyday. But there is one thing I do love about fish.
The fishermen.
I find the business fascinating. Last summer one of my dad's friends brought me out on his lobster boat, after I had begged and pleaded for three months. It was an awesome day.
It is pretty well known that the economy is falling apart right now, and the fishing industry has also been effected by this. Lobster was practically given away for free this past summer and lobster men suffered as a result.
What I would like to do as multimedia project, if they will let me, is become one with the local fishermen who use Portsmouth harbor. I want to go out on their boats, watch them fish, smell the salty air, and hear from the fishermen (and women) how they are dealing in such awful economic times. I want to film nets being reeled in and shiny fish flapping on the deck. I want to record the voices of the fishermen as they talk about their work. I want wind chapped cheeks. I want the sound of a boat motor humming and pictures of fishermen working hard, in a physically demanding job.
Today, I called the Portsmouth chief harbor master, Tracy Shattuck. I told him what I wanted to do. He laughed. Asked what kind of a story I wanted. I replied multimedia and he said, "Oh, a pretty story, eh?" Kind of, I replied.
I gave him my name, number, mission and asked that he tell the fishing companies who use the port if they would be interested in letting me join them out on the dark and wild sea.
"I'll see what I can do," he promised.
I really hope he calls me back.
My first idea was fishermen.
I have lived near the ocean my whole life. My family is from Portland, Maine, a community built on one thing, tourists and their lust for seafood. Well, Mainers eat seafood too I guess... but the tourists really go crazy for it.
Regardless, commercial fishermen, lobster men, clammers, ect. are what make coastal Maine work, and it's the same here in southern New Hampshire as well.
I've never been a huge fan of seafood, aside from the occasional clam cake or haddock dinner, I hardly ever think of it or crave it. Most people do. I am sad excuse of a Mainer for not loving lobster, something that brings me shame almost everyday. But there is one thing I do love about fish.
The fishermen.
I find the business fascinating. Last summer one of my dad's friends brought me out on his lobster boat, after I had begged and pleaded for three months. It was an awesome day.
It is pretty well known that the economy is falling apart right now, and the fishing industry has also been effected by this. Lobster was practically given away for free this past summer and lobster men suffered as a result.
What I would like to do as multimedia project, if they will let me, is become one with the local fishermen who use Portsmouth harbor. I want to go out on their boats, watch them fish, smell the salty air, and hear from the fishermen (and women) how they are dealing in such awful economic times. I want to film nets being reeled in and shiny fish flapping on the deck. I want to record the voices of the fishermen as they talk about their work. I want wind chapped cheeks. I want the sound of a boat motor humming and pictures of fishermen working hard, in a physically demanding job.
Today, I called the Portsmouth chief harbor master, Tracy Shattuck. I told him what I wanted to do. He laughed. Asked what kind of a story I wanted. I replied multimedia and he said, "Oh, a pretty story, eh?" Kind of, I replied.
I gave him my name, number, mission and asked that he tell the fishing companies who use the port if they would be interested in letting me join them out on the dark and wild sea.
"I'll see what I can do," he promised.
I really hope he calls me back.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The year there were no Apples
This year Woodman Farm, a part of the UNH horticultural department, was hit with a brief but tragic hailstorm. The apple orchard was completely devastated. From afar the apples look red, and ripe, and plentiful, but upon closer inspection it is easy to see the black, rotting holes.
Typically, Woodman Farm harvests the apples and gives them to UNH dining, where they are served to the students. This will not be the case this year.
I'm going to try and create a multimedia piece about the apple orchards on Woodman farm. John McLean is the manager of the farm and has been working there for most of his life. Evan Ford is the assistant manager and has also been working at the farm for quite some time.
The hail storm was this past summer and the apples would typically be picked right around now. McLean and Ford now have to spend more time than usual picking through the mostly rotten apples to find the unblemished fruits.
I'm also going to talk to Jon Plodzik the UNH Dining Manager, to find out how the lack of apples from Woodman is effecting the dining halls.
The summer was one of the wettest in recent years, crops were bad all around. I'd also like to travel to local farms and see how their crops were effected by the incessant rain and hail storms.
This is news because food production is important, especially local food production. This year in particular is important because of the horrible weather and increased costs of farming.
Visually I'm going to show the apples and just how badly they were destroyed. I will also use voice over from McLean and Ford about how the storm and their reactions when they found out how badly they'd been hit.
I think this could work.
Typically, Woodman Farm harvests the apples and gives them to UNH dining, where they are served to the students. This will not be the case this year.
I'm going to try and create a multimedia piece about the apple orchards on Woodman farm. John McLean is the manager of the farm and has been working there for most of his life. Evan Ford is the assistant manager and has also been working at the farm for quite some time.
The hail storm was this past summer and the apples would typically be picked right around now. McLean and Ford now have to spend more time than usual picking through the mostly rotten apples to find the unblemished fruits.
I'm also going to talk to Jon Plodzik the UNH Dining Manager, to find out how the lack of apples from Woodman is effecting the dining halls.
The summer was one of the wettest in recent years, crops were bad all around. I'd also like to travel to local farms and see how their crops were effected by the incessant rain and hail storms.
This is news because food production is important, especially local food production. This year in particular is important because of the horrible weather and increased costs of farming.
Visually I'm going to show the apples and just how badly they were destroyed. I will also use voice over from McLean and Ford about how the storm and their reactions when they found out how badly they'd been hit.
I think this could work.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
thoughts on multimedia
i've just finished watching a few of the multimedia stories on mediastorm.org and i found them to be absolutely stunning. these stories, all completely different, some devastating and some hopeful, are presented so beautifully.
before watching these i didn't really know what multimedia was. i knew it was using sound and videos and music but i never thought of combining them in such a powerful way. i think this is a great way to present some stories, but not all. i love writing and reading and i think that a well written story can be just as moving. i would be devastated if print journalism fell out of practice but believe that multimedia and print can exist together harmoniously. in addition, though multimedia encompasses more mediums, photography, video, and sound, it cannot capture the depth that a well researched written story can.
i imagine that multimedia stories will become very popular very soon.
before watching these i didn't really know what multimedia was. i knew it was using sound and videos and music but i never thought of combining them in such a powerful way. i think this is a great way to present some stories, but not all. i love writing and reading and i think that a well written story can be just as moving. i would be devastated if print journalism fell out of practice but believe that multimedia and print can exist together harmoniously. in addition, though multimedia encompasses more mediums, photography, video, and sound, it cannot capture the depth that a well researched written story can.
i imagine that multimedia stories will become very popular very soon.
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