I came into JRN 380 seeking glory. There was Moses music playing in the head as I walked in the newsroom for the first time this semester. I squinted at the brightness coming from the ceiling lights, but I took my seat ready for a grueling March, April and May.
As classes went on, I didn't expect the lessons on how to use the Nikon camera to be quicker than twitchy the squirrel, or less understandable. That was my one gripe about this class.
For this class, I was the wolf in the video above.
So much attention was paid to getting good video and getting good pictures, but not enough time was spent on how to use the camera in class. We were expected to take notes, while also working with the cameras at the same time. Some of us did, but I didn't.
Still the professor helped out whenever he was asked for it. He took extra time to guide me and another through the camera functions. This should be done at a slower pace during class, but with class one day a week I understand. I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT CLASS WAS ONE DAY A WEEK.
I learned a lot about video, and I liked the videos I made this year compared to the ones I made last year. A guy working in an auto-body shop? Bleh...
I hope I never have to use a Nikon D300s ever again. It sounded like I was popping popcorn behind the camera whenever I was trying to do an interview. You have to be stiller than a statue when holding the microphones connect to that Nikon. I think sound is just as effective as video and if you have bad sound, then your overall piece suffers. I stand by the Nikon D7000. Even on windy days, the audio was like chocolate syrup to my ears...mmmm
I didn't care much for the blog posts, like this one, but it does keep you involved and paying attention to the multimedia world around you. I would have paid more attention to my posts, if I wasn't so stretched for time as I am right now. Right now as you are reading this!
The only thing that went through my mind when I was making my video was: the record button and getting crisp focus. I'm more video-orientated, rather than pictures. I'm not too keen on news writing, when video is involved. My written pieces only provide some additional background about what's going on in the video. The writing in these packages seem more of an afterthought for me, but some of peoples had really good written pieces that in some cases amplified your video. I give you my Andrew Zajic Seal of Approval, you know who you are.
I'm just not a good news writer at the moment, so I don't see the need for writing when I can make video a hundred times better.
Thanks for a great semester. Did I get the glory I sought? Video-wise? Yes. Yes I did.
Hilarious but often true!
ReplyDeleteThe quality of your videos was great. You've got a creative and visual mind and it really comes across in your work.
ReplyDeleteThe cameras were tough to learn in a classroom setting but I'd say most of us got the hang of it in the field.
I agree it's hard to get motivated to tell a story through an article when you feel that you've already painstakingly done so in the video.
Overall though, I think you've produced some excellent quality pieces for your portfolio whether you end up pursuing journalism or some other visual art form.