Below is a rough version of the comments I made at the recent 10th International Symposium on Online Journalism, held at the University of Texas at Austin: Despite the fact that America is engaged in two wars, the number of foreign correspondents working overseas and sending information back to the United States about these conflicts, […]
NOW on PBS has selected the top videos from the March 2009 Backpack Journalism Workshop to post on its site. Please see http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/440/Journalism-Workshop.html. All participants should be deeply proud of your accomplishments. I certainly am.
Get accustomed to using the eyepiece instead of the display screen. You’ll be better able to tell when your subject is in focus, especially when there’s a backlight, which is a big issue with many of these hand-held cameras. Keep both eyes open. Otherwise you lose peripheral vision on the entire left side. Also, this […]
Point your left toe toward your subject and your right toe straight out in front of you. This is the way boxers and martial arts experts stand when confronting an opponent. Watch boxing or martial arts films to see what I’m talking about — how to properly position your feet for maximum stability and maneuverability. […]
Backpack journalists use tripods on a limited basis, as this allows us greater mobility and less intrusiveness. So learn how to turn your body into a tripod. Turn your left hip toward your subject. With your left hand as a base holding the camera, tuck your left elbow into your left rib cage just above […]