WASHINGTON, DC, 26 October 2010 — Documentary photojournalist and filmmaker Lou Dematteis points out details in an image from his book of photographs, “Nicaragua: A Decade of Revolution.” As part of our Backpack Journalism Project speaker series, we hosted Lou in my “Photojournalism and Social Documentary” class yesterday. (See video of the visit on my […]
WASHINGTON, DC, 19 October 2010 — Am finally getting around to posting the closing group shot of our four-day Backpack Journalism Workshop, which ended late Sunday evening. From left to right (standing) are Skye Wheeler, Simon Nicholson, Teaching Assistant Esther Gentile, Rebecca Byerly, Teaching Assistant Ted Roach, Theresa Bucci, and Teaching Assistant Kelly Donnellan. Kneeling […]
WASHINGTON, DC, 15 October 2010 — Rebecca Byerly, a participant in the latest Backpack Journalism Workshop, interviews her subject for a mini documentary on a busy street in the nation’s capital. She’s practicing what I refer to a “participatory observation.” That means the art of engaging subjects in a manner that allows them to tell […]
WASHINGTON, DC, 27 September 2010 — 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 […]
WASHINGTON, 26 SEPTEMBER 2010 — Backpack journalists use tripods on a very, very limited basis. The whole idea is to cut down on gear, to be mobile and to be unobtrusive. So learn how to turn your body into a tripod. Turn your left hip toward your subject. With your left hand as a base […]
WASHINGTON, 15 August 2010 — Bob Shea (r) talks with Bruce Jones during the 12-15 August Backpack Journalism Workshop With Bill Gentile. In the center is Final Cut Pro Certified Instructor Kelly Donnellan. At far left is Jeff Mead. (Photo by Bill Gentile)