Recent content by redcoat

Reporter Jeff Tang and I are currently embedded in Afghanistan at Kandahar Airbase for WTVF Newschannel 5 Nashville, TN. We'll soon be outside post embedded with an infantry division in a particularly kinetic area. If you'd like to follow our journey, my blog is http://camguynate.blogspot.com/...

As most of you are probably aware, the city of Nashville, TN and surrounding communities were absolutely devastated by 2 days of perpetual rainfall in early May, which resulted in the worst flooding the area has ever seen. Even our newsroom was completely flooded, ruined, and eventually gutted...

There are moments when people simply don't want a camera in their face, and they're happy to let us know it. A colleague of mine saved a video from way back that mixed the station's happy go lucky promo music with a montage of an angry vocal family who didn't want their recently incarcerated...

Why raise taxes on the rich? ...because it's very likely that they pay a lower percent tax than normal Americans already. Warren Buffett did the math and admits that while his secretary pays 33% in taxes, he only pays 18%. Buffett has challenged all billionaires to do the math, and if they...

I just joined the NPPA for the first time today. I am anxious and honored to be a part of this group of talented, driven photographers. I also very much appreciate that the station I now work for (WTVF-Nashville) values its photographers enough to assist with membership dues. I chose to join...

I have read that some photojournalists prefer simple interview setups, sometimes void of any extra lights, to allow subjects to feel more comfortable and less on the spot. The idea being that each extra light will make it more and more apparent to the interviewee that they're on camera, and that...

Let the numbers do the talking. Obama wants to raise the top tax bracket rate by 3%, putting it at 38%. Here's the history of when the top tax bracket rates were higher than Obama's proposed rate: 1917 - 67% 1918 - 73% 1919-1920 73% 1921 - 73% 1922 - 56% 1923 - 56% 1924...

The past two Fridays so many reporters were gone on vacation or holidays that the assignment desk came to me and asked for a nat sound pack each day. I would appreciate any thoughts people have; especially those pertaining to whether or not the editing and structure successfully created a true...

[b-rollTV]1019[/b-rollTV] [b-rollTV]1013[/b-rollTV] -These are two versions of the same story explaining how high gas prices are motivating more people to consider 2 wheeled vehicles for transportation. -The first one was written by the reporter and the second one is an alternate cut nat...

One of the toughest moral dilemmas you'll be faced with when you're stuck in an edit bay is: 'to fart or not to fart.' Now, I know you're under deadline, the stress is setting in, and worst of all...you just scarfed down a triple bacon cheesburger, large onion ring, and XL Mr. Pibb from...

Today I'm gonna get a talkin' to about an F word that was visible on a webpage in a story I shot and edited. The word was on screen for a second or two during a slow mo'ed snap zoom out. It wasn't noticed by anyone until a viewer caught sight of it as it aired. Hey, at least one viewer was...

I find that I am very proficient at crafting stories by organizing soundbytes; so I can put together a pretty compelling and sensible nat pkg. However, writing a story with track would be more of a challenge for me. I have a good understanding of what is needed to tell a story, but I have not...

I just got back from a fatal car accident in a residential neighborhood where a car with 4 passengers was torn in two pieces after it went airborne and hit a tree midair. As the deputy was showing me around and explaining the progression of the wreck he had to warn me to watch my step in order...

A comedic Chicago newspaper called The Onion has had an on-demand news video feed online for a while now and it's really worth checking out! I think it's more hilarious than The Daily Show with John Stewart. It's incredibly sarcastic and consists of more fiction than comedy central's parody news...

How often do you light daytime live shots? For what reasons? I've noticed that it can serve to soften shadows if the reporter is not facing directly into the sun and it also tends to make the reporter stand out a little more from the background. Because of time and equipment limitations...