One Man Band, Looking for Help :)

Latin Lens

Well-known member
I will be honest...and sorry if it comes off as over critical but you have alot to work on.

First thing you need to do....is think of your story. How you want to approach it...what is the angle I want to persue...think of the shot you might get....think of the sound you might hear.

Sights and sounds are VERY important to the story....almost more important than reporter track at times (sorry to all those reporters)...so you need to think about how to get them and how to use them most effectively.

Your story looks odd only because you didn't have any forethought.....you had interviews outside, you had interviews before the game(?)....it was just too random. If an event is happening inside...try and get your interviews all inside so it flows better.....think of the mood...why have a packed stadium then cut to a barely filled one during an interview...if you can make it match....ask him to do it at halftime...or realize its NOT about him and lose it....remember your story needs to flow. If it doesn't work...don't force it to.

You need to watch your axis with your b-roll....remember to get plenty of shots from every side you shoot on so you won't break your axis in the edit bay.

Your nats need to blend better....when dealing with loud aburpt sounds its easier on the ears when you fade up and down...in and out....so it flows like a symphony....you are the orchestrator...get them to do what you want...learn this skill over time and it'll make a huge impact on stories...and it doesn't have to be for nat breaks either....do this under trax and it'll sound better too.

You need shot variation...wide, medium, tight, ultra tight. Don't be afraid to get mouths of people cheering...those are the quick shots and sounds that can help buil nat montagues to start a piece or help in the middle....look for cutaways....scoreboard, rim shot of a ball going in...those kinds of things to take the viewer there.

This is alot I know but its a good place to start....think, think, think. Some people will tell you anybody can shoot a story and while that is true...it'll vary depending on skill. Build your skills...concentrate on the subject and story...and find the shots that tell that story....it'll be easy to see how much effort you did when the final piece is done...so if you want to get better than put forth the effort and you will see a gradual improvement. A photog's "eye" develops over years but when he/she tries to find it....the stories (no matter the subject) will get told better.
 
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