brian kratzer, how photography and multimedia can breathe life into your election reporting
DESCRIPTION
Brian Kratzer, director of photography at the Columbia Missourian, spoke about how photography and multimedia can breathe life into your election reporting at RJI's "Down-home Democracy: Empowering Citizens With Outstanding Coverage of Local Elections" on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014.TRANSCRIPT
How photography and multimedia can breathe new life into your election
reporting
Brian KratzerDirector of photography
Columbia Missourian
When thinking about politicians, what sort of photos do you
expect to see?
When thinking about politicians, what sort of photos do you
expect to see?
When thinking about politicians, what sort of photos do you
expect to see?
When thinking about politicians, what sort of photos do you
expect to see?
Are you compelled to read the story that goes with this photo?
How about now?
Does this make it better?
Do the previous photographs compel your readers to:
A. Pick up your paper?B. Stay on your website?
C. Draw you into the story?D: Pass on by
If you want to create impactful election coverage, then…
Go beyond the podium.
Go beyond the podium.
Forums can be a great place to update your archives, but…
…the last photo I want to run is of a person at a forum or podium.
Photographers are coached to arrive early, stay late.
Photographers are coached to arrive early, stay late.
Make action photos.
Make action photos.
The act of engaging with others and showing honest emotion will elevate the impact the photograph has on your readers.
You want to draw your readers in by using compelling visuals.
Fight the scripted event.
Don’t settle for this.
Make this happen instead.
Can you convince candidates to let down their barriers?
What do candidates… …do for fun?…do at work?
…feel a connection to?
Why should your readerscare about the candidate?
Coaxing the candidate
Explain what your goal is.
Coaxing the candidate
People don’t know what is interesting about themselves.
Coaxing the candidate
Embrace the ‘fly on the wall’
Coaxing the candidate
Simply going about their normal routines can reveal little unscripted moments that can tell volumes.
Coaxing the candidate
Simply going about their normal routines can reveal little unscripted moments that can tell volumes.
This is the documentary approach.
The Trail
The Trail
We began coverage in September.Starting early was key to finishing.
You can tell political stories visually.
You can tell political stories visually.Be there when the action happens.
You can tell political stories visually.Be there when the action happens.
Shoot wide, medium and tight.
You can tell political stories visually.Be there when the action happens.
Shoot wide, medium and tight.
Give yourself time before the deadlines.
You can tell political stories visually.Research
Know about key events you can’t miss.
Shoot wide, medium and tight.
Give yourself time before the deadlines.- edit- talk with a colleague- understand the story
You can tell political stories visually…
…and redefine them as you like.
…and redefine them as you like.
…and redefine them as you like.