The great successful men of the world have used their imagination…they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building – steadily building.
– Robert Collier
On the left is Robusta Coffee and on the right is Arabica Coffee.
Whenever you are doing a story on a subject be sure and add some detail shots to the coverage.
Just picked coffee
I often think of these photos as eye candy to the story. Graphic designers will often use these photos to help round out a layout on a page or website. Sometimes these photos are used as a background or just an accent point.
One of the places I use these images in my work is in multimedia packages. They can help with transitions just as a writer helps the reader move from one thought to the next with transitions the visual communicator also can do this with things like detail photos.
While getting really close can create impact and even be a cool abstract, sometimes you need things in the photo to give the items a sense of scale. I often use things like hands to give a sense of size to an object.
Compare this to the first photo of coffee on the tree without the hand.
Just remember to always try and find some detail shots to add to your coverage.
When covering an event, I try to think of it as telling a story. So there are seven things I try to always have in my coverage. This week, I discovered that my friend Mark Sandlin, Director of Photography for Southern Living, uses this same list. The list is what all photojournalists have drilled into them.
Mark Sandlin, Director of Photography at Southern Living
Opener: Sets the scene for the story
Decisive moment: The one moment that can by itself tell the story
Details: Besides being like visual candy to the report, help often with transitions–especially in multimedia packages
Sequences: give a little variety to a situation
High overall shot: Gives a good perspective on how the elements all fit together.
Closer: Besides the classic shot of the cowboy riding off into the sunset, there are other visual ways to help bring the story to a close
Portraits: These photos are great for introducing the characters of the story
Below are photos from an annual meeting where the investors come in, and the company gives them an overview of what they have done and where they are going.
One thing I am working hard to do is to make each photo have an impact on engaging the audience. I use light, angles, composition, and, most important, expressions of people to engage the viewer. I wanted my photos to help this company communicate they are vibrant and viable in today’s market.
This photo shows how the attendees could interact with the leadership team. I wanted to show them engaging in conversation, so I shot a few to capture not just a good expression finally, but use the environment to draw you in. If you notice, even the lady in the mural seems to be paying attention to the conversation in the foreground.Details, for me, are a way to have fun. So I am looking for unique angles, colors, and light to help create impact and entertain the audience.A high angle is usually successful today because it is unique to our everyday l es. Seldom are we tall enough to see this angle, so it looks different than you just walking ar nd. Even the lady in this mural looks from above to see what is below.The man to the far right is the CEO, and while he will be on stage later in more formal roles, I like to show him as more relaxed and approachable. Again, I am using the lines from the window to help draw you into the picture. I want you to see the conversation first in the foreground, and then you should drift to the background. Again, visual composition keeps you engaged.While you can see everyone on the panel, and I always shoot the obvious, it isn’t as compelling to me as in other angles below. But I always need to be sure everyone on the panel is well-seen in one photo in case they require this.As a panelist responds to the question, you will often find that the rest of the panel may or may not be engaged.In this photo, the CEO is the focal point, and while the other panelist is not looking directly at him, you can see from their expressions and slight turning of their heads to catch what he is saying as showing they are engaged.PowerPoint presentations can be challenging to capture the slide and the speaker in one photo. Thank goodness they had a spotlight on the speaker and had it balanced. If you organize an event like this–always have a spotlight on the speaker to make them not disappear into the dark.While this isn’t a close-up portrait, I think it is a lovely portrait of him working in this situation.As I mentioned, they were streaming on the web, and I have a photo that can help say that for them.Another high overall shot to help tell another part of the story.
The decisive moment photo should be the one that is used alone and not part of the package could tell the story. Which of the ones above did you see that would work for you?
Did you notice the sequence of the panel? Now the hard part is often a closer. Sometimes you don’t have an ending. No closer is because you want to communicate. There was so much to see. You want to leave the audience visually craving for more rather than wrapping it up to say well, that is everything.
I suggest sitting down before you arrive to shoot a story, thinking through everything you know about the assignment, and making a list. Then, write down on a notepad that you will carry with you the outline of the seven shots. Under each one, list a couple of options for each.
As you shoot your story, check off the photos that you get. Then, use your notepad to get the names of people for the captions.
Once you have everything checked off on your list, don’t stop shooting. I continue to shoot more photos, but now I may be looking more and taking fewer shots. I cherry-pick the moments I think will be better than I already have.
I want to thank my friend Mark Sandlin for reminding me of what I do with every assignment so I can share this with you.
By the way, Mark said he wished he had said one more thing to those attending the class. He wanted to say, “if you haven’t made any mistakes, you are trying hard enough.”
