Comments for Rati Kumar's Weblog

Comment on My photo 1 attempts by mlwalker

mlwalker — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:53:21 +0000

I have discovered how difficult it can be to cut out pictures that I personally like in favor of pictures with better composition or more relevance. I attempted to capture some of the small details of the free bike repair service on campus that give it a certain sense of personality when you’re there in person. Ultimately, some of the pictures that I thought were pretty good just didn’t have the same impact that I hoped they would have. But it is a learning process right?

Comment on Nat Sound – Less is more? by keciaj

keciaj — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:29:41 +0000

I considered this issue Monday when I was gathering sound for my soundslides project. Although I had gathered distinct scooter sounds from the parking lot where I took photos of my subject, I wanted to get the sounds of people and traffic on campus because these sounds were the backgound noise I heard during most of my work on the pfoject.

I realized how clearly I could hear using the microphone and recorder when stood on Stadium Road to record the natural flow of traffic and students. I was picking up details of students’ conversations as they walked by and even a guy mowing the lawn near the parking lot. I wondered if this sound was to clear to be just backgound noise. However, I have just decided to play around with the volume when I edit my sound in Audacity.

Comment on A question on interview questions by floraxu1220

floraxu1220 — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:59:54 +0000

I will do the interview tomorrow and I am preparing for the question now. I get some good tips by reading this blog and comments.
Many times we have a story outline before we do the interviews, in the hope that the interviewee will provide some details to make the story more substantial and interesting. But sometime, if we ask good questions, we can get surprise from the interviewee by getting a much better story than we imagined.
In my experience, asking short questions may be better than ones, for people may be weary to listen to the reporter’s opinion.Also, beginning with easy-answer questions may make the interviewee more willing to open up. Then the reporter can move to more emotional questions or personal question.

Comment on A question on interview questions by Mindy McAdams

Mindy McAdams — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 03:42:31 +0000

It’s interesting to think that by saying “a leading question” you might mean “one that leads the speaker to give the answer that the journalist wants,” but you might also think it means “leading the speaker to open a whole new subject.”

So in the interest of clarity …

You do need to lead the person to talk about what you want to hear ABOUT. But what they say on the subject is up to the interviewee. I think the worst kind of question begins with: “Don’t you think that …”

You choose the topics. They provide the details. Try to keep your own opinions out of it. This is NOT a conversation. And interview is about getting the other person to tell stories and explain things.

Comment on A question on interview questions by keciaj

keciaj — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:31:06 +0000

I agree with Curt, questions should lead the interview subject to respond on topic. I had an interesting situation with my interview last Thursday. I actually came into the interview expecting to come out with one story, but I left with a new spin on my topic.

My story was about transportation on campus and why many students are opting to use scooters. So I thought my questions would lead the subject to say why scooters were better than other modes of transportation like the bus or driving a car. I got those answers. The student talked about how great scooters were, but he also shined light on the challenges students face with parking scooters on campus.

I think it’s definitely helpful to know the topic of your story when you go into the interview(especially when writing or creating short pieces), but being flexible can be very beneficial as well. Sometimes unexpected or “off-topic” responses can lead a journalist to see the story from a unique perspective or to a story that’s entirely different and still worthwhile.

Comment on A question on interview questions by mlwalker

mlwalker — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 04:36:24 +0000

I have had some similar thoughts while preparing for the audio portion of my story. I was trying to think of questions that could result in an interesting story arc, but I caught myself thinking a little bit too hard about it and coming up with ideas that might have resulted in the subject becoming a ventriloquist dummy like Curt mentioned. I had to pull back a little bit.

There is definitely a good middle ground. I’m doing my story on the free bike repair service on campus. I don’t want my questions to be too general; it could get boring quickly, but I also don’t want to come in to the interview with my story arc planned and try to make the subject follow my course.

The audio 1 assignment in class is the only time I have edited an audio interview before. I found it very difficult to cut it down to 90 seconds, which is good. I feel like it only leaves time for the most interesting and relevant information. I’m hoping I’ll have the same problem with my Soundslides audio!

Comment on A question on interview questions by Curt Franklin

Curt Franklin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:01:21 +0000

Interesting question. I think that, as a journalist, you absolutely can ask leading questions (you’re a journalist, not a trial attorney). In fact, you want to ask questions that lead to complete, interesting answers. The place you get into rocky areas is when you ask questions that lead to only one possible answer, or that contain an answer within them.

It’s possible to craft a set of questions such that the interview subject becomes a ventriloquist dummy for the interviewer’s opinions, and that has to be avoided. You’re talking to the subject because you think they have something interesting to say to the story. Let them say it, in their words. It’s the journalist’s job to make sure that the questions lead the subject to address the story, rather than just speak at random. Once you’ve done that, let the subject tell their own story, in their own words.

Finally, recognize that some folks are just not great interview subjects. If they persist in monosyllabic responses, off-topic discourses, or persistent mumbling, then thank them for their time and move on. There’s almost always someone else to talk with.

Comment on Please don’t take my photos away! by amescua

amescua — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:38:48 +0000

Hey, like the post Rati. It is also very difficult to me to dissaciate from the emotion or thought… but I don’t think you should very worry about it. I think that this is what is going to make your work different from another one. The only thing that is important is to try to create an equilibrium between your emotions and the editing or photography skills: being honest and be a good professional are, at th end, the same thing. As a photo editor I tried to get just the best pictures, the ones that tell the story better and say more things about the character or the situation; the ones you would like to see… this is easier when you work for a magazine that you like, of course because you share the ethic and aesthetic of that particular media.

Comment on Please don’t take my photos away! by britr

britr — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:57:02 +0000

I totally agree. I had an odd amount of emotional attachment to my photos, more so than when I write something. And I agree I need to have someone else edit me, because I don’t think I’m all that discerning. But I sure don’t want to be in the room when they start off with the red ink, all the same. It also makes me want to see what photographers’ favorites might be, as opposed to editors and viewers. Would they vote for images that we saw in the media, or would we see a whole new set of unpublished images?