It used to be that photographers, particularly fine art photographers, were not known for their innovation. They established their theme among street, portrait, landscape, fashion, photojournalism and other genres of photography. Their time was then spent on mastering the dynamic expression of that theme and education was spent on learning how to develop more visual tension as an expression of their work.
Now, there’s no way to be a photographer and not embrace technology. Photographers are constantly having to start over in order to get the same results. Film that one may have used for years is suddenly discontinued. Your favorite paper isn’t made anymore, or, after years of getting just the right prints, the paper company changes the color one degree. The constant change of technology and manufacturing has made photographers realize that whether they like it or not, they must be open to change.
Digital technology afforded another large technological leap for photographers as many had to choose between traditional film and digital. The globalization of the Internet had us consider a technology upgrade that encouraged many to build websites and mass email photo galleries with our web link. We’re now looking at another large technological leap with the extensive reach of the new social media tools such as blogs, digital newsletters, website widgets,Facebook and Twitter. FotoFest, with it’s commitment to both the photographic arts AND education, recognized this changing technological trend and invited Brian Storm of MediaStorm, a New York City based multimedia production company, to put on a full day workshop on multimedia storytelling which took place Saturday March 22, 2010.
“How do you tell stories with images” and then “how do you drive consumers to view your work” were the two underlying questions of this fast-paced and never boring presentation-style workshop. Storm’s answer is to create complex multimedia projects using the documentary photograph as the root. By creating multimedia projects using video or audio and still photos, you can create a multiple platform publication involving television, web, dvd, exhibits and even books that then allow you to use all aspects of social media to promote your work. According to Storm, “the revolution is not in the storytelling, it’s in the distribution and resolution.”
Using several multimedia presentations created by MediaStorm, Storm spent the morning dissecting the development of each piece and showing how MediaStorm created “franchise packages” to uniquely market their projects. These higher-level marketing platforms encompass multiple formats that allow you to distinguish your work and have it stand out among the crowd. In “Ivory Wars”, MediaStorm has drill-down links to such details as photo galleries, Google Earth maps, a “How to Help” link and other facts. Other web videos produced by MediaStorm feature timelines, profiles of key interviews, maps and other resources. These collateral details allow viewers to become more engaged in and learn more from your story as well as provide links that can help you monetize your site. On “Intended Consequences”, one of Storms newest and most passionate pieces, there are links to buy the DVD, Buy the Book, Purchase the Podcast, as well as links to organizations involved in improving the lives of the mothers and children in Rwanda portrayed in this documentary, where you can learn more or make a donation if you’re so inclined. There are also links to post on social media platforms as well as “email to a friend.” The goal here is to get as much cross-platform display and forwarding of your media as possible.
These presentation pieces were compelling examples of the power of multi-platform video projects. It was easy to see how this franchise strategy could pump steroids into the average photographer’s website. Of course the topic of cost came up and the budget for the average MediaStorm’s project is beyond the possibility of most photographers so the remaining afternoon was spent addressing basic knowledge and techniques to take on this technology oneself.
The afternoon session started with a conversation between Storm and Lisa Robinson, an American photographer who spent five winters photographing winter landscapes featuring everyday outdoor objects surrounded by snow. Robinson was approached by FotoFest founder Wendy Watriss to consider working with MediaStorm. Robinson shared how she initially didn’t see how she could cross over to what she saw MediaStorm doing but she was open to the possibility. On a trip to New York, she saw several examples of their work, including “1976”, a fast-paced and stylistic look at the neighborhoods and lifestyes of Cuba. She was afraid Storm would do something similar and “pop-art” her work. Storm told her, “we haven’t yet done what we’re proposing to do.” He was proposing a creative realm that would be discovered along the way. “Working in new media, for a photographer who was used to working in film, was not comfortable for me.” Said Robinson. “There were a lot of unknowns.” But she put her trust in MediaStorm and was thrilled with what they have done for her. The project is still under production and ultimately hopes to drive sales to her Snowbound book.
Storm’s basic premise in multimedia production is that “Audio is king.” By this he means that if you have good audio and bad photographs, you still have a movie. If you have bad audio and good photographs, there’s not much you can do to produce a video. He gave numerous tips, from the purchase of equipment to techniques for capturing sound as well as video, and recommended starting off with synchronizing audio to photographs until you feel comfortable venturing into video. He spoke of two styles of audio capture; the audio interview, recommending you interview anyone you would photograph, as well as the environmental portrait, which is an ‘on location’ audio shoot that creates ambient sound to add into your interview. The sizzle of a frying pan, the whistle of a train, the bark of a dog or the news report on the radio. These are all environmental sounds that need to be captured separately from your interview and then used as accents in your piece.
I really enjoyed the workshop. I was probably one of a small handful of attendees who works in video but I found myself taking away some new ideas as well as recognizing a lot of sage advice that’s always a good idea to review. I was also inspired to order a new audio recorder to take on my upcoming trip to China. I’m planning on stretching the envelope on my usual tourist photos I place online by adding in some audio. We’ll see what I can produce.
Click on the above images to expand with captions Lisa M. Robinson Snowbound
MultiMedia Storytelling Workshop at Fotofest reaches Technological Heights with Brian Storm By Stefani Twyford
Stefani Twyford is the President and Founder of Legacy Multimedia, a video production company whose mission is to help families, individuals, companies and organizations chronicle history, share life stories, connect generations and preserve their legacies in timeless, high-quality multimedia presentations. Using classic filmmaking techniques and the latest digital tools, Legacy Multimedia seamlessly weaves together vintage photos, old footage, and audio tracks with interviews, voice-over narrations, music, animations, and titles to craft a wonderful tapestry of images and sounds that share memories, impart wisdom, and mark history.
