WPOW’s Mentorship Committee joins the Corcoran for an evening of programming at the Corcoran on Friday, September 9th.
A variation of Mentorship’s Ten Tips Tuesday events will begin at 5:30 p.m. featuring Jamie Rose and Chris Anderson of Momenta Workshops. The duo will offer tips on the topic of “Skills in the Field: Visual Journalists on Best Practices for Working in International Settings.” Attendees will also learn more about WPOW and how to apply for the next six-month session of its Mentorship Committee.
At 7 p.m. the Corcoran will host a lecture called “Grace Before Dying: Connecting Communities Inside and Outside Prison Walls,” by photographer Lori Waselchuk on her photographic documentary that will be on exhibit. A book signing and reception will follow Waselchuk’s talk.
The event is free but atteendess must pre-register.
“John Harrington’s, “Photographs From the Edge,” is a real “how to” book that gives aspiring shooters insight into the real world of assignment photography. Harrington has done it again when it comes to describing his innovative approach to his profession, and his ability to share it with the world.”
David Hume Kennerly, Pulitzer Prize Winner
“John shows you the world of Washington DC photography behind the pomp and power posturing. If you want to learn how to do it right, then this is the book for you.”
Cameron Davidson, award-winning photographer
When John Harrington goes on assignment, you go with him. It’s more than just loading your memory cards and batteries. It’s figuring out where you need to be and how to get there. John is a Pro at business, and now with his new book, shares some of his hard won secrets of how to make your clients as happy with your pictures are you are.
David Burnett, award-winning photojournalist and co-founder, Contact Press Images
“With this book, John does not attempt to glorify or sugar coat what it is REALLY like to be a news photographer. This leads to a much more introspective and interesting look into the behind the scenes world that most will never get to experience. I can see this book appealing to both photographers as well as every day people who are interested in the details of what happens BEHIND the camera – not just in front of it.”
Vincent Laforet, Pulitzer Prize Winner & frmr New York Times Staff Photographer.
So we had a student with Momenta who is totally new to multimedia and just bought an Edirol R-09 with no idea how to use it. I sent him these tips on how to use Audacity and Soundslides which is the best budget friendly option for exploring multimedia before making the investment into Final Cut. This of course is more for hobbyists and not something that pros use, I realize. However, I figured I’d share the tips here too. Enjoy! – Jamie
Audacity, Soundslides & Multimedia Basics
Soundslides and Audacity, as I said during the workshop, are really dumb simple easy and very intuitive. They are the baby steps to getting familiar with these concepts before graduating to Final Cut. But I believe you have to learn to crawl before you walk and these two programs help you do that.
First, you’ll need the programs. Second, you’ll need to download your audio and hopefully have it logged and ready to go based on our Audio Tips in the Momenta Student Handbook. Sit down at your computer with an audio track (interview, music, doesn’t matter) of approximately 1-2 minutes long. Have a folder of images (20 total) ready to go as well in jpeg format. Now let’s get started….
First, let’s start with basic multimedia understanding.
As you start working in multimedia, you need to switch your brain around from just being visual to starting to see and hear in the field. You also need to start thinking like a producer. Think NPR meets MediaStorm. So let’s take a look at some sites that will help with that:
Those are fine but rather bookish and less “hands on” for my taste. However, there are also these good video series which will help you gain a great understanding of the basic of audio manipulation. The audible marketing is primarily for podcasters but I think this will be good for you since you’re mainly working with audio interviews and not doing musical tracks manipulation as such. However, I including mixing audio tracks in these links just for the hell of it for you.
Now that you’ve started to understand audio manipulation and have a manipulated, renamed audio track, let’s move onto Soundslides Tutorials.
You’ve got the images, you’ve got the audio track ready to go and saved as an MP3. Let’s start a slideshow with audio in Soundslides. These two should help you figure out how to do this very easily and quickly. Like I said: it’s totally intuitive and really simple:
Now you’re set! You can upload a slideshow to the internet, send it friends, put it on your blog or just simply show your friends and family. There’s lots of other tutorials but these are pretty much all you should need to get started and go out and create more of the same!
Finally, educational opportunities you can explore to make yourself an expert with this technology and start to explore Final Cut Pro:
One way to truly emerse yourself in much more advanced storytelling with multimedia is to attend the NPPA convergence event where the best of the best teach audio and multimedia. This is a great way to find and network with multimedia professionals and also to get in touch with people who publish and produce good work. If you’ve followed these tutorials and started trying this out yourself by the time Convergence rolls around, you’ll be a perfect student for their workshops. Just something to think about for the future….
As a few of you know, Kristi Sherk has been my retoucher of choice for corporate, advertising and some nonprofit clients for the last two years. From wedding color toning to normal post production to making a CEO’s puffy eyes disappear for an annual report, she can do it! When a client wanted a tee shirt on a kid who clearly didn’t have one, she did a great job. See the results at:
Her blog is also a really great way to learn how to do basic to advance Photoshop. I highly recommend her services!
I just stumbled upon this website and it’s a great way for a photographer to make an impact, promote good works and get the Photo Love (as Mark Dolan would say) spread around the world:
In honor of the great spending stimulus plans, Momenta has lowered the price of the wedding business skills workshop for this June 4-7, 2009.
You can find all the information for this workshop including a registration button listed at http://www.momentaworkshops.com/wed09.php The cost for four-day workshop includes:
- all meals provided by Momenta
- transportation to and from the wedding
- portfolio reviews and editing sessions on the very first night followed by a group dinner at a wonderful local restaurant
- slideshows and lectures on wedding photography dos-and-don’t from industry professionals
- handouts and materials related to starting your own business and remaining profitable not matter what economy you are in
- hands-on location and event lighting seminars
- business skills sessions for opening your own studio or shooting weddings as a side job
- a sit down session with the couples and your team
- an afternoon panel discussion about the state of the industry
- you will be covering a real, live wedding with a team and a professional mentor
- editing your work from the wedding frame-by-frame with your team
- how to craft a story of a wedding and the best presentation techniques out there
- seminars by wedding portfolio book companies
- special equipment for Nikon users will be available to field test
- a champagne slideshow event on the final afternoon with the couples and their families as we celebrate your successes
This workshop is really going to be like wedding photography boot camp but we hope everyone will leave with the materials in hand to make their wedding business a huge success. Email me at jamie@momentaworkshops.com for any questions or information about discount options.
WPOW’s Mentorship Committee joins the Corcoran for an evening of programming at the Corcoran on Friday, September 9th.
