Comments on: Overwhelmed

By: m

Fri, 18 May 2007 06:07:40 +0000

relax.

take a deep breath.

and remember…

whether you call yourself a visual journalist, documentary photographer, multimedia artist, audio gatherer, scribbler, etc…

you’ve always got the same goal… telling stories.

and the most important thing to know about that is to choose quality over quantity.

learn to tell stories well, regardless of medium, and you’ll be fine.

By: Invisible Inkling » Inspiration overload

Invisible Inkling » Inspiration overload — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:04:45 +0000

[...] overload out there, folks, and for those of us still early on that adoption curve, it can be pretty overwhelming, as Daniel said, to look at the great work getting produced at places like the New York Times, the [...]

By: Ryan Sholin

Ryan Sholin — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:56:33 +0000

That’s like one of those programming-soup language job postings that calls for the candidate to know XHTML, CSS, PHP, JS, XML, ASP.NET, DHTML, AJAX, SQL, PERL, BASIC and FORTRAN. Nobody is really an expert in all of those things, but it probably helps to know what they all do, and be an expert in one, and pretty good at another.

For the AP gig, I’d expect photo/audio/video editing and Flash to be the most important skills. Everything else sounds secondary.

By: Daniel Sato

Daniel Sato — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:53:28 +0000

Of course you all are right. I do want to be out photographing. In case someone might be interested in jumping into multimedia production full force, a recent AP job posting for a multimedia sports producer called for the following skills; expert Flash ActionScript skills, high level of proficiency editing photos, video and audio, extensive experience with HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Illustrator and FreeHand, and it is preferred to have experience with ArcView and XML.

By: Shaminder Dulai

Shaminder Dulai — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 10:28:15 +0000

I think if we both start rowing at the same time we’ll stop going in circles.

By: Mzungu54

Mzungu54 — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 05:16:54 +0000

I think I said this B4, just pick one, and be really good at it. So it can get U in the door, and have something to fall back up on. I don’t think they going to expect you to do Flash, Studio, Podcast …and all that shit in most media outlets. Ask you the question….Do you wand to sit in front of the computer all day creating SWF files or going outside to get content? Working with Flash is not that different than being InDesign driver…

Do thanks for the links!! Keep posting them, It’s very usefull. I do think I am going to pick up a Olympus WS-300M to catch some sound from the circus. I rather be backstage with the carnies, than in the office coding, and tweaking, and all that shit.

By: Ryan Sholin

Ryan Sholin — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 14:51:04 +0000

Don’t worry about code; worry about content. Build your audio & video skills. Flash comes later, if at all — there are plenty of ways to use Soundslides and little pre-fabbed pieces of Flash to deliver content. Concentrate on creating it.

That’s your job as a photojournalist – or a multimedia shooter, right? Just the fact that you can edit in Soundslides, iMovie, and Audacity (or Garage Band, or whatever) puts your portfolio near the top of the pile. Everything else is gravy.

By: Mindy McAdams

Mindy McAdams — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:52:36 +0000

Do what you love — it’s such a cliche, but really, that is Rule No. 1.

Then I think Rule No. 2 must be — expand on that. You have a main course, but you need to produce a full dinner. So choose the accompaniments that best complement that thing you love to do.

For photo, today, surely the way to expand is audio first. Then Soundslides. Then video.

For design, expand first by learning Web standards (CSS and best practices). Then Flash.

By: sato.photo

sato.photo — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 06:50:58 +0000

I think maybe my problem is that I am not 100% sure what I want to end up doing, I am drawn to too many things. I know I want to be a photographer, but I also love what Richard Koci Hernandez, Ryan Sholin, Brandon Garcia and other multimedia producers/online editors do. I want to learn it all! Also, it seems that everyone is preaching multiple skill sets. You are correct though, I won’t get anywhere learning a little bit of a lot. Flash here I come! … or maybe lighting … or video …

By: David Hobby

David Hobby — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 06:14:47 +0000

Don’t try to learn everything. Pick an area – subject, gear, technique, fell, whatever – and dig deep as you explore and grow. Then expand your boundaries in measured steps. You’ll do fine.