Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter Sixteen Visual and Multimedia Storytelling 489 Interview Interview The best photographers talk to the people they are photographing. They ask them questions about what they are doing and why. This information may allow you to be in the right place at the right time. It also will help you write stronger captions. Get Close Get Close Get even closer. Where you are is more important than your equipment, your zoom lens or your boom microphone. Rookies try to shoot basketball from the bleachers! You need to be in the action to capture the action. That will only happen if you muster the courage to get as close as you can without getting yelled at. And if you do get yelled at, that is a sign you are in the right place. Back Up Back Up “OK, do I get close or do I step back?” Both. Darren Durlach, 2009 National Press Photographers Association photographer of the year, says that on every assignment he chants to himself “Tight, medium, wide, action, reaction, get the moment.” Photographers need • tight shots, or close up shots that reveal details • medium shots, or standard distance shots that duplicate how most people see the world most of the time • wide shots that capture a complete scene and give a sense of the scope or scale of a location • action shots that focus on what is happening and • reaction shots that show the emotions of those at the scene and convey its impact. Take a look at Los Angeles Times photographer Marcus Yam’s set of photographs for a story about the crew of the Coast Guard boat Blackfi n, who search the coastal waters for smugglers (Figure 16.2 on the next page). The story follows the crew through a two-day excursion. Each photo tells a different part of the story. The wide shots give the viewer context and help to set the scene, while the tight shots bring the viewer close, turning the crew into individual characters and highlighting the feeling of anticipation. Together, the photos allow the reader to ride along with the crew, giving them access that they would not otherwise have. With a clear idea of where you need to be, you are ready for the basics of photo composition and editing. 1. You are planning to shoot photographs backstage during a drama performance. What shots could you plan? Develop a shot list of wide, medium, tight, action and reaction shots you might get during the performance. 2. Going Deeper. What kind of research would help you to prepare for this shoot? Who should you speak with in advance? Your Turn 1 Y