“Tripod vs. No Tripod” and other “rules” of Video to Ignore

Media gadfly Michael Rosenblum has some curious thoughts on the use of tripods in producing “newspaper video”.

Apparently there is a Yahoo group devoted very specifically to “newspaper video”.

A discussion/self-help/twelve-step group for recovering newspaper photojournalists working with video. This is aimed toward newspaper staff shooters who are expanding their repertoire to include multimedia. Video, audio and slide shows are fair game. It’s all about content.

It’s a walled garden that doesn’t even allow outsiders to SEE the discussion, much less get involved and contribute. If i were a betting man, I’d wager that this group was set up by Mr. Rosenblum to advance the notion that “newspaper video” is somehow different than other types of video journalism on the web. (see comment from Rosenblum himself below) I find this type of monotheism less than useful. But that’s just me, I’m influenced by a lot of different types of creativity. It’s video on the net for Pete’s sake. Last time I picked up the fishwrap it didn’t play video.

I have tremendous respect for still photographers, whether they shoot for newspapers, magazines or wire services. I’ve traveled with the likes of Dirck Halstead on White House trips, where Dirck was a bit of a nusciance to the TV crews, as he unsteadily and mercilessly clomped around on the camera risers, making the TV shots shake despite TRIPODS.

The current White House administration has solved the “Halstead effect” by pouring a concrete riser for the pool TV head-on camera at nearly every road event.. NO JOKE!..this courtesy of former NBC News cameraman turned White House staffer Bobby DeServi. I now work with immensely talented “stills” like Khue Bui, Chris Usher, Larry Downing, Scott Applewhite, Kevin LaMarque, Tim Sloan…I could go on. For all of them I have much love and respect. (until they pop up in my shot and I instruct my soundman to strike them back down with his boom pole like whack-a-moles)

We’re all media makers and all have valuable contributions to make, and voices that should be heard. Whether we’re shooting for the web, big-box TV, or “newspaper video”, we should be tearing down walls not building new ones. So I’m often suspect of monotheistic approaches and “rules” handed down from on high. I’m equally suspect of TV cameramen who insist on ALWAYS using tripods, or videobloggers who show disdain for anything but small cameras. Just tell me a story! Don’t get caught up on dogma. For interesting, well rounded ideas on creating “newspaper video”, I’d look at Angela Grant’s blog. She’s driving some interesting conversation in that space and is open to a wide range of ideas, while maintaining strong ones of her own.

For me, a “debate” on whether to use tripods or not, is specious right out of the gate. Video, television and film throw far more data at a viewer than a single frame. It’s vital that signal cut through noise. Bad audio or shaky images create noise and tripods are tools that can sometimes be used to reduce noise. Smart people know when to use the right tools.