After writing so much Thursday about the merits of narration, I wanted to share what I believe is an excellent natural-sound video.
I first saw the spot news video C’mon Son by photojournalist Darren Durlach (WBFF/Baltimore, MD) while judging this year’s NPPA Best of TV Photojournalism Awards. This natural sound story won first place in the “Spot News” category, and Durlach went on to win Photojournalist of the Year. On the last day of judging, all five judges were allowed to independently give a “Judge’s Choice” mention to any winning or non-winning video, and I chose Durlach’s piece specifically with web video journalists in mind.
At this point in time, web video journalists are most often still photographers who have picked up video cameras by choice or by assignment and are learning on the job. Most are one-man-bands functioning as both reporter and photographer, and like my mentee Oscar Durand, many flinch at the thought of narration, but struggle to tell a complete, well-paced story using only natural sound.
Durlach’s video is sound evidence (pun intended) that a nat-sound piece can tell a complete story, if the video journalist looks, listens and knows their equipment and craft well enough.
While you’re watching pay attention to the story structure. Listen for both facts and emotion, and consider these questions:
- Do you know what is happening?
- Do you know where it’s happening?
- Do you know who it’s happening to?
- How many of those facts are conveyed visually?
- How many facts are voiced out loud?
- What keeps you watching this video from beginning to end?
- What moments/people do you remember when the piece is over?
- Do you have an emotional response to the story (laughter, tears, anger, etc.)?
Click to play: C’mon Son
This scenario wasn’t that special. It could happen in any market of any size on any given day. The photographer didn’t have an exceptional amount of time to produce this. It was a spot news entry, meaning it was shot, edited and broadcast within 24 hours. It very easily could have been a VO or VO-SOT (voiceover or voiceover with one soundbite) with a few eye-level shots and a clip from the officer on scene, but instead, it was a story.
For me, the key elements are simply:
- Facts and emotion
- Action and reaction
- Memorable characters (They’re brief and nameless, but still memorable.)
- Smart pacing and editing
If you can add these elements to any video, you’ll have a good story, narration or au naturel.
For more winning clips from the NPPA Best of Photojournalism contests visit the NPPA’s contest page or Poynter.org. Also, here’s an interview on YouTube with Durlach discussing his approach to spot news:
