This is a story idea I generated on my own while talking to a source on a previous, unrelated story. I started asking around about it and found the "bandits" in charge of this monthly fruitful surprise at Friends University. I had a great time shooting the story overnight and then coming back the next morning to shoot video again, this time of students picking up their surprise breakfasts.
This began as a story idea I generated on my own. As soon as I heard about it, I immediately made plans to come in on my day off to shoot it. As you'll see in the story's action, I enjoy keeping up with the energy of any scene, even if it has me literally running to get ahead of it.
I'm always up for checking out a character in search of a great story. So when Megan told me she saw a dog riding on his owner's roof and that's how the animal often rides, we knew we needed to tell that story. We were delighted to find out the dog's owner was just as fascinating as physics at work on top of his truck's cab.
This is one of my favorite contributions to the Photographers' Focus, a series I instituted and lead, featuring videographer-driven stories. The assignment was to feature a locally-owned restaurant and tell a story. Having been a customer at this new restaurant, I knew there was a story to be told. When I began shooting, it was clear what that was--that starting a new business is difficult and the waiting is excruciating. I took that back to the station with me and used the video, interviews and sound to convey that feeling to viewers.
This story demonstrates how I continue to learn and expand upon my skill set, especially in the field. I'd never shot a story where I had to follow and shoot the action so quickly. I learned quickly how to identify the two shots I had time to shoot, get in my vehicle and plot the next place with enough light to shoot again. The result was a fluid story that showed viewers the amazing feat their community accomplished while the city slept.
This is one of my favorite examples of a time I turned an ordinary assignment into an extraordinary one. The assignment desk asked me to stop by Stadium Bakery in Andover on Velentine's Day to shoot about 30 seconds of video for the anchor to read over. When I arrived, I met some fascinating people who had a compelling story, so I took the initiative to shoot more. When I returned to the station, I put together this piece.
This piece demonstrates my willingness to take photographic risks. One basic rule in any newsroom is to use interviews from officials sparingly, if at all, but I decided to use the fire chief's entire interview. The story he told matched the video I shot, and the authority in his voice matched the gravity of the situation viewers saw unfold.
This story of an overnight fire demonstrates my leadership, both in the field and in the newsroom. When I arrived, I immediately saw a bigger story. The other stations' videographers didn't. They left once the chief gave the information, but I continued shooting and interviewing residents. Hours later, when the other stations were telling a story about a fire, we were telling a story about how the fire affected members of the community.
