Shoot away

Carries Luster answer questions about the heat and how her soon-to-be restaurant, Squash Blossom will help her draw in customers with ways to cope with the temperatures, including using a mister system and plenty of shade.

Different angles. New Perspectives. Tell the whole story.

"Photographers with a video camera,"said Brian Snyder, a production specialist at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Communication. Snyder brought up many valuable points in his discussion about videography in front of 30 high school journalism teachers today.

Snyder stressed the importance of arming student with the things they need and letting them go out and create.

"We just need to put the tools in their hands," said Snyder. "Letting them be creative is co critical."

He had some great examples and stories about the great things his student have done. Snyder said that he worked hard to get those resources and "tools", then let his students create and explore.

The point that impressed me was look at videography the same way you look at photography. Seems simple enough, but I never really looked at it that way. I'd never shot video before, but with that bit of advice it no longer intimidated me. I used my photojournalism skills to help in our assignment shooting a news story.

My group helped me a bunch, but it was good to get a out of my comfort. I think that's important for teachers that can get into a bad habit of always doing the same thing. Part of this institute is just that, doing things that are tough and we're not used to.

The project was difficult and frustrating at times, but during that process I had to keep telling myself to act like a photographer. Get different angles. Get new perspectives. Tell the story.

Chad Renning
Sandra Day O'Connor High School
Phoenix