PhotoJournalism "Multis" and Convergence Media with Bill Frakes

Bill Frakes, 25-yr Sports Illustrated photographer, and his partner Laura Heald, spoke to nearly 400 people at Creighton University on Friday, February 20, 2009. The event was sponsored by Apple Computers and hosted students of both high school and colleigate levels, as well as teachers from area schools. Frakes and Heald walked us through their workflow as they create multimedia pieces (combining video, audio, and still images) for Sports llustrated.com and Sports Illustrated for Kids.com Using Apple Professional Applications (Final Cut Pro, Aperature, Soundtrack Pro, etc.) the two-person team inspired the audience of learners by showing finished pieces as well as a piece-in-progress: The Nebraska State Wrestling Tournament. Bill finished the 2 1/2 hour session with a slideshow collection of his favorite Sports Illustrated images over the years and left everyone feeling empowered and motivated to continue use technology to capture the stories around us and share them with the world.

Some of the most interesting and important things that I heard Bill and Laura talk about included:

• The most important quality of a photojournalist is the ability to fall in love with subject - be able to talk to people.
• Everything you do brings exactly to where you are- It is a growth process. (Sometimes he
  will go through four days of shooting and production only to throw it all out and focus on a different story.)
• Failure is always an important part of the growth process.
• COLLECT INFORMATION!! - no matter how you collect it. Vaccuum cleaner everything-- get all the info you can!
• For the most part still photography gives more power than video, in his opinion.
• The heart, mind, eye, and soul will always be more important than the black box (camera or other technology tools).
• "YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LOOK FOR THINGS!"
  (Growing up in Scottsbluff, NE not a lot of things are going on. But you can find a story anywhere-- if you just learn how to look for it.)
• Another piece of advice.. "Take what you have and do the best you can do with it." (His mom's popcorn cake story)

And finally, the most memorable quote of the evening for me was, "It's not about the HOW, it's about the WHY." I think we can all take this advice and apply it to whatever area of teaching and learning we are involved in... most especially in the realm of educational technology. Bill and Laura definitely showed us their talents, but also inspired the hidden talent in each one of us, as a photographer, videographer, interviewer, storyteller, composer, or whatever it may be. Each of us is equipped with the ability to create art just as powerful or more so as Bill and Laura's. We just have to find it and transform it into a product that we are proud of. With Apple's Pro Apps software suite this is easier than ever before. With Bill Frakes encouragement and advice, we all saw how "doable" Convergence Media and Photojournalism can be for each of us interested in trying.



Creightonian's front page story about the event entitled "Apple slices"