Storytelling with Canon HDSLRs

Create and shoot a short documentary project under the guidance of an experienced visual journalist

 Brian KaufmanHere is an opportunity to move beyond one of the trappings of multimedia documentation! Dealing with still, video, and audio equipment in the field can be a cumbersome prospect—there are so many pieces of equipment to learn to navigate—but with the introduction of the Canon 5D Mark II, and more recently the Canon 7D, multimedia documentarians now have a tool that collapses multiple mediums into one. Students in this workshop work directly with journalists who have first-hand experience with Canon HDSLRs. Students learn the benefits and drawbacks of the camera through hands-on demonstrations, lectures and daily critiques. Additionally, instructors work directly with students to help them use the camera as a means to better tell documentary stories. As a goal over the course of the week, students find, create and shoot short documentary projects about the local community. Instructors also cover production workflow, file conversion and external audio source syncing issues. Gain the skills to put a great camera to affect!

Students should have a solid understanding of digital photography and Final Cut Pro workflow. A basic understanding of video principles is encouraged.

Testimonials:

"I love Maine Media. Teachers are fab. Food is too good!"
- Carrie Lamson, Washington, DC

"I feel I gained a years worth of experience in a single week"
- Jef Whitney, Robbinsville, NJ

"Brian is young, and perhaps not well known (That will change) I liked his bio and imagery, but more importantly seeing the examples of student work on the MMW web site made me realize he would be a good teacher. I was wrong, he was phenomenal!"

Workshop sponsored by:  

Instructors

Brian Kaufman

Brian Kaufman is a three time national Emmy award winning video journalist with the Detroit Free Press. His style of visual storytelling blends cinematography with traditional still photography and is an intimate reflection of the subjects that he works with. As a one-man-band or working in small teams, Brian’s work spans a broad range, from quick-turn daily assignments to long term projects on social and environmental issues. The Society of Professional Journalists in Detroit named him the 2009 Young Journalist of the Year and his work as a photographer and editor has been recognized by a number of other organizations.

After receiving a Visual Journalism degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, Calif., Brian accepted a job at the Naples Daily News in Florida, where he helped launch the first newspaper-based television newscast in the country. In 2007 Brian joined the Detroit Free Press, where he has been instrumental in facilitating the education of video journalism to other newspaper photographers and reporters.

Brian’s personal work includes nature and wildlife cinematography and adventure travel. From climbing mountain peaks in the Sierra Nevada to exploring Detroit’s many abandon buildings, the Canon 5D Mark II has become his camera of choice. Brian’s future goals include directing feature length documentary films.