Derrick Story

Derrick Story from O'Reilly has added Top Ten Digital Video Tips to his earlier Digital Photo Tips. He's talking about this right now at the Digital Storytellling Festival, which has WiFi everywhere.

The rhetoric of digital storytelling is so emphatically "everyone can do this" that it's hard to sustain a discussion about "how do we do this well?" He says, pointedly, "It's a data input device. Get better input, you've got more to work with"

Big rule: Have your camera with you. Digital stories happen everywhere. Also: Shoot at your highest resolution. Take your time. Get closer. No, even closer; the macro setting is your friend. Change your angle. Avoid backlighting. Use your flash outdoors as a fill flash; turn it off indoors. Try an IR filter. (!)

Interesting lesson: Story spent some time watching bad photographers -- casual tourists -- and seeing exactly what they do. It makes for a funny talk, but it's also a great way to see your own bad habits in a new light.