Videography
While running the political news Web site PolitickerME.com, I started experimenting with the video function on my Canon SD 1100 point and shoot camera. I got positive feedback from the initial footage I posted, so I continued, improving my techniques as I went along. My YouTube channel became very popular. Where possible I used a tabletop tripod to mitigate the shakiness.
Here are situations where I frequently used video:
- To get short reactions from political figures to speeches and significant events.
- To tape segments of speeches, providing viewers with more raw footage then they would see on the local news.
- To show color from rallies or major events
- To do short video interviews
- I also used audio overlapping a slideshow from time to time.
See below for examples of my work. All videos were taken with a provided Canon SD 1100 point and shoot and edited with Windows Movie Maker.
Interview with Barack Obama
02/09/08: Of all the Maine media, I was selected for a short four-minute interview with Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama after his rally in Bangor.
Maine Democratic Caucuses
02/10/08: Ward 2 voters in Augusta decide between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama during the Democratic caucuses.
Tagg Romney at Simones'
02/01/08: Tagg Romney, son of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, visited a Lewiston landmark, Simones' Hot Dog Stand. Here, owner Jim Simones talks about the various visitors who have signed his guest book.
Lawmakers Respond to the State Budget
03/31/08: I got reactions from Maine lawmakers on the state budget passed by the Legislature, and put them together in two videos. I had 'live-blogged' throughout the night and here both parties express regret that the budget passed without Republican support. This is a format I frequently used in these situations because it was quick and easy to do, and often it was very popular.
Barack Obama Rally
05/31/08: Supporters of Barack Obama, who was running for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, rally at the Maine Democratic Convention.
Dean Scontras' Reagan Moment
05/02/08: Chaos broke out at the Maine Republican convention when party officials cut off the microphone of Dean Scontras, who was running for the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District. PolitickerME.com dubbed this his "Reagan moment" because the situation was similar to when then-Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan had his microphone shut off during a 1980 debate in Nashua, N.H. Scontras frequently compared himself to Reagan.
Man Thrown Out of GOP Convention
05/02/08: I always had my camera on hand so when unexpected bits like this came about, I could quickly add some color. Here, a man who was out of order on the floor of the Maine Republican Convention is thrown out.
