On a Weekend Getaway...Journalism Follows.

Wherever I go this summer, especially, journalism seems to slip up on me, no matter where I hide. I decided to venture down to Charleston for a weekend to see the beautiful, southern charm of a town while a college friend traveled there for a photography convention. Not just any convention, the National Press Photography Association's Awards convention. Patrick somehow led me to believe it was something lesser of value. Oh I figured out in no time, I was in for a treat. I didn't think much about the convention. I thought I'd sight see and show around then meet up with him whenever he wasn't occupied. Turns out, you can't escape the journalism world, especially during this lesson-filled summer I'm experiencing.


Still photographers weren't the only ones invited and recognized at this event. Videographers too were amongst the ranks. Patrick told me to bring some of my video work and have those professionals take a look. I arrived at 8:30 and sure enough, not a minute later, the critiquing began.


I sat down with two videographers: one from Des Moines, IA and the other from Wichita, KS. They both had some great suggestions and tips to strengthen and improve my video. One big shooting tip I remembered the most is to think about the flow of your shots: when you're about to shoot something think about what you want before and after that shot. It's got to be a continuous flow, so thinking about the big picture is key.


We went through my videos and picked on one story I did where I had this sticky situation about shooting still objects. That was the theatre story three weeks after it burn down. Mary, from Wichita, said the best thing you can do as a videographer is to find a way to shoot something 25 different ways.


"That was the most difficult thing to do...I had to shoot a park bench 25 ways," Mary told me.


"Shoot the donut and the donut hole...get creative," the Des Moines photographer explained.


They both talked about wanting to see the specks of te fire on the stage; we've got to see the tiny details. Try a wide shot from different angles: through the trees, from the parking lot.


Turns out, making this trip would be more than just a shopping spree...a bit more rewarding you'd imagine.


After that evening's critique, Patrick and I headed out to see the town of adorable Charleston. It has such wonderful charm and quaintness that I couldn't possibly give it justice. There are numberous shops, cafes, restaurants, one more cool than the next. Boutiques block after block, a place my mother wouldn't dream possible.


Saturday morning rolled around and I decided to venture out in the daylight. There was a farmer's market set-up across the street...long story short, I walked around and spent two hours just browsing the town until I couldn't take the heat or the walking any longer.


After lunch with Patrick, I swung back over to the photography convention, only to realize I came just in time for the best lecture, (at least for me). Fox 45 in Baltimore's photographer, Darren Durlach, won numerous awards for his phemonenal videography. He had some fantastic editing, audio and video to display and tips to go with them. 

• Always have your ear open for the best audio; don't just shoot video.
• Get the mic up close and personal; get those nats!
• Think creavitely...go for the interesting angles: shadow, reflection, etc.

Those are just a few of the many notes I jotted down at his engaging lecture.

Later that night, everyone get primped and pretty for the awards banquet. I got to see some amazing photos and video. One's that captured the pure essence of life that drives me to be a better visual journalist. This kind of work makes me realize how much I love the field. No matter the small pay, I'm positive this career path I have begun is worth all the stress.

At the end of the banquet, we all went out, enjoying the quaint town of Charleston. Sitting there among brillant photographers, I felt lucky to be surrounded by such talented, fun-loving people who understand and love the crazy world of journalism.

I never expected to learn such a wealth of knowledge in one weekend, originally thinking it would be an escape from journalism. Like I always say...Journalism follows those who truly have their heart deep in the depths of the field.

Golf Hotspot Numbers Up to Par

Here in Myrtle Beach, golf isn't just a sport. It's a lifestyle. After a bitter, cold winter, Golf Holiday and Barefoot Resort and Golf say numbers are looking up as more golfers hit the course. Despite the hot summer weather, those golfers are still grabbing their clubs and hopping on their carts, mostly at those early morning tee times.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com

I was able to interview and shoot this video for the story. It was a fun story out on the golf course (Fazio Course) talking to golf experts about the tough winter season Myrtle Beach experienced. Golfers, of course, came down once the cold cleared out.
We went out on a golf cart and spoke with some vacationing golfers, who come down to Myrtle Beach every now and then. Some said they preferred to golf in the cooler hours, teeing off around 7:00 a.m. while others said they'd golf any time of day. By this time of the year, the temperatures, especially that day, are up in the mid to upper 90's. With humidity, it feels like 100's!! Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd even be golfing at all. It's already in the mid 80's by sunrise.

Photo Courtesy: Barefoot Golf

Nevertheless, shooting and interviewing on the green, was more fun than I ever expected.

"Isn't it great that one day we're out on a fire and the next we're at a golf course? I love this job," Jennifer said to me. "I know! I love it too!" I agreed.
This is exactly what I wanted from this internship. A path to pull the passion out of me. These kinds of experiences are just what I'm talking about.

My look live turned out really well. Jennifer said I had great energy and good references to my location. I had the golfers gearing up to go behind me. I used some nice video over my voice and then came back to me on camera with the course as the background. I did trip up on my words at the end, but recovered and decided it looked better than the other recordings. I'm very proud of my progress. Every new look live comes with improvement!

WMBF News' webstory

Here's the video!

Fuel Spill at Local Exxon Station

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control had to flush out a storm water drain after diesel fuel spilled at a Exxon Mobile station in Myrtle Beach on George Bishop Parkway, just off Highway 501.

Horry County Fire Rescue arrived on the scene a little after 5:30 that morning after the tanker's driver said the gas tank caught the curb as he tried to exit the gas station. The truck then began spilling fuel.

Photo Courtesy: thecarconnnection.com

Adam Myrick, spokesman for DHEC, believes the truck lost between 60-80 gallons of diesel from its saddle tank. Myrick said the saddle tank is the fuel tank that helps to power the cab of the truck.

The Exxon station was temporarily closed. It did re-open a few hours after DHEC cleaned-up the spill.

Here's WMBF News' webstory.

I think this was my best Look Live, yet. My writing was tight, I was composed and talked at a good pace. I used a little VO to cover up what I talked about. I'm very pleased with my progress. It also helped shooting this breaking news story after a fresh haircut. :)

Check out the video here!

Oil on Our Shores in SC?

Turns out, if any oil does come our beaches, it's not much to fret about. Even though the threat to oil on these coasts is still months away, state agencies aren't taking any chances.

"DHEC decided to be proactive and get some baseline samples to see what was out there," said Sean Torrens, environmental health manager for the Department of Health and Environmental Control. "[We're] basically looking for oil and references to oil in the water."

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com
Torrens said they took 10 samples up and down the coast, including here in Myrtle Beach near Spring Maid Pier.

"Everything came back at pretty much next to zero," Torrens said. "It was as low as you could read."
At Coastal Carolina's Center for Marine and Wetland Studies, they say they are also watching the spill closely.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com

"Finding oil in water is not always that unusual," Director Paul Gayes said. "Boats go by, there's other kinds of things that may put oil in it. A baseline is important to give you some kind of sense of what conditions normally are."

Gayes says it would take the oil getting into the Gulf Stream to bring it to South Carolina's coast, adding that the Gulf Stream is well off the Palmetto State's coast, 60-80 miles offshore. Areas like the tip of Florida and Cape Hatteras are not so removed.

We went live from the Spring Maid Pier spot and recorded a Look Live VO/SOT. I'm very pleased with using references as to why I'm where I am and my writing. I rushed my last phrase and my outcue a little too much. I'm working on slowing that down.

WMBF News' webstory

Oil on Our Shores Story Video

Come Home! The City's Got a Curfew!

Not so fast parents! Teenagers 17 and under in Myrtle Beach were required to get their butts inside between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. but right now, that is NOT the case.

After lawmakers ruled the city's helmet law unconstitutional, the teen curfew got put on the revisal schedule, too. It was included in the lawsuit because it was passed at the same time. Violations were considered infractions, but the Supreme Court says the curfew can only be enforced if violations are considered misdemeanors.

Until that law is altered, the curfew cannot be enforced, Myrtle Beach spokesperson Mark Kruea says, and making the change could mean harsher penalties.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com
"The maximum penalty for a misdemeanor is up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail," Kruea said. "So potentially it can be a stronger, much stronger penalty than a simple $100 fine. The administrative infraction carried no possibility of jail time."

The lapse in the curfew came just in time for senior week when recent high school graduates came to Myrtle Beach. While many graduates are 18 and would not be affected by the curfew, some of them and their friends are 17 or younger.

We talked to a few teenagers who were relieved to hear about the curfew lapse.

"I like it that it's beach week and there's not a curfew because you don't have to worry about being in trouble, I guess," said Amber Young, who just graduated from high school in Virginia said came to Myrtle Beach with her 17-year-old friend Lindsay Pickeral.

Brandon let me do most of the interviewing. I find it a little easier to talk to teenagers because I'm a little close in age, plus my sister is one. I'm used to dealing with that lovely age.

I was able to record a little look live. I didn't end up throwing on a sound bite or VO but I do think the energy I have in the look live is good. I also think I'm learning to speak slower and emphasize my phrases better, while not using my entire body or head to highlight certain words. I do have to agree with Greeley that these earrings are a bit distracting, especially in the field. I don't plan on wearing those again while reporting.

Teen Curfew Story Video

Low Voter Turnout in Palmetto State

Two weeks after the state's primaries, only Republican candidates made the ballot for the runoff in the great state of South Carolina. Having that said, less voters were even eligible to vote in the first place. Only Republicans and those who did not vote in the primaries could cast their decision in this runoff.

We stopped by a voting spot at Fire Station No. 5 in Myrtle Beach in Horry County and talked with voters. Many felt it was necessary to vote in the runoff because "it counts more than the primary", it's the decision maker for November's ballot.

One voter said it was much easier to vote on the runoff because there weren't nearly as many choices as the primary. The 1st Congressional District seat and Governor candidates in the Republican party appeared on the ballot. Republican Tim Scott took the races for the 1st Congressional District seat and female pheonmenon Nikki Haley, a Sarah Palin supported candidate, grabbed the Governor Republican spot.

Photo Courtesy: wmbfnews.com

When we came to the primary voting place at Fire Station No. 5 two weeks prior, voters lined up and piled in. It was quite the opposite for the runoff. Since Horry County residents come from different states, many voters don't seem to be dedicated to South Carolina politics yet.

Holly Tankersley, WMBF News' Political Analyst, said this runoff certainly had it's disadvantages.

"It's very difficult especially when we're talking a runoff in only one party," Tankersley explained. "You just really have to beat the bushes. Go out there, shake people's hands, tell them how important it is. "

Sandy Martin, the director of registration and elections for Horry County, echoed the fact that turnout does tend to drop for runoffs.

"People, they're all hyped up for the first one," she said. "Unfortunately, they need to be hyped up for the second one because this is going to be the deciding factor so we hope everyone will turn out again."

Jennifer gave me the opportunity to record at Look Live VO/SOT. I'm very pleased with my writing and enthusiasm. I still need to slow down in this one, but I was able to record going all the way through and I'm definitely getting better at just running through and talking, like a live shot. I want to be as best I can in this area, especially because I'll be reporting live once a week in the fall.

Voter Turnout Story Video