IDEAS & SUGGESTIONS (For an Audio Visual)

By JOHN RUFFELL. LRPS APAGB FRSA

So often you find that "it has all been done before", BUT not by YOU: and your interpretation could be unique. You may be able to think of a new angle of approach.

An important point is to make sure that the subject matter interests you, and that it gets more interesting as you work on it. You cannot convey your interest to the audience unless you are really interested in it yourself, and it must hold the interest of your audience to be successful. there should also be an emotional feeling to your sequence which can be conveyed through the way the subject matter is presented. If you think of memorable films, TV programmes, books etc., they will usually have affected you emotionally in some way.

In recent times Documentaries have been almost overwhelming in the number and intensity in the A/V world. It is difficult to get away from them! When you look at the scope of A/V subject matter, which is similar to films, TV and articles etc., a list seems to indicate that many are a form of documentary:-

Educational - Advertising - Social Comment - Historical - Travelogues etc., Then there are: Verse & Poetry - Humour - Musical Interpretation - Dream Fantasy - Fiction - Novelties etc.

However, a documentary can be disguised instead of being presented straight, and can be entertaining and interesting.

A recent very successful one in such mold dealt with the life of Brunel. One such as this holds the attention both visually and aurally throughout but perhaps it is rather skittish for some.

It is important to make a note of everything which comes to mind, and build onto it later. Personal experience such as moving house, changing jobs, hobbies, humorous situations etc., might all spark ideas and be woven into a sequence at a later date. Listening to radio and TV can set off a chain of ideas not directly related to what you see. For example interviewees statements may interest you, anger you, or make you laugh. Some of these might be developed into a theme, - the emotions have already been sparked off. Of course, what appears to be a good idea at the time, may on further examination prove to be a blind alley, but it is only by exploring the possibilities that a sequence may come from it. Sometimes the harder it seems initially to proceed, by overcoming the obstacles, more satisfaction will eventually be the result.

To explore other possibilities of arousing ideas what about picking up such things as the yellow pages. Look at all the trades available and either investigate a few or develop a story or collection around them. For example: Behind the scenes at.... Any sort of Directory or Index will do! Anything to spark off ideas.

What about eye-catching titles in Newspapers & Magazines, they might well set off ideas, for example: Hunting, Haunted Houses, Fortunate Accidents, Pilfering, Pub Signs, Tragic Trifles etc.

Try taking a blank sheet of A4. Write a topic in the centre. Anything: a title or a subject and associations which come to mind from the topics as they pour to you however rediculous they may seem at first. Keep jotting words and phrases and gradually build up sets which should develop as you go along. various themes should then appear that you can choose to follow or disregard. Go on have a doodle! - A thesaurus might help too!

Another idea: get a General Photography Book. Turn the pages and jot down ideas come to mind, and then expand the ones that interest you For example:-

Shop Windows - Still Life - Seaside - Roofs & Skylines - A Day on the River, at Gravesend, a Zoo, a garden, Historic House, A street during a week, a month or a year, or similar views from a window. Interpret a Poem, Record a market Day, A Day in the Life of... Characters - Patterns in Nature - Early one Morning - Abstracts - Windows & Doors - Shadows & Silhouettes - Take one tree over 12 months - Craftsmen at Work - All Cats All Dogs - Group Activities - Patterns in Buildings - camera Angles - Using Light etc. etc. These should give you something to be going on with.

1. Remember to think in a series of pictures for two projector presentation.
2. Use Composition to flow creatively and smoothly. E.G. Proportion, Line, Shape, Form, Size, Colour.
3. Avoid having images in centre of frame, and keep sequential images moving in the same direction.
4. Build up a series of pictures like blocks to unfold an idea or story. There should be progress through the pictures or the story line will not go anywhere. Develop one idea at a time.
5. take several pictures of any one subject: e.g.: matching-pairs from different angles or in a different way so that progression of picture subject matter will be possible later by:-
(a) Change focus of two objects in picture space.
(b) Change of progression of a dawn from sunrise to full daylight, but retaining consistency in colour, mood and proportion.
(c) A person can be photographed several times to register change of expression, stance etc, to indicate progression.
(d) Use a zoom lens at different settings on the same scene.

6. variety in camera angles helps towards preventing audience nodding off. Keep visual interest going.

7. use dark areas to `bring through` lighter images on another slide. remember bright colours leap forward on projection.

8. Photograph horizontally constantly and with intention of making use of the full frame, except for special effects such as split frame technique for progressive disclosure.