Mobile Journalism, iOgrapher and The BBC

 

iPhones and iPads are everywhere. That’s no secret. 

 

And the fascinating thing is, while the cameras on these devices are getting better and better (arguably rivaling the capabilities of some high end pro cameras), the apps to support capture, editing, effects and delivery are incredible. Not only are they powerful - live streaming from an iPad - but they’re inexpensive. Like, cheap.

 

Now, the iOgrapher for iPad and iPhone are taking things even further. With the ability to add lenses, shotgun mics, lighting; to mount to a tripod, monopod or glide cam; or by using its handles for steadier hand-held shooting, the iOgrapher turns your iOS device into a serious rig.

 

It’s this perfect storm of technological advancements that are creating entirely new categories of videographers. The iOS Filmmaker and Mobile Journalist!

 

We’re seeing the iOS filmmaking and journalism trend sweeping through schools and universities; we’re seeing high end car commercials shot entirely on iPhones, and we’re seeing global broadcasting companies joining this remarkable trend as well.

 

So naturally we were thrilled when Conor McNamara of the BBC reached out to us to share his plans, and talk to us about incorporating the iOgrapher into his pipeline.

 

Conor McNamara is a Football (soccer) Commentator for the BBC and was on site in Brazil this past summer reporting on the World Cup.  He shared with us his experience capturing The World Cup for the BBC and provides some tips for broadcasters and journalists for making the most of an iOS shoot.

 

“The term ‘multiplatform jounalism’ has been around for quite a while now, at The BBC we don’t go to events thinking about just collecting material for one medium. In the past people worked ‘just for TV”, ‘just for radio’ or ‘just wrote for online’- Nowadays individual reporters are encouraged to combine these roles and take maximum advantage of being on location where stories are breaking.

 

Primarily I work for radio, but since being introduced to the iOgrapher by a BBC colleague I’ve begun filing video shot on iOS which has been regularly used on BBC TV.

 

The key for me, is that iPads/iPhones/microphones and cables are kit that I will already be bringing to an event anyway. By adding a tripod, iOgrapher and lens – suddenly I‘ve got the capability of turning what originally was due to be a radio interview into a TV interview.

 

 

The BBC has been experimenting with iOS video for some time now; capturing content on the fly, man-on-the-street style with the idea that we’d push these videos through our social media channels to help promote our programming. We also thought this would be a creative addition to our coverage of the 2014 World Cup. It’s a great idea, but shooting video on an iPad or iPhone can be challenging. When we heard about the iOgrapher for iPhone 5s and iPad, we realized we could in fact incorporate our iOS videos into our larger production pipeline. With its mounts for lenses, sound and lighting, suddenly we had highly portable, fully functional camera rigs that enabled us to get right into the action and capture great footage for our programming.

 

Rather than simply providing video clips for social media or websites, the possibilities began to grow. PTC’s (Piece To Cameras) I shot outside the stadium before games using an iPad ended up being used regularly during the World Cup on BBC’s 24-hour rolling news channel. Back at the studio our producers would ‘paint’ other footage over my reports. What was originally just footage of me standing holding a camera with the backdrop of a stadium, now became a full package.

 

There is huge potential for growth in this area and TV producers are becoming more an more willing to embrace footage shot on mobile devices.

 

 

My main piece of advice is to keep it simple. A well-lit, properly framed, ‘locked-off’ shot will look convincing as TV-standard. Mobile video journalists who try to get too fancy with panning shots and changing focuses end up with something akin to a bad amateur wedding video. But get the sun in the right place, get your sound right and the current standard of mobile device is capable of getting your footage onto network TV.”