Majic iMaginateers plan a return to the Magnetic airways

Geography students explore raku pottery, Caddo Magnet HS, a photo by trudeau on Flickr.

VJ students are excited about bringing back regular Magnet broadcasts of news and comedy.

The channel one monitors are still available in many - not all - classrooms.

The VJ group is talented and handsome.

The material is waiting for us. It is simply a matter of doing it. And doing it again. And again.

Blue cheese burgers in a time lapse video

Time lapse video is a technique that I've used only a few times. But there's something appealing about the jumpy takes. Here's my best effort, shot in 2010: http://youtu.be/5Yj2KnZwgK8 I parked the camera on the hood of a car in the driveway and connected a Macbook to the camera. The Mac and simple software enabled me to get a steady series of shots. But you don't need a computer to make a time lapse video. Just click and move things. Click again. The real key is a tripod or other stable mounting spot. If the camera does not move, the effect is maximized. Try making your own. You'll notice this one was only 40 seconds long. Plenty of time to be effective.

A model for VJM: simple, brief Xmas @ Magnet musical snippet

Xmas @ Magnet Shreveport / Jay Williams, conductor a video by trudeau on Flickr.

Sitting right under the choir's noses made the most of the low light and it enhanced the audio signal.

If there had been a tripod the video would have been better. The small pan was correctly slow but could have been steadier.

Lessons:
1. Get close.
2. Steady your camera.
3. Move the camera as Little As Possible. Let the movement come from your subject(s). In this case, from their faces.
4. Good audio is the key to success in most of the videos you shoot.
5. Effective audio is not easy.

Intro to VJM, Video Journalism Magnet

The goal of Video Journalism Magnet is to guide and stimulate students, parents and teachers at Caddo Magnet HS, Shreveport, in video documentation. Teacher and videographer Robert Trudeau has made over 100 brief video documentaries, including one, "Second Line / How to . . ." that has earned some 142, 000 views on youtube. Please see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpwlPh0k40U&list=TLBSE3BzbPYv8. The goal of the small team in video journalism class is to make videos about the many sweet things that take place at Magnet HS. A concomitant goal is to establish a youtube channel that will carry a stream of Magnet news. The team will also immerse itself in a study of journalism. Trudeau believes strongly that an enhanced understanding of the role of journalists in the social and governmental structure of America is important. New media will also be part of the class study. Online streaming of events is one "new media" improvement that Magnet needs to establish.