Last week the idea floated around of doing a “streeters” video asking OIlers fans how they felt about the season so far. We’ve done that before and it is typically boring. Also there is no still photo component to go in the paper.
So I got the idea to buy small white boards and ask fans to draw how they feel about the season and then do Vortraits (video portraits) of all of them explaining what they drew. Turned out much more interesting and then we had art for the newspaper.
Journal Photographers Ryan Jackson and Shaughn Butts setup a camera outside Rexall Place before the Oilers game on Thursday and asked fans to illustrate how they felt about the season on small dry erase boards. Video by Ryan Jackson and Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
I used a 7-inch LCD4VIDEO HDMI monitor to help focusing with my Canon 5D Mark-II and 24-105mm IS lens.
I had a Rode VideoMic on a Magic Arm for the audio so that my hands could be free for focusing
I had two 160LED video lights I got off of eBay for the fill lighting. I put orange gels on them to balance the blue LED light with the sodium vapor ambient lights.
Here is my sketch of the portraits I wanted. It is always good to draw your idea out and email it to your editors so that they know what you are talking about.
And here is how it ran on the front page of the Journal. When someone comes to you with an idea that you don't think is good - don't just roll your eyes and complain - take that idea and make it into something better. Nothing good comes from cynicism. Great things come from people who take okay ideas and make them great ideas.
Edmonton Oilers Jean-Francois Jacques celebrates his first-period goal on the Detroit Red Wings as Red Wings Brad Stuart falls during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Dustin Penner and Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard watch the puck go in for a first-period goal for the Oilers during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Shawn Horcoff fights for the puck with Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall and goalie Jimmy Howard during first-period NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Detroit Red Wings Jonathan Ericsson gets a kick out of Edmonton Oilers Dustin Penner with Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard looking on during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Theo Peckham keeps his eye on the puck during NHL action against the Detroit Red Wings at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Shawn Horcoff and Detroit Red Wings Henrik Zetterberg and goalie Jimmy Howard fight for the puck during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers celebrate their 6-5 win over the Detroit Red Wings during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on October 29, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Johan Motin flies over New York Islanders goalie Nathan Lawson as Islander Tyler Haskins blocks Oiler Dustin Penner and Islanders Dustin Kohn and Bruno Gervais watch on during NHL action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on September 16, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers Dustin Penner celebrates scoring on New York Islanders goalie Nathan Lawson with Islander Freddy Meyer looking on during NHL pre-season action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on September 16, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
New York Islanders Joel Rechlicz and Edmonton Oilers Steve MacIntyre fight during NHL pre-season action at Rexall Place in Edmonton on September 16, 2009. Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Oilers prospect Jordan Eberle who was the Oilers 1st round draft pick in 2008 jumps out of a parachute simulator with Warrant Officers Eric Miles and John McNabb behind him during a team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Edmonton Oilers prospect Jesse Dudas from St. Albert, left, carries Master Warrant Officer Steve Merry during a team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
An Edmonton Oilers prospect fires a weapon simulator during a team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Edmonton Oilers prospects stand in front of a mock jump tower before simulating a parachute jump during a team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Edmonton Oilers Team Services Coordinator Patrick Garland jumps from a parachute simulator with Warrant Officer John McNabb guiding his line during an Edmonton Oilers prospects team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Edmonton Oilers prospects rest after doing a mock tower jump during a team building exercise held by Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Edmonton on July 8, 2009. (Photo by Ryan Jackson / Edmonton Journal).
Take a 360-degree panoramic view of the Edmonton Oilers dressing room. Mouse over the jerseys to learn about each number. Panorama by Ryan Jackson/Edmonton Journal
I spent WEEKS on this panorama. 2-hours here and there to figure out how to embed the HTML text hotspots and then eventually input all the pictures and information. Thanks to Joanne Ireland for doing the research on each player for her story that ran in today’s Oilers Supliment. I eventually want the panorama to contain all of the Oilers numbers and the names of every player that wore an Oilers jersey. Baby steps though… this one took long enough!
