The Olympic athletes weren't the only ones working hard during this year's Winter Olympic Games. News organizations around the world created innovative online projects to capture the power and performances at the Games. Here are a few of those gold medal-level projects:

Perhaps the most interesting part of NBC's Olympic coverage was its Olympic Tracker, a tree map of recent tweets about the Olympic Games. The visualization was created by Stamen Design, the company behind MTV's VMA Tweet Tracker and San Francisco Crimespotting.



Many online news media like USA Today and the Los Angeles Times presented many different interactive infographics that explained the sometimes complex winter games and the strength and athleticism required to compete.



The New York Times was on a roll this Winter Games, producing a slew of multimedia and interactive projects, including an awe-inspiring guide to Vancouver's Olympic venues. Notably, the Times' interactive guide to Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili's fatal crash was criticized for offering what some saw as too intimate of a guide to his final moments.

Boston.com's The Big Picture regularly presents amazing photos surrounding a number of subjects and did not disappoint with its collection of images from Vancouver. The large photos capture the majesty of the 2010 Games.



The Google Street View cameras have documented many places around the world and in honor of the Vancouver Olympics, the team used a snowmobile to present views from the top of the mountains in Whistler and allowed users to take a sneak peek inside the Olympic Village.



Fans didn't wait for news media to create coverage they wanted to see. Some took to Facebook to create a page for the Norwegian curling team's unique pants. The Facebook page was taken down briefly, presumably because the page was not dedicated to a company or brand as required by Facebook. However, the page is back up and at last count had more than half a million fans of the colorful pants.



While NBC carried many of the Olympic Games online, the network's US television broadcasts were heavily criticized, mostly because of the network's lack of live television broadcasts. The lesson learned? While yesterday's audiences were comfortable watching events long after they first happened, today's audience wants its news immediately and not just online.


Also on 10,000 Words

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• 8 Interactive online projects that educate and captivate

Labels: flash, photos, social networking

For some time now, newsrooms have taken advantage of web technology to add interactivity to panoramic photos. Interactive panoramas can display a larger image in a smaller amount of space. As panoramic technology becomes more advanced, some news media are pairing 360° panoramas with video to create an immersive experience.

Notably, CNN used interactive video panoramas to illustrate the devastation of the earthquake in Haiti. As the car moves along the street in the embedded video below, online viewers can click and drag the image to change the angle of the camera.



Immersive Media has even more video panoramas from Haiti, including interactive views of damaged streets and crumbling buildings.

The interactive video panorama below was created by Yellowbird, a Netherlands-based company that specializes in interactive 3D technology. BBC News (via) has a detailed explanation of video panoramas, including the special cameras used to create it.




Panoramic photography isn't limited to video. Interactive photo panoramas have become a popular tool among news media and photographers and don't require tons of money or complex equipment to create.

For example, The New York Times also created a panoramic view of Haiti by stitching together various photographs and importing them into Flash to create one long interactive panoramic image of Boulevard Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The unique effect pairs the impact of still photos with the sense of space communicated by panoramas.



There are many more interesting interactive panoramas on the web. Panoramas can be used to illustrate a variety of news stories such as this interactive image of a crowd gathered to see U.S. President Barack Obama speak in Berlin or this interactive image of Times Square on New Year's Eve. This 360° view of Prague, billed as the world's largest spherical panoramic photo, is hosted by 360cities.net which contains many other captivating panoramas.




While video panoramas are relatively new and require specialized equipment, photo panoramas can be created with just a few tools and a little bit of ingenuity. Check out this previous post for tips on creating interactive panoramas, including how to shoot them with your iPhone.


Also on 10,000 Words

• Essential resources for panoramic photography
• 12 Creative uses of time-lapse photography (and 4 ways to create it)
• Composite photography: A new twist to an old medium
• 21 Free online photo editing tools

Labels: photos, video

Flickr, the photo sharing site and social network, is probably right behind Wikipedia on the list of social media tools journalists and newsrooms avoid. Journalists have every reason to be wary of uplaoading content to Flickr — without the right controls photos uploaded to the site can be downloaded and used without permission elsewhere on the web.

But there are so many other ways to use Flickr besides uploading photos from the newsroom. Flickr is, after all, a social tool and news media can harness the power of the site to improve the news-gathering process. For starters, newsrooms can take a cue from Slate and The Consumerist and create a photo pool or group where readers can submit photos that fall into a specific category. For Slate's "Shoot the Recession" photo pool, readers and photogs were invited to submit photos that captured the economic recession. The Consumerist, a consumer affairs blog, asks readers to submit photos that capture commerce in America that are selected by editors and featured on the site.



NPR recently used Flickr to crowdsource information and asked readers to identify individuals in a series of photos from a US Senate meeting. Members of the site used Flickr's photo tagging feature to add notes to the photo about individuals in the image. Getty Images even tapped into the great talent on Flickr and partnered with Flickr photographers to sell their work under the Getty name.



If you are thinking about uploading your photos to Flickr and are also handy with geotagging, you can use iMapFlickr to create custom embeddable maps that feature geocoded photos. Like most third-party mapping tools, iMapFlickr is very easy to use and requires just a few steps to identify photos from Flickr and plot them on a map.



There are, of course, much more creative ways to use Flickr such as using the API to recreate an entire city, identify the dominant colors of a physical location, or to view the day's headlines in photos.



As the previous examples show, Flickr is more than just a tool for sharing photos. The site's many features means there are many different ways you can use the site for your own unique projects.


Also on 10,000 Words:

• 30 Amazing photoblogs (and a few tips for creating one)
• Composite photography: A new twist to an old medium
• 5 Creative uses of Flash and interactive storytelling
• Creative and innovative uses of online video
• Photojournalism: Where to find the best in news photography

Labels: maps, photos

Why spend money on expensive multimedia tools when you can use comparable alternatives for free? They may not be an exact replacement, but how can you argue with the price?

PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Free: Splashup

Photoshop may be the industry leader when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, but Splashup, a free online tool, has many of the same capabilities at a much cheaper price. Splashup has lots of the tools you'd expect to find in Photoshop and has a similar layout, which is a bonus for those looking to get started right away. Splashup isn't the only free online photo editing program, check out this list of 20 more.

WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Free: KompoZer

Looking to create your next web site without paying big money for programs like Dreamweaver? KompoZer, a free web design program available for immediate download, is great for both novice web designers and professional webheads who need more advanced editing features.

VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Free: iMovie, JayCut

Many video editors, both novice and professional, use iMovie to create professional-looking videos and an amateur price. The program is included on modern Macs as part of the iLife package and has the basic features editors need as well as few advanced extras such as detachable audio and image stabilization. JayCut is an online video editor that lets registered users upload and edit their video for free. You can even add photos, audio and effects to your project. The final edited video can be shared on the web or downloaded directly to a computer.

AUDIO: ProTools, Adobe Audition
Free: Audacity, GarageBand

Audacity is a comprehensive audio editor with many of the capabilities of its costly competitors. The program, which is available for a free download lets users record and edit everything from simple audio tracks to complex professional work. GarageBand, which is included on modern Macs along with iMovie and iPhoto, takes a simple approach to audio editing and has the added capability of creating enhanced podcasts with photos, chapter markers and more. Find even more free audio editing programs here.

SLIDESHOWS: Soundslides
Free: PhotoPeach

Until recently there was no other slideshow tool that could compete upload Soundslides' flexibility and easy-to-use interface...until now. PhotoPeach lets users upload and order photos using a drag and drop interface, upload an MP3 audio file from a computer, add captions for individual photos and embed the final slideshow anywhere on the net. All this is familiar to anyone who has ever used Soundslides, but PhotoPeach offers all this and more for free, making it a strong substitute for Soundslides.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Flash
Free: Effect Generator

Effect Generator, a free online tool, lets anyone create common Flash elements such as slideshows, graphics, and embedded videos. Once you've created your effect the generator emails a link where you can access the Flash file you created. The layout differs from Flash and takes some getting used to but is a great alternative, especially for those just starting to learn Flash.

WORD PROCESSING: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Free: Google Docs

Many of the programs and tools on this list are substitutions for existing program. With Google Docs, you'll never want to touch Microsoft Office again. The free online tool lets anyone with a Google account create documents, spreadsheets and presentations as well as share the document for collaborative editing or viewing. Google Docs is accessible from any computer with an internet connection or you can work offline or download your finished work directly to your computer. You can even upload your existing documents into Google Docs.




Also on 10,000 Words:

• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training

Labels: audio, flash, photos, video

The digital era has revolutionized photography. Photojournalists not only have access to high-end cameras with a seemingly infinite number of features, but their photos can be presented in many different ways, including slideshows and multimedia packages. However, it doesn't matter the technology that powers the photography, what matters is the eye and innate skill of the photographer, as evidenced below.

1. Gerik Parmele

2. Chris Jordan

3. Natalie Behring

4. Antonin Kratochvil

5. Andrew Moore

6. Susana Raab

7. Martin Fuchs

8. Andrew Burton

9. Jacquelyn Martin

10. James J. Lee

11. Omar Mullick

12. Heidi Schumann

13. Benjamin Lowy

14. Stacey Axelrod

Stacey Axelrod">

15. Maisie Crow

16. John Schreiber

17. Mustafah Abdulaziz

18. Harry Benson

19. Ryan Gibbons

20. Jodi Bieber

Also on 10,000 Words:

• Photojournalism: Where to find the best in news photography
• 10 News photos that took retouching too far
• 30 Amazing photoblogs (and a few tips for creating one)
• 15 Journalists' outstanding personal portfolios

Labels: photos

Sure your fancy video camera cost $2,000, but can it record underwater? No? Well if you're feeling extravagant or just have some extra funds left in the budget check out these gadgets that will take your work to new heights.

ContourHD Wearable Camera

Other helmet cameras have been featured here before, none of which captured such sweet-looking high definition video. The ContourHD records in a 1280 x 720 pixel, widescreen format at 30 or 60 frames per second and records up to 8 hours of video and audio. Be sure to check out some of the video captured by satisfied customers.

($299.99 | B&H Photo)

ProTrack Handheld Audio Recorder for iPod

Turn your iPod or iPod Touch into a powerful recording machine with this cool add-on. The ProTrack has a built-in stereo microphone and requires no cords, but also has an XLR input for connecting external mics. The recorder also comes with a headphone jack and — for 20 bucks more — a nifty tripod.

($159 | B&H Photo)

GardenWatchCam

Perfect for the horticulturally-minded photojournalist, the GardenWatchCam is a time-lapse camera that can be placed anywhere to capture nature's beauty over time. The small camera is weather-resistant and can capture photos at seven different time settings. The 1.3-megapixel camera runs on AA batteries and connects to the computer's USB port.

($139.95 | Amazon)

SRV-1 Blackfin Mobile Surveillance Robot

Let this pint-sized robot camera do all your dangerous shooting for you. The tank-like camera operates wirelessly, shoots at up to 1280 x 1024 resolution and fits in the palm of your hand. The little guy moves a foot a second and can run for 4 hours on a single charge. The SRV-1 requires some knowledge of computer programming to operate, but because it can tread where no human dare go, it is worth the effort.

($474.99 | ThinkGeek)

Infrared Flashlight Video Recorder

Sometimes journalism takes you to some dark and mysterious places. You can use your regular camera's onboard light or just use this handheld flashlight that doubles as a video camera. The flashlight records up to 15 seconds of video at 30 frames per second or 500 photos at 640 x 480 resolution with its 128MB of built-in memory. All the footage shot is downloadable via your computer's USB port.

($399.95 | Hammacher Schlemmer)

Pet's Eye View Digital Camera

Entertain Fido's ambition to become a photographer with this compact camera that fits securely on your pet's collar. The digital camera can be set at 1, 5, or 15 minute-intervals and is perfect for gaining insight on the daily lives of animals. Note: expect lots of photos of fire hydrants and worn out couches.

($49.99 | ThinkGeek)


Also on 10,000 Words:

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• Crazy gadgets that are (possibly) crazy useful
• 6 Creative approaches to photography

Labels: audio, photos, video

Many news photographs are Photoshopped here and there to increase clarity or to optimize for print or online display. But there have been several instances where retouching has been pushed too far, changing the original intent or accuracy of the photo.

National Geographic, February 1982

The revered magazine was accused of altering a photograph so that the Egyptian pyramids were closer together and thus fit on the vertical cover. The mag's editors were allegedly unapologetic about creating a more aesthetically pleasing cover. Rich Clarkson, director of photography at National Geographic during the time, said he had no ethical problem with combining two photographs into a single cover picture, although "some publications could start abusing."

OJ Simpson, TIME Magazine, June 1994

 

When a darkened mugshot of troubled football star appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine, it was deemed artistic interpretation. Critics accused the mag of blackening OJ Simpson's skin to make him appear more animalistic and incite racial sentiments. It didn't help that an unaltered photo of Simpson appeared on a Newsweek cover that same week.

Soldier in Basra, Los Angeles Times, March 2003

 
Original photos


Published photo

Photographer Brian Walski was fired from his position at the Los Angeles Times after it was discovered that two news photographs of a gun-toting soldier had been combined to create a more intense photo. When later asked why he had digitally manipulated the photo and risked his career Walski replied: "I knew what I was doing. It looked good. It looked better than what I had, and I said 'wow.'"

Condoleezza Rice, USA Today, October 2005

  
Original, published photo

An Associate Press photo that appeared on the USA Today website showed then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with unusually menacing eyes, a result of too much retouching. Some questioned whether the effect had been created deliberately as it was difficult to easily replicate. The offending photo was quickly removed and replaced with a version much closer to the original and an apology from the paper's photo editor.

Tibetan railroad, Liu Weiqiang, 2006

If this award-winning photo of Tibetan antelopes and a nearby train seems a bit askew, it's because it is a combination of two separate photographs.



Photographer Liu Weiqiang merged the images after waiting for two weeks for the perfect photo with no success. Despite his earnestness, he was eventually blacklisted by several Chinese news outlets.

The Charlotte Observer, July 2006

The image of a firefighter against a blazing sky, shot by award-winning photographer Patrick Schneider, was later revealed to be a retouched version of the original in which the sky appeared to be a "brownish-gray." Schneider had previously been reprimanded for adding intensity in the color and backgrounds of his photos and was eventually fired from his position.

Beirut fires, Reuters, August 2006

Original photo


Published photo

Reuters was accused of bias against Israel when a doctored photo of the capital city of Lebanon was released by the wire service. The photo, submitted by Lebanese freelance photographer Adnan Hajj, shows (badly) cloned smoke and buildings and a darkened skyline. Reuters ultimately broke all ties with Hajj, who was accused of retouching other photos as well.

The Toledo Blade, April 2007

Veteran news photographer and Pulitzer Prize finalist Allan Detrich resigned from his post at the Blade after it was discovered that at least 79 of his photos had been Photoshopped beyond the standards of the paper. In the photo below, a ball had been added to increase the drama of a basketball game.

  
Original, published photo

The Blade later removed all of Detrich's photos from its website and issued an in-depth explanation and apology.

Papal delegation, Liberty Times, December 2007

In the previous examples, the photographs were retouched to enhance the beauty or impact. The following photo was edited to remove a rival publisher (center).


Original photo


Published photo


The Taiwanese newspaper was accused of digitally removing United Daily News Wang Shaw-lan from a photo of a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. Liberty Times reporter Chang Ning-hsing said she edited out the publisher because the picture was too large and that Wang was not an "essential presence."

Klavs Bo Christensen, April 2009

After submitting his stunning photos of Haiti to a Danish photo contest, Christensen was asked to submit the original RAW files as well. The difference was remarkable and the contest judges disqualified the photos, calling them "extreme" and "unacceptable." Christensen admitted that he had heavily processed the photos, but maintained that the result was within his limits.


Original photo


Published photo


In many newsrooms it is unethical to pass off a retouched photo as reality. Ideally, retouching of a news photograph should be limited to basic exposure and color correction, cropping, resizing, or conversion to grayscale. Any Photoshopping that alters the meaning of the original photo should be labeled as a "news illustration" in the caption so the viewer understands the photo has been altered.

Retouching may seem innocent, but can have a profound effect on the way we remember an event, according to a 2007 study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology.

"Any media that employ digitally doctored photographs will have a stronger effect than merely influencing our opinion – by tampering with our malleable memory, they may ultimately change the way we recall history," said researcher Dario Sacchi.

For more on the ethics of news photography, check out the National Press Photographers Association's code of ethics.


Also on 10,000 Words:

• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• 30 Amazing photoblogs (and a few tips for creating one)
• Photojournalism: Where to find the best in news photography
• 6 Creative approaches to photography

Labels: photos