Archive for August, 2009
There was a lot of stuff on Twitter by the end of last week, spreading the announcement of the worlds first video in paper magazines.
The very fact that we had to talk about ‘paper’ magazines is in itself indicative of were we are now. In all my time as a reader of everything from Shoot! to Homes & Gardens I’ve never once felt it necessary to clarify I was picking up a ‘paper’ magazine in much the same way I’ve yet to ask for a ‘liquid’coffee at Starbucks.
But times change & obviously marketers feel generation Y needs no ambiguity before they can have new innovations sold to them.
It’s a joint venture between CBS, Pepsi and Entertainment Weekly in the States. According to the CBS press release, readers will be able watch video straight from the printed page via a paper-thin interactive video player featuring ads for several CBS programmes as well as a video promoting a Pepsi diet cola in select copies of Entertainment Weekly’s Autumn TV preview issue.
http://thenextweb.com/2009/08/20/video-paper-magazine-worlds/
At the moment, to me, it all comes across as a short-sighted rather than innovative. The current rush within the media to multi platform at all costs reminds me of those games where you make ridiculous fantasy animals by sticking different parts of them together just to see how it’ll look. Hippopotobirds, donkeyguins, videopapermagazines….
The shame of it is that this is all about advertising rather than content. Turn the idea on it’s head and look on it as a new opportunity to create content rather than just sell things, and it suddenly becomes a whole lot more interesting. I could read an in dept interview with the Artic Monkeys in Q Magazine and watch their new video on the adjoining page. Alternatively I could flick through an Annie Leibovitz fashion shoot in Paris and on the last page check out a behind the scenes viral.
Additional and repackaged content is what propelled the home buyer DVD market a few years ago. But in forgetting that and going for the short term advertising novelty the magazine industry might be missing a trick.
Post by Tim Kerr (Director & Picture Editor PA Photocall)
Tags: advertising, cbs, entertainment weekly, magazines, Media, media relations, multi platform, PA Photocall, paper magazines, pepsi, q magazine, tim kerr, Video, video advertising
Posted in PR, Video | 4 Comments »
Over the weekend I watched a great programme on BBC4, The Rules of Film Noir – a spine-tingling hour of clips from Hollywood movies that outlined the ‘unwritten rules’ that were followed during the creation of the dark, pulp fiction-based movie genre from 1940s and 50s. A great inspiration for picture editors, as much as film directors.
While the documentary covered the techniques used to make these films during this era – shadows, up-lighting, surreal dream-sequences, fog, night-time, the bright-lights of the city; and the genre’s origin and inspiration – the darkness cast in Europe by the Nazi occupation during WW2? – I was intrigued by the beautiful, glamorous and charismatic movie stars – Barbara Stanwyck, Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Robert Mitchum, Humphrey Bogart and Fred McMurray – the very actors that set the bar for Hollywood glamour. The stills convey all of that almost as well as the films themselves - like the best photos, all the shots are simple and clean.
The films were made in drama inducing black and white and so the stills have the shades and tones that create sinister scenes and atmospheres, with suffocating, dark corners and shady doorways often accentuated by billowing, exhaled cigarette smoke, flashing neon lights of signs out on the street, and reflections on windows evoking fear and terror.
The fast-talking dialogue, clothes, hair and make up, the chemistry between the cold-hearted dames who ‘love manicures more than husbands’ and ‘the private dick who wouldn’t recognise gentility if it criticised the way he drank bourbon from a teacup’, create a fantasy of sheer glamour, style and sophistication.
Of course, Film Noir didn’t come out of Hollywood – this style of film-making originated in Europe in the 1920s giving birth to the controversial ‘dutch tilt’ which also influenced stills photography, see our previous blog:
The Dutch Tilt Photography Technique or Lazy Shortcut
To read more about The Rules of Film Noir, read The Guardian’s article which highlights the possible ‘culprits’ who sparked the birth of the genre.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/22/film-noir
Post by Nicola Charalambous (Picture Editor of PA Photocall)
Tags: ava garner, barbara stanwyck, bbc 4, black and white films, dick powell, double indemnity, dutch tilt, Film, film noir, fred mcmurray, headshots, hollywood, humphrey bogart, image, jane greer, lauren bacall, Media, murder my sweet, Nicola Charalambous, PA Photocall, photo, picture editor, robert mitchum, the big sleep, the guardian, the killers, the rules of film noir
Posted in Photography | 4 Comments »
Since joining the Broadcast PR industry nearly a year ago, I have found a common hurdle PR’s face is selecting the right spokesperson for the right campaign.
Whilst a celebrity can be a great pull for any TV or radio campaign, their ability to stay on message or perhaps commit to the media schedule can present challenges in itself. Even a company representative can be problematic at times, often not seen as independent of the story and too subjective.
After working with PR and Communications teams over the months as well as the TNR team, I have learnt some important considerations when choosing a spokesperson:
- Relevance to campaign – there must be a link between the story and the spokesperson.
- Credibility – they must be able to add value to the story and its message.
- Existing Media Commitments – are they going to be able to commit and fulfil all media requirements?
- Media Trained? Are they experienced; accustom to sitting in a studio or put in front of a camera? Do they need training prior to the campaign launch?
- Well Briefed? – Are they fully aware of the background of the story, the key messages, the objectives and the desired outcome of the media activity?
I asked a top PR agency recently about their experience using a spokesperson;
“I would say that the relevance of the chosen spokesperson, both in terms of their background and how they relate to the intended audience, is most important. People are all too quick to question the use of, let’s say an ex soap star, realising that their involvement is probably down to availability and price and not any connection to what is being promoted.
We are all also much more aware of over exposure these days with using someone who just happens to be hot at the time, and therefore associated with numerous brands and campaigns, distinctly less credible.
One of our clients, Karen Pickering MBE, acts as a spokesperson for London 2012 related campaigns – as an Olympian and with her on-going involvement with the BOA and LOCOG and as Chair of the British Athlete’s Commission, she is able to fulfil a role that not only is she passionate about but that she can truly deliver on, and that is key.”
Lucy Hackett, Founder, Marmalade PR
Having sat in the studio myself and being put through my paces by one TNR’s top Media Trainers and renowned journalist, Gill Pyrah, I’m by no means saying it’s an easy feat for someone to represent a story and cover all bases in 5 minutes of air time. Give your story a head start by choosing a spokesperson that can truly relate and represent the overall message of your campaign. Oh; and fully briefing your spokesperson with no more than three key messages will only stand the campaign, story and spokesperson in good stead for positive coverage.
Post by Elizabeth Herridge (Project Manager at TNR Communications)
Tags: broadcast, campaign, Celebrity spokesperson, Elizabeth Herridge, insider comments, Media, Media Training, mulitmedia, Photographic Consultancy, PR, PR agency, PR Media, Radio, spokesperson, TNR, TNR Communications, TV
Posted in Broadcast PR, Media Training, PR, PR Training, Radio | 2 Comments »
Music streaming website Spotify seems to have become one of the summer’s main talking points. I read with interest that the good people at The Dogs Trust had stolen a PR march on everyone & set up their own Dogs Trust playlist of doggie related tracks including such canine classics as Elvis’s Hound Dog, David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs and Donny Osmond’s Puppy Love.
We thought it was such a great idea we couldn’t resist creating our own PA Photocall photography themed Spotify mixtape. Track listing below & you can stream it via
http://open.spotify.com/user/kerrt/playlist/3HnB7OrmKHHKy8dS3noqOp
1. F-Stop Blues – Jack Johnson
2. Camera – REM
3. Having My Picture Taken – Boomtown Rats
4. Girls On Film – Duran Duran
5. Whishing (If I Had A Photograph of You) – Flock Of Seagulls
6. Pictures Of You – The Cure
7. The Harsh Truth Of The Camera Eye – Morrissey
8. Local Boy In The Photograph – Stereophonics
9. Kodachrome – Paul Simon
10. Polaroids – Shawn Colvin
Hopefully something there for everyone. One thing that did cross my mind when reviewing the final selection, apart from the fact paparazzi favourite Peaches Geldof’s dad seems to have written the soundtrack to her life before she was even born, was that all these songs seem to be from or very much about the pre digital photography age.
From the classic camera motor drive intro of ‘Girl’s On Film’ to the 35mm format that inspired Paul Simon, film photography has always carried a sense of glamour and nostalgia that the contemporary digital version hasn’t quite been able to replicate.
Maybe Tinchy Stryder will spot the gap in the market for a some digital photography themed dubstep, but until then we’ll be humming along to Flock of Seagulls.
If you think there’s any classic photo related numbers we missed then please post a comment & let us know, or add directly on Spotify.
Post by Tim Kerr (Director & Picture Editor of PA Photocall)
Tags: digital photography, dogs trust, film photography, Media, music, PA Photocall, photo, Photographer, photographic agency, Photography, PR, Press Association, soundtrack, spotify, tim kerr
Posted in Photography | 3 Comments »
Following the Press Association’s dynamic re-brand in November when, for the first time, PR Services took a central role in the news agency’s portfolio, the Press Association’s communications consultancy, TNR has unveiled a re-brand of its own to support a range of new online services.
Formerly Television News Release and now in its tenth year, the highly visual re-brand to TNR Communications is a notable departure from the company’s original identity and follows in the footsteps of its parent company by putting multi-media at the heart of its brand.
PR services including Online News Releases to get clients’ video on to editorial websites and video production designed to enrich communication via the web now sit synonymously alongside the company’s core range of broadcast, photography and training services.
Press Association editor Jonathan Grun commented;
”The multimedia landscape is shifting dramatically and all of us have to find new ways of telling stories. We now combine words, pictures, video, interactive graphics and data as stories unfold. If you do not understand these issues you will really struggle to get your message across.”
With the ratio of online readership to print now standing at 10:1 and with online users seeking richer more diverse experiences, the need for content to include a fluid combination of text, photos and videos has been the driving force behind the evolution of both companies. The Press Association now services hundreds of online and digital platforms with the UK’s first domestic Video Wire service, launched in May 2009, which runs alongside the traditional text and picture wire.
TNR’s unique position at the headquarters of the UK’s news agency has been a major factor in the company’s success. However, TNR’s offer of free editorial consultancy and the commitment to advising against investment in campaigns that are unlikely to work is, according to TNR’s Managing Director, Claire Southeard, the main reason clients come back and why their media relationships remain so strong.
“Since TNR’s inception in 1999 we were determined to be different, by turning away business if our journalistic instincts tell us a story wasn’t strong. It was a scary business model for a fledgling agency but the best thing we ever did. The endorsement of the UK’s news agency through their ownership is testament to our consultancy’s integrity and I am very proud that ten years on, even though we’re a bigger, more diverse company now, that guiding principle of honest, journalistic advice still permeates everything we do.”
Jonathan Grun said of TNR’s re-launch:
“It is increasingly difficult to navigate your way through the new multimedia landscape and TNR can act as a very useful guide for companies wishing to get their point across to the media.”
Tags: Agency, B Roll, Broadcast PR, Corporate video, D Roll, Media, media coverage, Media Training, Multimedia, News, ONline Communications, Online News Release, Photographic Consultancy, Photography, PR, PR Consultancy, PR Photography, Press Association, Promo, Radio Day, TNR, TNR Communications, Video production, Videos
Posted in Broadcast PR, Media Training, PR, PR Training, Radio, TV, Video | 1 Comment »
Interesting piece in the current issue of PR Week about concerns we could be seeing the ‘Slow death of the embargo’. The Wall Street Journal is believed to have introduced a new policy stipulating that they will only honour embargos on exclusive stories. It’s a change of direction that’s obviously brought on by the pressure to be first with breaking news amid increasing competition from other online media outlets especially bloggers who traditionally have been more cavalier with embargos.
Certain newspapers may feel that they can’t afford the niceties of sitting on embargoed stories when specialist blogs are prepared to ‘publish and be dammed’. News has moved on it’s no longer written up today printed tonight and read in papers tomorrow, it’s available instantly & constantly via multiple formats.
The walls have come down and the means of news production are now available to anyone. In that light embargos can seem antiquated, but they still have a place, they just need to be used with care and not as a ‘catch all’ control mechanism.
PR Week editor Danny Rogers talks about embargoes as being “a lazy means of dealing with the media.” The WSJ and the blogs have stirred things up & if that stops these ‘lazy’ embargoes it’s probably no bad thing.
So what could this it mean for photos? I always feel the best way to handle a press PR photo is to use embargoes as sparingly as possible. Basically, ‘take it, get it out, get it in!’ Getting your pictures in the press is always hard enough without making it harder for yourself by putting embargoes across the top of them unless they’re really necessary.
Obviously certain photos because of logistics or availability need to be be taken beforehand and held back. Journalists will understand that and personal relationships, trust and exclusives will always play a role in this business. But maybe the shake up in attitudes towards embargoes generally will make people look at picture embargoes a bit harder too. Using embargoes where they aren’t really appropriate, such as on pictures taken in public places or of stunts that are open knowledge may start to become a thing of the past.
In this climate when the media is crying out for good, free to use PR copy, it’s unnecessary to shackle every story & picture with an embargo. Nobody can really control the media, instead we just need to continue to work with it making content that the press will want to use now, not next week.
Post by Tim Kerr (Director & Picture Editor of PA Photocall)
Tags: Danny Rogers, embargo, embargos, Media, media outlets, newspapers, online media, PA Photocall, Photographer, photographic agency, Photography, photography tips, picture desk, picture editor, PR, PR Camapign, PR Photography, pr week, Press, Press Association, press coverage, Press Photography, press picture, public relations, public relations photography, tim kerr, wall street journal
Posted in Photography, PR | 2 Comments »
From Rags to Riches…
In conjunction with the 32nd anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death on 16thAugust, I have decided to write about the photographer Alfred Wertheimer, who in 1956 was hired by RCA, Elvis’ record label, to get some official publicity shots of their new star.
After Elvis’ first successful television performance on the Dorsey Brothers’ Stage Show at the CBS studio in New York on 28thJanuary 1956, Alfred Wertheimer, a freelance photographer on the photographers rota at RCA’s press office, was commissioned to photograph Elvis’ next Stage Show performance in March. Being a big music fan, Wertheimer jumped at the chance and got his brief: to photograph Elvis Presley (‘Elvis who?’ he proclaimed), and his shot list: head shots; Elvis on stage with microphone; Elvis with fans; Elvis mingling with celebrities, etc.
During and after the initial one-day assignment, Wetheimer photographed Elvis in what became the last period of his anonymity. Wertheimer captured the small group of fans that waited outside the theatre for the soon-to-be-named ’King of Rock’n’Roll’ – a group of fans that within weeks would multiply into hundreds of screaming girls; candid shots of Elvis combing his hair, shopping for new shirts, listening to the first play-back of newly recorded songs that would have an unimagined affect on the direction of music for decades to come, and waiting for his cue to go on stage.
My favourite shots are of his performances. The sheer energy and charisma that radiates from the shots make me wish that I was there to witness the moves that would later be imitated by Michael Jackson, and to hear the voice that inspired so many future singers and performers. Imagining what songs that he could be singing in them make these shots come alive.
The ironic thing about this period and the photographic documentation of it is that in 1956, Elvis was 21 years old – half the age he was when he died. They capture the rawness of a young man who was accused of being possessed by the devil and too sexual because of the unique way he moved when singing – quite an insult given the fact that he grew up singing gospel music in church ‘praising the Lord’.
…from Riches to Ruin
After these pictures were taken, Elvis’ career spiraled out of his control. His image was toned down considerably to appeal to a wider audience. And before being conscripted for a 2-year stint in the US army in 1958, he made 4 good films that could have led to a career as a serious actor. Instead, on his return he made a further 29 films that he was contractually obliged to make – same plot, different location – which he grew to hate. A come-back concert in 1968, his first performance in front of a live audience in 10 years, gave him the bug to go on tour, which only led him to be tied in to another grueling contract where, as the years passed, he gradually became the sorry and sad figure that countless ‘impersonators’ make their living from.
I have enjoyed looking through these pictures as they capture and document a period of his life and career that not many people are aware of.
There doesn’t appear to be a site dedicated to Albert Wertheimer, but “Elvis At 21: From New York To Memphis” is a great book with a wide selection of photographs showcasing Elvis’ performances, and time at his home, Graceland in Memphis with his friends and family.
Post by Nicola Charalambous (Picture Editor of PA Photocall)
Tags: alfred wertheimer, cbs studio, celebrity photos, dorsey brothers, Elvis, Elvis Presley, freelance photographer, headshots, image, Media, music photography, Nicola Charalambous, PA Photocall, Photographer, photographer techniques, Photography, picture editor, Press Association, Press Photography, rca record label
Posted in Photography | 6 Comments »
I spent Tuesday morning as a guest judge for Heritage Lottery Fund’s Postcards from the Park 2009 photography competition.
The annual competition is designed to celebrate UK parks through photos that reflect their role in our every day lives.
2007 Overall winning photo by John Lane taken in Hyde Park, London
My co-judges were celebrated photographer Mike McCartney and Angela Nicholson, Technical Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine. I was really impressed by the standard of the entries, we all had a very enjoyable morning going through the various categories and most importantly I didn’t fall out with my fellow judges!
It was great to be working with people from very different photography backgrounds and seeing how they look at pictures. But despite our different interests, at the end of the day, we all want to see photos that catch our eye, that excite us and that stand out from the norm.
2008 North East runner up photo by Gillian Lauder taken in Derwent Walk Country Park, Gateshead
I don’t want to give anything away about what pictures won, but collectively they’re a fantastic representation of ‘parklife’ in all it’s forms.
The winning shots will form an exhibition on display at Southwark Park Café Gallery from Sat 5th Sept. 2009 and online.
Post by Tim Kerr.(Director & Picture editor for PA Photocall)
Tags: amateur photographer magazine, angela nicolson, Heritage Lottery Fund, image, judging panel, mike mccartney, PA Photocall, parks, Photographer, photographer techniques, photographic agency, Photography Competition, photography judge, picture desk, picture editor, postcards, Postcards from the Park, Press Association, Press Photography, tim kerr
Posted in Photography | No Comments »
People buy people, so it is important to reveal the human side of your enterprise, as very often the first image people see is the profile photo on your website, blog or social networking site. You need to communicate effectively with your chosen audience, ensuring you are sending the right message about your organisation. Be sure to personalise the connection you make, it helps your customer see you as a person instead of an abstract web site.
Sir Nicolas Serota, Director of the Tate Gallery stands in the archives beneath the Tate Britain in central London. Geoff Caddick/PA Photocall
In the past companies have not been keen to invest heavily in photography for their corporation as they see it as an unnecessary expense compared to the overall promotion of the company, but consider this: Your company sites will be the first thing your potential customers will see, they are the windows to your company.
Here are a few points you may want to consider about your current business photography:
- Has the image been taken in a relaxed, comfortable surrounding?
- Is the light flattering?
- Is the background distracting?
- Is the image up to date?
- Can you clearly see the individual?
- Does it give the right impression and match your brand image?
- Is it a quick snap shot taken by a colleague?
- Does the individual look approachable and trustworthy?
- Is the image engaging?
- Would you connect to this person on a social networking site?
- Most importantly would you do business with this person?
Prime Minister Gordon Brown addresses the NESTA (National Endowment for Sciences, Technology and the Arts) 'The Innovation Edge' conference at the Royal Festival Hall, London.
If the answer to any of these is “no” then perhaps you need to speak to a professional business portrait photographer. Investment in your business photography can set you apart from your competitors. There is still a lack of investment in images and graphics online stay one step ahead and put a human face to your company.
Post by Penny Joyner (Marketing Executive for PA Photocall)
Tags: business photocall, business photography, business photos, company portraits, company websites, corporate image, corporate photographer, Corporate Photography, Geoff Caddick, Gordon Brown, headshot, headshots, image, nesta, office photography, PA Photocall, photographer techniques, photographic agency, photography tips, picture editor, portrait, portrait photographer, portrait photographers, potraiture, Press Association, Press Photography, prime minister, profile picture, social networking photography, tate modern, web photography, website photographer, Website Photography
Posted in Corporate Photography, Photography | No Comments »
My ‘PR Picture Editor’s Knowledge’ post on this site the other week included among other things serious and not so serious;
“10. If you’re doing an aerial shot of people spelling out a brand name or symbol, you need at least twice as many people as you think you do.”
I stand behind that, but if you look at The Daily Telegraph, you can see the advice is hardly new. Arthur Mole and his colleague John Thomas were doing it over 90 years ago.
Arthur’s great nephew Joseph Mole, 70, says: “In the picture of the Statue of Liberty there are 18,000 men: 12,000 of them in the torch alone, but just 17 at the base. The men at the top of the picture are actually half a mile away from the men at the bottom” Picture: Caters News
Using at times up to 30,000 individuals, Mole and Thomas’s so called ‘living photographs’ were aerial shots of US soldiers forming giant symbols of America including Liberty Bell, Uncle Sam, The Statue of Liberty and even Woodrow Wilson. The images were used by the US government to boost public morale and support for US involvement in The First World War.
A collection of the photos been compiled by the Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago and is well worth a look if you’re pondering an a contemporary version.
Mole and Thomas: The living emblem of the United States Marines, formed by 100 officers and 9,000 enlisted men at the Marine Barracks, Paris Island, South Carolina Picture: Caters News
Apparently Arthur Mole would plan his designs by actually drawing an outline on his lens and then had troops mark out the image with flags. It could take a week to get all the outlines but only 30 minutes on the day to move the soldiers into position & get the shot.
I’m not so sure how photographers would take to drawing on their lenses today, but proof even then that the best PR pictures are always the best planned.
Post by Tim Kerr (Director & Picture Editor of PA Photocall)
Tags: Aerial Photography, army, Arthur Mole, carl hammer gallery, first world war, flags, john Thomas, lens, liberty bell, living photographs, marine, PA Photocall, Photographer, photographer techniques, photographic agency, Photography, photography tips, photography workshop, picture desk, picture editor, PR, PR Photography, Press, Press Association, Press Photography, statue of liberty, The Daily Telegraph, tim kerr, troops, US soldiers, world war, world war one
Posted in Photography | No Comments »
Insider’s tips on selecting the right spokespeople for your PR campaigns
Since joining the Broadcast PR industry nearly a year ago, I have found a common hurdle PR’s face is selecting the right spokesperson for the right campaign.
Whilst a celebrity can be a great pull for any TV or radio campaign, their ability to stay on message or perhaps commit to the media schedule can present challenges in itself. Even a company representative can be problematic at times, often not seen as independent of the story and too subjective.
After working with PR and Communications teams over the months as well as the TNR team, I have learnt some important considerations when choosing a spokesperson:
I asked a top PR agency recently about their experience using a spokesperson;
“I would say that the relevance of the chosen spokesperson, both in terms of their background and how they relate to the intended audience, is most important. People are all too quick to question the use of, let’s say an ex soap star, realising that their involvement is probably down to availability and price and not any connection to what is being promoted.
We are all also much more aware of over exposure these days with using someone who just happens to be hot at the time, and therefore associated with numerous brands and campaigns, distinctly less credible.
One of our clients, Karen Pickering MBE, acts as a spokesperson for London 2012 related campaigns – as an Olympian and with her on-going involvement with the BOA and LOCOG and as Chair of the British Athlete’s Commission, she is able to fulfil a role that not only is she passionate about but that she can truly deliver on, and that is key.”
Lucy Hackett, Founder, Marmalade PR
Having sat in the studio myself and being put through my paces by one TNR’s top Media Trainers and renowned journalist, Gill Pyrah, I’m by no means saying it’s an easy feat for someone to represent a story and cover all bases in 5 minutes of air time. Give your story a head start by choosing a spokesperson that can truly relate and represent the overall message of your campaign. Oh; and fully briefing your spokesperson with no more than three key messages will only stand the campaign, story and spokesperson in good stead for positive coverage.
Post by Elizabeth Herridge (Project Manager at TNR Communications)
Tags: broadcast, campaign, Celebrity spokesperson, Elizabeth Herridge, insider comments, Media, Media Training, mulitmedia, Photographic Consultancy, PR, PR agency, PR Media, Radio, spokesperson, TNR, TNR Communications, TV
Posted in Broadcast PR, Media Training, PR, PR Training, Radio | 2 Comments »