Ben There Done That
Problem
The goal of the project is to create a one to two-minute hiking video to air on TV and online.
Reading time: 2 minutes
KING 5 Meteorologist Ben Dery’s segment Ben There Done That allows viewers to see hikes in the Pacific Northwest through a video experience. As an assistant photographer for Ben There Done That, I work on a team of 2 hikers and one dog to create a hiking story video experience.
Timeline
Bi-weekly 7 – 48 hr video shoots airing weekly
Role
My role is assistant photographer, voice actor, sound technician, audio experience design, visual design, photography, asset collection and manager.
Tools
These tools were very helpful in tackling this challenge: Audacity, iPhones, Gimbal, and Adobe Premiere Elements.
Approach
Our approach is to get started by using our ideas to film as quickly as possible because of time limitations. I research emerging outdoor photography to find out what would be possible to implement into our projects. We have to use rapid brainstorming on the go to find out what role each team member could fulfill during our day timeline to deliver the MVP.
Photos from our hike at Heather and Maple Pass Loop.
Challenge and Design Process
Our time constraint is usually 7 hours because of drive time, set up, and hiking logistics. We break down this timeline into smaller deliverables to get as close to our goal as possible. My main challenge during our photo shoots is filming during constantly changing conditions due to weather. This affects white balance, composition, sound, and access to portions of each hike. After shooting a video, I quickly review the footage to see if it meets our high standards or if we need to quickly reshoot. I have learned a ton over the past few years about building a unique user experience in video and sound through our hiking videos.
On the trail with Ben carrying our equipment (and sometimes Bear).
Success
Over 30 of our videos are posted on the site https://www.king5.com/bentheredonethat. We have received great feedback from viewers about the directions and tips included in our videos that help them better navigate the hikes.