Intense intensives

A framed shot of five street lamps

Aperture. Shutter Speed. Composition. These words are as familiar to me as Afrikaans is to an American. This week has seen me leaving my beloved Radio behind and focusing on photography for our fourth year intensive course. Yesterday (Tuesday), we had to take our cameras (mine is a beautiful Canon) out into Grahamstown to complete an obstacle course. I had to try and see things in a new manner, no longer on the hunt for the best possible audio, but now getting as close to the ground as possible to take shots of litter and grass! 

I had always appreciated a regular ‘point and shoot’ camera, but our Photojournalism lecturer, Harold Guess expects us to take the camera off automatic and place it on manual (who does that honestly). This, he says, allows for creativity to set in. Take for example this shot that I took of cars driving on a street just around the corner from 'The Shire' (our student house). In this shot below, I had to twist a little button (still getting the names right) to make sure my aperture was at its highest (the hole exposing light is open to its widest) to ensure that as much light hit the lense considering it was quite a glum day and evening. Then I had to make sure that my shutter speed was really slow to ensure that lots of light came in. And then I got the shot of 'streaking car headlights'.

*If my terminology is wrong, bear with me, I'm still learning and I will get better! Comments with suggestions would be great*

One of the other obstacles we had to complete was to take a photo of the railway tracks that cut through Grahamstown. I got down quite low for this shot and I do think it is quite a beauty if I say so myself. Check it out below:

Taking a close up of Cara (my digsmate) applying makeup

I chose photography as my intensive to not only learn more about a new and interesting world of media, but to also challenge myself to think differently when telling stories. Radio is spoken and you can hear the emotion in people's voices, you can imagine the world they live in from the background sounds. I would like to think that photography is the same as audio as it snaps up a moment in time, giving you the image of a person's face and their background, but allowing your imagination to fill in all the gaps. 

One thing I have realised quite early on in this course is that the manner in which you compose a photo gives you as the photographer a lot of power. It gives you the power to shape the viewer's eye and to take them on a journey. That kind of power, combined with audio needs a lot of attention to detail and a responsible attitude. I think with that in mind and an ability to be aware of what your role as a media practitioner is, I should end up a pretty decent radio/photo journalist. :) 

If you have any suggestions of how I can improve my technique, drop me a comment or two! 

Nadia xo

Ant's view on the world

To the end of 30 minutes.

I am disappointed in myself. Not in my documentary, not in the material I have collected but rather in myself. This disappointment stems from missing out on the smaller things that could add to and make this documentary even better than it is currently. Let me explain where I am currently regarding ‘Women in Uniform’.

My script looking like a worn out soldier.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw me picking up my freshly printed paper edit and using it as a map- a guide through the experiences and stories of Karabo, Windvogel, Morodi, Zuma and Bikitsha.  Thank goodness almost 80% of my content was transcribed and I had thought of ‘future Nadia’ when putting together my paper edit! I found it quite easy to track down the individual clips in the mass of audio and that made the process go slightly faster. I quite enjoyed this process as I was keen to sit down and listen to what Karabo had to say about her day in the fire department, or what Morodi had to say about her love of being in the military. It was a good feeling being able to see and hear these different aspects come together in the program Adobe Audition 1.5, as opposed to seeing it only in my paper edit.

Saturday saw me laughing a few times and calling those around me to come and take a listen to what Karabo had to say about her fire suit being ‘supposedly’ fire resistant. I hadn’t realised how attached to this young fire fighter I had actually become. I was so happy to hear all of their voices, hear their mannerisms and see them saying all of this in my head. This part of the process made me feel like a real journalist as opposed to my usual role of a producer who facilitates the activities around me. Cutting clips, saving them and placing them in the order set out by my paper edit gave me a sense of pride in my work which I haven’t felt in a long time. This project felt like I was presenting the women with a platform to talk about issues that don’t get spoken about often enough. I was opening up the discussion though! Doing this through their daily experiences, through their stories as opposed to a sensationalist and explosive piece about the 6^th South African Infantry Battalion. 

A little snooze over the ever-changing documentary script.

Sunday. I was losing steam. At least this was one day of the week that I got to sleep in, have a cup of coffee and savour the crumpets my digsmate had made. Then I missioned to the Journalism Department- ready to record my narration and ‘klap’ everything together. Finally, all the tiny clips were coming together to look like a decent whole. The narration was in, the clips were in and I was editing and saving like a pro. Little celebrations were going off in my head. 

And then in hit me like a bad smell. My documentary was not 30 minutes long. It was 23 minutes. I was crushed. What to do? What to do? Should I continue my doccie and hunt down “filler” material from all my interviews? Should I just mix it down and call it complete at 23 mins? No. I will not compromise this collage of stories; important stories from Karabo, Windvogel, Morodi, Zuma and Bikitsha’s lives as women in uniform. I will not compromise my professionalism as a media practitioner. Yes, I have missed my deadline, and yes that makes me mad at myself, but I would rather follow through with this, to the end. To the end of 30 Minutes. 

So dear reader, there will be one more blog post when the documentary is complete. I hope you will stick around with me long enough to read it and to hear the final product because that’s why I do what I do; to not only create great journalism, but to get people like you to listen to and appreciate it. 

Yours in documentary making, 

Nadia :)

Paperwork VS Deployment

Week two. Week two at 6 SAI and I am starting to itch for stories that I feel these women are not telling me. Then again, I could possibly be trying to find stories that shock, scare, or bring tears to not only my eyes but the eyes of my listener. As I type this though, I find myself asking: “Is that all you care about? Shouldn’t the stories rather be true- a snapshot of these women’s lives?” I guess I arrived at the Grahamstown base with my expectations 100km away from where they should be. Listening back to these interviews though and creating follow up questions, I feel like I am slowly starting to lessen that gap.  

Week two saw me arrive at the base with my recorder at my side, pen and paper in my hand and a smile on my face- I was ready for interviews. But like today (Tuesday), I sat for a few hours waiting for one of the women Royden had organised to chat with me. At one point, I was ready for ANY woman to talk to as I was tired and started to feel disheartened. Then out of nowhere, I was told that Nombulelo Zuma who works in Human Resources (HR) and Sio Morodi who had worked in the Infantry section were willing to talk to me and I was ready for action. 

What I found most interesting about these two women is the difference in the experiences they have had thus far in the army. Zuma works in an office, she only joined the military as she needed a job and the Military welcomed her and her expertise. She hasn’t as yet been deployed. Then you get Morodi who said, 

“When I grew up, I used to tell my mum, you know what, one day I will serve the Country. I’d like uniform when I grow up…it was my dream to be in the army….”

Morodi has been deployed and working as infantry saw her on the ground, keeping peace in countries like Burundi and fighting with her team when conflict arose. I was intrigued by her dedication to South Africa, her interest in the countries she has been deployed to and her empathy towards the people who were suffering that she saw there. This clearly worried her as she spoke about it and then didn’t continue after I asked a few more questions. 

These experiences she talks about have an honesty that I appreciate. I also understand that there is only so much these women can tell me. Life of a soldier I guess. You leave certain privileges of being a civilian behind when you answer the call to be a soldier and that for me is still one aspect of these women’s lives that I find hard to understand. It’s like becoming a nun or a priest- you give away the life you knew for the calling.

Plans for this week? I’m going to watch a marching parade at an ungodly hour in the morning and I might even be able to watch some of these women in action with a gun! And I have follow up interviews with the four I have worked with thus far. There is one soldier who I am dying to interview- she is the only female mechanic at the base and she seems to be quite cautious of me. I am working on it though- I reckon she has some great stories to share. Until the next blog post! 

Nadia  

Attention! About turn! At ease!

The 30km Route March of which I only did 5km...

My ears are now becoming accustomed to commands while working at 6 SAI. Attention! About Turn! At ease! While I am gaining more knowledge about this structured workplace, I am also starting to find gems in all my audio collection. My last blog post spoke about my frustration at not being able to have easy access to the women with whom I want to speak. But after a full week at the Fittest Soldier Competition, at least I have some really great audio to compliment the interviews that I will be having with these women. I am feeling ‘at ease’ :). 

Interviewing female soldiers taking part in the competition

On Women’s Day- 9^th of August 2012, Mike (my fellow radio student), accompanied me to the competition with a camera to practice his photography. We were up at 6am, and at the 6 SAI base at 7:15am! We thought we were early enough to begin the ‘Route March’ with the competing soldiers, but we weren't- the soldiers started their march about 15mins earlier than we had expected. The 'Route March' saw the soldiers march over 30kms with a bag on their backs filled with sand and their water bottles. We were at the back, following them as they walked- we only managed 5kms and then turned back. I recorded my own experience of walking this terrain and I definitely want to include this in the documentary as it shows how fit these men and women are in comparison to us. It also shows their dedication, again as opposed to ours. The audio gives great insight into the competition and my experience of this new world. For me, it is a highly demanding world, and yet it is one which many these soldiers treat as their norm.

Women's Day and yet these soldiers are on a Route March. A 30km Route March!

Coming over the first hill- the soldiers march on...and on...and on...

I had another interview this week, this time with Ntomboza Kobekitcha. She’s a Privateer and works in the Logistics section of the military. I only just realised that I didn’t know what a ‘privateer’ is so that is another question I plan to find the answer to along with my many others. The interview with her was very impromptu, and I feel that I could have got more out of it, but it was a start. One of the things Ntomboza spoke about which I would like to ask the other women as well, was her family’s reaction to her working in the military. She told me about how her family were not happy about her decision to become a soldier. In her words: 

“my mother was against it, she even called the family and everything... she said it was dangerous and what what. Being a soldier is a calling, so I went....” 

A calling? I keep asking myself how strong that calling must be if it means joining a workforce in which there is the likelihood of being shot, being hurt and yes, dying. But for her it was about the calling, about proving to her family that “as a woman, I can make it. There’s no difference between a woman and a man... if a man can do it, I can also do it...”. 

I’m at the point of my research where I am starting to uncover similar themes between the stories these women tell. Captain Windvogel and Ntomboza talk about being women in a man's world and being able to work as well as any man. They sometimes mention a struggle to get where they are currently. 

Next step? I want to know what it means for them to be women in the work they do. Does this make any difference? I guess in this whole process I am finding out what it means for me to be a woman too and how I, like them, place myself in male dominated spaces. I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.

Nadia

One Casspir at a time!

 

I’m frustrated. I am also grateful.

I am frustrated at the pace that this week is taking. It is already Tuesday and I am not as far as I could be regarding my interviews with the women at the military base. I thought I would be talking to these women about their lives in the military, about what their experiences are, why they chose the military and where they see such a career/job going? But instead, I feel like I’m just recording the Fittest Soldier Competition. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed being given the opportunity to be a part of the competition - the audio I have been collecting is fantastic! I have recorded some action audio with the soldiers marching,  jumping over *Casspirs, carrying logs and running with breast plates. They all have to prove themselves in a competition where fitness and good health matters. I am grateful to be here and feel quite free as I walk around between soldiers to get the best audio I can. 

But nevertheless, this week has  begun with a sense of tension. Tension which I have to start resolving.

In all of this action, I have to keep reminding myself of what I came for – which is to explore what it is like, for women, to serve in the military.  What does it mean to work and live in such a highly structured environment? I feel foreign watching these soldiers listen and follow through with orders in such a quick and controlled manner. No doubt, no questions. I am learning though- one command at a time.

Thus far I have only had one interview with Captain Windvogel and as I mentioned, she was great! She leads a team in the health care of soldiers at 6 SAI (6th South African Infantry). She is a strong and focused woman. She wears her uniform with pride. As we spoke, she began to open up to me, letting me  know that she believes in her work. But the time spent with her was so very short. I know that there is so much more that she can tell me! I have asked Royden if I can go back to  her for a follow-up interview.  I am in the process of transcribing my interview with her  and this has allowed me to pick on questions which I still want to ask her, or things I left out. For example, I didn’t get a chance to ask her more about her family life, and how she balances this with her  work. She is quite busy, so I have asked to talk to her next week some time. I would also like to go around with her when she works with her patients.

 

For now, I will continue my work with the Fittest Soldier Competition and see where it takes me. In terms of talking to women who compete in this competition, they are quite shy, and I barely get out their names. But I guess I have to take a cue from these fit soldiers and grow some muscle and carry on!

 

The 'Casspirs'  which the competing soldiers had to scale

One question which has been fluttering through my head in this whole process is: should I use my own experience of  the nilitary as content for the documentary? I initially wanted to come to the military base having these women speak for themselves, but could this documentary possibly become a platform for these women as well as myself to say something important?  Something about what it means to be a woman in South African society?  Maybe I could say that the struggles that women generally face are mirrored by these women who  work in the military and who serve our country? An idea which I am still thinking about…

Nadia

P. S. One more thing! I’ll also be recording my adventures in this new wonderland and will upload them in-between my blog posts. You can then hear my thoughts and how I react to these situations on the spot! :)

* The Casspir is a mine protected vehicle used in the South African National Defence Force. Follow this link to read more about this vehicle: http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1130.html

When the road gets rough… follow through!

 

I drove through the boom gate at the Grahamstown military base at about 2km/h and waved nervously at the soldier lifting the boom.  Although he waved back and didn’t stop me, he also  didn’t return my toothy smile. “Right… where to now?” I asked myself as I steered the car left and parked outside what looked like an office for guests.  I asked the soldier that I found inside this office where I could find Mr. Flotman – the communications officer whom I had been in touch with regarding the research for my audio documentary on women in the military.  He hopped in the car with me to direct me, and I drove slowly to Royden’s office. I was relieved to find Mr Flotman smiling and very welcoming, happy and  willing to help me. Why had I been so nervous in the first place?

The first week with Mr. Flotman made me aware of a few things. One: For a journalist who wants to do stories that involve the military, there is clearly always masses of bureaucracy involved.  Royden, as I now called him, had to complete a large stack of paperwork ensuring that everybody knew I was there and what I was there for. Two:  Having someone at your side who can help you to jump through the necessary bureaucratic hoops is valuable, yet could also hinder it in some ways.  I discovered this soon enough when I started interviewing. Royden was present throughout, which had real advantages, but also posed some problems. It made me feel uncomfortable having someone watch the process, as there is the possibility that the women won’t open up to me the way I hope they might. Yet I was also grateful that he was there because everyone knows him and I get in places quicker and easier- especially as he has planned well for my arrival.  

Take, for example, my interview with Captain Windvogel, the head nurse at the base. I conducted only one interview with her. The first question that she asked Royden was: “Is she allowed to be here?” and I wiped my brow knowing that I didn’t have to deal with that. At the same time, I became conscious that I need to establish a careful balance in my relationship with Royden. On one hand, I need him to help me understand the proper protocol  regarding my interaction with these women I interview, so that I do not step out of the boundaries of my agreement that has allowed me to gain access to them.  On the other hand, I want the women to have a space in which they can open up to me, without feeling constrained by presence of another officer. 

I guess I need to build a network of trust with the people I work with for this project – and that includes both the women whom I need to interview, and Royden.  So I will dedicate my time to also building that network. I have never worked with such a large institution before and I can see that I will face challenges.  My ability to overcome them it depends on my relationship with Royden, and also with the women with the women who will be at the centre of my story.  

For now, Royden and I get on well.  He has even placed me on the “The SA army Infantry Formation Fittest Soldier” Competition guest list. The 6th- 10th of August will see me following this competition, which has women in its teams and tests/promotes healthy and fit soldiers. I am keen to talk to women taking part in the competition and finding out more about their stories in the military as a whole. Until next week…

Nadia

The Running Order

The running order used in a radio show is like the Bible to a Catholic person. We stick closely to the contents, allow for some changes to suit the show and expect everyone to treat it as special. What exactly is it, you ask? Well, it’s a piece of paper with a table on it. It is numbered and there is content (be it live or pre-recorded) written in this table. The running order also informs all those involved in the radio show as to:

• Who is going to say what and when during the hour long show
• When each item will be played 
• How long each item is, be it music, discussions, recorded packages etc.
• And it ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Does the running order take a lot of prep beforehand! Oh you bet! Did Nadia have timing for each package/piece this past week? Nope. And did the show work out? You can bet your grandfather’s socks it did! 

This past week dear reader was amazing! For the first time in... forever, the show finally had some form of structure. It had a legit running order, everyone had different parts to play in the show and yet came together so well in the end! We had guests in studio, both presenters were present (YAY!!) and the theme, “Hitch Hiking” proved to be a fantastic one.

So yes, there were many positives that came out of a show that nearly fell apart in the 5 minutes before we were to go on air, but I think there was a lot to learn from it and from, as I have titled my blog post today: the running order. 

The collaboration between myself, BK, Steve and Mike as fourth years and with the six Upstart members is finally starting to bear fruit. I feel that, in the same way that a running order provides guidance and security, we have established a safe structure for the Upstart members, beginning in Term One. This term, we have said that yes, we are the support structure , but Anesipho, Ziphozihle, Roche, Thobani, Anelisa and Sinovuyo need to fill in this running order with ideas and plans, so that they can use the show to their benefit. I think that is what they still need to know fully, is that they need to USE us and this show as a platform to discuss, highlight and take control of issues in their communities. They are slowly starting to fill these spaces for themselves, but we still have lots of work to do.  

With these structures in place and gaining momentum steadily, Anesipho, Ziphozihle, Roche, Thobani, Anelisa and Sinovuyo are gaining confidence not only on air but in the field. We have now placed the responsibility on them to take recorders home and interview people in their communities about the topics we decide on together. 

Sinovuyo and Anelisa took control this past week by producing two strong interviews with pupils in their school about their experiences with hitch hiking. One girl even spoke about how she sometimes worries that she may be killed when hitchhiking, but what can you do when you need transport? They took this topic seriously and applied it to their communities who responded through a few Facebook messages, an sms and general comments made to the Upstarters themselves.

For now, I am happy that we have these structures in place and we have a rough plan for the term as I would like to focus on good content for each show. Otherwise, our ‘teamwork running order’ can only get stronger, one second at a time! 

Nadia