Video 17 - Good-bye Barceloneta

This is nothing serious, just a souvenier video of our favourite places in Barceloneta, the neighbourhood in Barcelona where we lived for the semester. It's a tiny triangle that juts out from the old city into the ocean, and it still has that working class feel, at least in the narrow streets behind the main tourist drag. We'll miss the market, the main square, all the little shops, Vioko - where they make their own ice cream just upstairs, and for sure the beach. After a year or two away, we might even miss the women who offer you a massage every five minutes or the very insistant coconut men. I wish them well, but I'd rather just sit quietly and stare off into the waves. It's almost good-bye Barcelona.

Video 16 - Beach Volleyball

I came across these players on the beach early on a Saturday morning. The sun was so warm and the light just perfect. It was a fun situation to use to practice making film sequences. The group is looking for more players if anyone is interested. Barcelona should be a beach volleyball city.

Video 15 - Open Data Day

Sorry, I realize this isn't the best video ever, but I'm trying to figure out what kind of videos fit into a reporter's workday. In some contexts, I think interviews would work but it has to a simple topic. The push for open data is far too complex. Plus, although shooting this video only took about 10 minutes, editing it still took me nearly two hours because it was difficult to pick the right quotes and find ways to join them that didn't look awkward. The video has to appeal to a large enough audience to justify the time spent. And I definetely need more experience making this process smooth.

A special thanks, Javier, for being so willing to let me try. Open data really is a cool movement. I totally recommend checking out the website, www.opendataday.org. They give some good examples of what can be done when the government releases more of the data it owns into the public realm. You can trust the creativity of the masses.

Video 14 - Orestad, Copenhagen

Tour of three projects in the new development of Orestad, just outside central Copenhagen in Denmark. All three are by Bjarke Ingels Group, a Danish architecture firm. We visited November 13, 2010.

Video 13 - It's raining at the Pantheon

Trying to narrate a video has given me new respect for TV journalists. It's not so easy to be real on camera, and you only see my best takes on this video! Fred was laughing as I processed the raw footage. Anyway, welcome to Rome's Pantheon and I hope you enjoy the tour.

Video 12 - Smørrebrød in Copenhagen

The guidebook said mention Smørrebrød to a Dane and their eyes will light up. It's true! I got the recipe from a Danish friend and then when I told the hotel clerk about our plans and he was excited. He let us use a table in the lounge and brought us plates and butter. We shared our bounty with him afterward : )

To all Danish people watching this, sorry for being so terrible at your language!

Video 11 - The Pope visits Barcelona

I got up early Sunday morning to catch el Papa in Barcelona. Crowds were smaller than I was expecting, but it was still a lot of fun. And the best part about shooting video in Spain - without editors or deadlines - is that when the last interview subjects invited me out for a breakfast of hot chocolate and churros, I could say yes. Delicious.