I’ve been off this week decorating the kitchen but not today. Today was a snow day. Snow angles, Snowmen, Snowballs and, a bit of video.

Its been a busy few days. I have the ‘kids on sledge’ pictures but thought I’d like to share some of my personal favorites from the hours on icy roads, coffee from a flask, stuck in a lane, stalking dear week.

May I also take this opportunity to thank you for visiting the site and hope that you will join me again in the new year when hopefully we can be inspired and supported to take this wobbly multimedia bicycle on a bit more of a ride.

Merry Christmas. may we see peace break out all over.

IPHONE HAPPY VERSION.

A more personal view of the trip to Auschwitz. To see better quality photographs please see the soundslide show below. (its Flash)

This version is the highest quality photographs and it is preferable to watch this rather than the UTube version

and this version (below) is for those iPhone users with no support for Flash (poor us)

The funeral of L/cpl James Hill Mortar Platoon.
1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards. at St Matthew Church Redhill Surrey.

Wow, it is funny sometimes how lady luck can play you a hand. I had a job today, opening of the refurbished Scope charity shop in Horley by the Grand Dame of fashion, the mother of Punk herself. Vivienne Westwood.

It just so happens and purely by coincidence that this was one of the shops I chose to provide us with an Autumn outfit last week for the charity fashion shoot.

She was a big draw to the opening and, along with the in house photographer we got her to do a little more than just cut the ribbon. Following a pretty long autograph session, She gave me a little time to do a short piece to camera for the fashion competition. I was really wanting her to say good things about charity shops and, with some hesitation she was pretty good.

There is a piece early in our conversation, not very well caught on camera, where she says my photographs of the models are ‘ very nice’
I’m happy to take that to the bank!

She found it difficult to choose a winner out of the five outfits but she picked 2 front runners. Where do we go from here? Invite readers to vote on line I guess.

I think I have a bit of an edit ahead to rework the fashion shoot video and that will be a challenge but, I’m well up for it.
UTube stats are looking like just over 1k views for the video so, if you have voted then thanks. if not…… what are you waiting for..

EMAIL YOUR VOTE NOW email.

have a good weekend.

A quiet afternoon gave time to do a little animation.

Well, its been a while but i think my MoJo may be slowly returning. I realised how much I have been missing shooting for multimedia this evening when, during intermittent downpours, I got my teeth into a project. An open air production of the Passion play. I shot the stills last night and decided to go back tonight and get the rest. I dusted off my video camera and put fresh batteries in my mics.
Unfortunatly, some sneaky bugger had hidden the power cables for my hot lights and the main sony battery gave up the ghost as some silly arse forgot to charge it fully.

Hopefully I will have enough time to get a good edit done tomorrow afternoon and be able to post it up tomorrow evening.

Here’s hoping that I can remember how to work Final Cut!

recent stuff.

Carl Fox. Property

Hillcrest from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

what would your answer be?

We met up with David Dunkley Gyimah yesterday afternoon to shoot some photos of him. He is a guru when it comes to video delivery on the web. He took time from his busy schedule to spend time with us before jetting off to yet another conference in the US.
(David’s website)

I am a video journalist. March 2009.

Congratulations to the winner De’Borah.

Testing 123. THE FINAL. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

A colegue from far away contacted me to talk about multimedia and stuff. They had a few questions that I am of course more than happy to answer. Learning how do soundslides, gathering audio, shooting enough good pics and developing interview techniques to the computer side of the whole thing is not easy when traditionally local news photographers have only really had to worry about getting 2-3 decent shots for the print edition.

I take every opportunity I get to eulogize about the benifits I have got personally and profesionally from making the transition and have been trying to get a course set up so that I can help other photographers develop.
I’ve always been a photographer first but, working for a news operation means we are also journalists. Only change is that now, I am a multimedia photojournalist.

Yes, it takes allot of hard work and many hours, mostly my own time, to get to somewhere nearing getting to be alright at making multimedia. I think I have made pretty good progress but there is a long road ahead.

Is it worth it? A difficult question. If you are self motivated, if you can take the decision to occasionally have put many hours work in the bin, if you are prepared to make the effort to get your brain into gear and biggest of all, if you can identify what will make an interesting piece of MM that the readers will find engaging. then I guess the answer is a solid yes.

How much longer will I be able to, or can afford to carry on developing? who knows. The core tasks of a local newspaper photographer are to shoot stills for the print edition anything else requires more work. Multimedia is hard to do and we all like to be stroked once in a while.

We have a challenge on the picture desk at the moment. To ‘un gum’ our eyes. The brief is to make a 1-2min multimedia piece on whatever we like.

I have made this one but rejected it as my main entry. Paul and Danny are on the final furlong with theirs and we will be posting them here and hope that you vote to decide the winner.
1st prize is a meal for one at KFC

The Drive. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Listening to the radio on the way in this morning I heard a very interesting piece, in between all the Obama coverage. Its a story about a species of Dung Beetle studied in Peru.
This insect is attacking and eating millipedes 10 times its length.
D. valgum no longer dines on dung. It has evolved and now prefers to decapitate it’s prey and then devour their insides.

In order to become a carnivore, the beetle has developed longer legs and a bigger head.

Its quite a nice example of how I feel we photographers are, or need to be. Once a one trick pony we all have to evolve into multimedia photojournalists or die. Personally, I feel my legs are growing a little longer but I still need to work on the bigger head.

(BBC story on the bug)

Florence







Photographs by: David Berman

Thanks to my friends for a great trip.

Le Ski. Jan 09 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

A bit late due to somebody breaking the office. A selection of our photographs that we feel are the reason we love local news. No need to push and shove with the pack, the opportunity to take some time to meet interesting people







Photographs by: David Berman, Danny Fitzpatrick, Paul Martyniuk and Kevin Shaw

I’ve been looking a lot at what my colleagues in the US have been doing in the changes in the ways they are delivering news. Predominantly it seems they are stills photographers making the move into video. Some brave souls are now broadcasting live pictures via a piece of free software called Mogulus. I have been looking at it for some time and, prompted by the desire to raise my voice and probably more importantly, having a house full of children overnight, I retreated to my room and signed up.

I plan on doing a small test this afternoon and would be very happy if you would have a look at my progress and contribute to the discussion. Assuming I can get the kit to work, starting at 1pm I will make a journey around town. Tell me where you want me to go and I will go there.

I’m thinking how amazing it has got from shooting stills for Friday’s paper to potentially being able to bring live pictures from a fire or, 100th Birthday!

LINK TO LIVE VDEO

George Hoole, photographer, has decided to hang up his cameras after 34 years. He started his career in the 1960’s and documented life in and around London for various publications before joining the Advertiser. George suffered a serious stroke 30 years ago but continued his career becoming the Croydon Advertiser archivist. George has been offering us his opinions on the news and our photography for many years. Both a friend and a mentor, he spoke to me about some of his memories and favorite images. Happy retirement George.







Photographs by: David Berman

George Hoole Bio. The shoot. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

More like barred! OK, so my scientific survey into the correct use of baby Jesus dollies wasn’t strictly speaking all that scientific. I just got bored asking the teachers if it was a boy or a girl doll.

The ‘Are you a good sheep or a baaad sheep?’ gag just started to sound like some cack laden and overplayed advert in my head. A bit like that anoying Des O’Connor advert for Tesco that plagues every TV viewing I make at the moment.

With just 2 more nativities to go, a sub editor asking when I can rush the pics back to make sure they make it into the supplement these kids tomorrow are only going to get one take at ‘away in a manger’ Blimey, its worse than XFactor. if a bit more of a crush at times.

It’s been a production nightmare with two schools discovering that they didn’t have permission for a child to be either in the paper or on the web site. This meant scrapping one show all together and remaking 2, removing said child from the running order. Its all done now touch wood and come Wednesday I can get onto the serious business of worrying about budgets and how to get a gallon out of a pint glass.

Sitbonzo *1 had her Christmas music concert on Saturday. The regular cello club had their 5 mins of fame and followed close behind the frankly strangled cat like violins.

Christmas Cello concert. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Just me and little Sitbonzo *2 tomorrow as the girls are off to the cat show in Birmingham. I Don’t get the trains though, the fare is something like £60 with a 4 hour journey and 3 changes! what would that be by car? 3 hours and about the same cost in fuel ( if that ) I just cant see how we are trying to get people off the roads and onto public transport.
Anyhow, apart from taking the girls to the station which involves getting up stupid early, just like most days, the boys will mostly be loafing about, eating junk food, playing playstation, getting hair cuts and doing buddy stuff.

It dosent get a whole lot better than that.

bon weekend.

John Fisher school vs Wimbledon College Daily Mail cup. Under 18’s

RUGBY. John Fisher School vs Wimbledon College. 6th November 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Around 500 pre 1905 cars set off early from Hyde Park to drive the 60 miles to Brighton.





Photographs by: David Berman

Winter fashion. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

With the recession deepening the only shops that seem to be doing well are ones like this, the 61st 99p store to open in the UK. Many people waited in the cold for this mornings opening in North End Croydon.

Credit Crunch. 29th October 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Croydon Food Festival. 22nd October 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Miss Croydon Advertiser model competition promo. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Black history month. Ida Solomon. October 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Join me in a stroll through this lovely wood which has been used by man since Neolithic times. Popular with dog walkers, horse riders and families it really is a haven of green just a short way from the centre of Croydon.

Walk in the woods. Croham Hurst. 3rd Octonber 2008. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Amber the counting poodle. 1st October 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Jessop House. New home of the Croydon Advertiser from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

BREAKING NEWS – Teenage boy stabbed to death in South Croydon – Saturday.

EBar murder. BREAKING NEWS from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Caroline and Ellie are off to Oxford University after winning choral scholarships. Filmed in the chapel of Old Palace School Croydon.

Oxford choral scholars. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Nilanthan Murddi died on the 16th August 2008. These thoughts are from his Sister Santhiya and cousins Ramya Muraliidaram and Vinisha Mahniuasaghan following the Croydon Advertiser Knife crime conference on Tuesday.

Knife crime. Nilanthan Murddi. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Billy Ward died on the 8th December 2007. These thoughts are from his mother Jenny following the Croydon Advertiser Knife crime conference on Tuesday.

Knife crime. Billy Ward. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Evren Anil died on the 13th August 2007. These thoughts are from his cousin Yasemin Aray following the Croydon Advertiser Knife crime conference on Tuesday.

Knife crime. Evren Anil. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Eugene Attram died on the 4th November 2006. These thoughts are from his father Isaac following the Croydon Advertiser Knife crime conference on Tuesday.

Knife crime. Eugene Attram. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Gavin Brown died on the 14th October 2005. These thoughts are from his mother Anita following the Croydon Advertiser Knife crime conference on Tuesday.

Knife crime. Gavin Brown. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

The second in our new series of gadget reviews

REVIEW Inspect A Gadget. 19th August 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

** BREAKING NEWS****
A teenage boy stabbed in the neck during a brawl in Croydon in the early hours of the morning has died.
The boy, believed to be 17 years old, was attacked after a scuffle broke out between six to eight men on Sumner Road near the junction with London Road at about 1.30am this morning.

West Croydon murder. from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Latest shows are on this page but use the search box, look through the categories or browse the archive. If you don’t find what you are looking for just drop us a line.
It’s always nice to hear from you. Please leave comments, ideas for new soundslides or video. email.

You may need to download the latest flash plugin to view some multimedia content they are free and you can get them by clicking the links below.
Flash (download here)Quicktime (download here)

Esther and Andy Pag set off with 9 other cars to drive from London to Greece using only cars powered by vegetable oil or bio-diesel made from used chip fat.

Grease to Greece. 16th August 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

The first in a series of reviews.

Inspect A gadget from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

An interview with Daryl Strawbridge. Eyewitness to the Crane collapse at Croydon Park Hotel. June 2007. Daryl was in the park with his girlfriend when he witnessed and photographed this dramatic accident. He recounts his experience with us and we reshow the Soundslide made in the hours following the incident.

REVISIT. The Croydon Park Hotel Crane collapse June 2007 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Fire Beulah Road. Thornton Heath. 8th July 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Fire. Beulah Road. Thornton Heath. 8th July 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Skip lorry crashes into Carshalton Ponds. 7th July 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

protest from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Board – The Directors Cut. Using over 2500 still images captured on Danny’s Nikon D300 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

The Croydon High School A level art show. 24th June 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

My Daddy. Happy fathers day. June 2008 from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Fashion at Riddlesdown School from Sitbonzo on Vimeo.

Council remove cars from Sitbonzo on .

Jane Saunders and Manning Ltd have been making orthopaedic footwear and manufacturing orthoses for 35 years. We have an exclusive behind the scenes tour of their factory in Thornton Heath which supplies most of the south of Englands demand for specailised footwear.

Photographs by: David Berman.

Click on the picture to play. Duration 3:40mins

use your mouse to navigate left or right. expand the screen with the button next to the menu at the bottom.

Chantel Phillips is a Streetdancing Bellydancer.
Photographs by: Danny Fitzpatrick.

Click on the picture to play. Duration 1:25mins

Funeral of Evren Anil. 26th September 2007.
Photographs by: Ian Stratton.

click on the picture to play.
Duration 3:10mins

Join us as we vist the Surrey Air Ambulance at its base in Dunsfold..
Photographs by: David Berman.

click on the picture to play.
Duration 2:30mins

28 million Scouts around the world celebrate the 100th Birthday of the organisation by gathering at 8am (local time) to renew their Scout Promise and celebrate the dawn of a new century of scouting. Join us at the 25th Purley (St Mark’s) Scout Group as the gather. Followed of course by a slap up full English breakfast! .
Photographs by: David Berman.

click on the picture to play.
Duration 2mins

Students from schools across Croydon have taken part in a fashion design week at Westwood Language College.
Photographs by: David Berman.

click on the picture to play.
Duration 1.40mins

Students from Croydon College hold a fashion show.

Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play.
Duration 3:43mins

Croydon’s Talking Newspaper for the Blind will shortly be produced digitally.

Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play.
Duration 2:30mins

We join children’s author Kathy Kacer at her visit to students at Woodmansterne Primary School.

Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play.
Duration 1:43mins

A worker remains in a serious condition following a dramatic crane collapse in Croydon town centre.

Photographs by: Daryl Strawbridge / Ian Stratton
click on the picture to play.
Duration 2:58mins

Nicola Hunt opens her wildlife garden to the public this Sunday

Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play.
Duration 1:03 mins

Kate Moss designs for Top Shop. Lisa and best friend Roxanne arrived at 6.15am to get their hands on their new ‘frocks’

Photographs by: David Berman, click on the picture to play.
Duration 1:44mins

watch

Photographs by: On Demand Media, Danny Fitzpatrick and David Berman, click on the picture to play
2:18mins

watch

Photographs by: Danny Fitzpatrick
click on the picture to play
2min06sec

watch

The Ice rink is built for the new show at Fairfield Halls. Peter Pan on ice.
Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play
1min23sec

watch

New Addington band The Oracle release their debut single on 30th April.
Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play
1min23sec

watch

We have just registered our podcast at podcast Alley.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-8a9113c2ec7209fbea4777e3f38392fc}

photos by: David Berman
2min 52sec
click on picture to play
Watch

Over a hundred Belly dancers took part in a sponsored dance in the Whitgift Shopping Centre, Croydon to raise funds for Comic Relief.

Wally Clark has just celebrated his 100th birthday
photos by: David Berman
3min
click on picture to play
Watch

Drinkers from the Cricketers Arms put on some frocks and take part in a fundraising football match.
photos by: Ian Stratton
1min 36sec
click on picture to play
Watch

photos by: David Berman
1min19sec
click on picture to play


Watch

The London BreakBeat Orchestra visits Old Palace School and gets feet tapping
Photographs by: Danny Fitzpatrick
click on the picture to play
1min51sec
watch

Photographs by: Ian Stratton
click on the picture to play
1min31sec

watch

Photographs by: David Berman
click on the picture to play
1min 25sec
watch

The Bouncers Skipping Club

Photographs by: Danny Fitzpatrick

click on the picture to play 1min 43sec
watch

Photographs by: David Berman

click on the picture to play
38sec
watch

Photographs by: David Berman

click on the picture to play
1min50sec
raj

Photographs by: David Berman

click on the picture to play
1min49sec
spring

By: Danny Fitzpatrick

click on the picture to play
2min14sec
books

Photographs by: Fergus Burnett.

click on the picture to play
1min40sec
orse

Forestdale Primary School have a visit from IROKO African theatre company.
by: David Berman

click on the picture to play
1min07sec
drumming

Police Community Support Officer Sarah Alderman is in training to continue her unbeaten record.

By: Danny Fitzpatrick.

click on the picture to play
1min31sec
Boxer

The London Wildlife hospital is 10 years old this weekend.
By: David Berman

click on the picture to play
2min12sec
wild

Year 10 students at Addington High School prepare for a very special show.

By: David Berman
click on the picture to play
1min11sec
fash

‘Dance With Grace’ dance school may not be able to put on its annual performance

By: David Berman
click on the picture to play
2min20sec
dance

Photos by:
David Berman, Fergus Burnett, Picture Partnership.
Commentary by: Sarah Bailey
click on the picture to play
59sec
snow

\
At 15 years old Jeremy Cole may be the youngest church organist in the country.

By: David Berman
click on the picture to play
1min08sec
organ

Beanos record shop has been on the brink of closing for some while. The Advertiser whent to interview owner David Lashmar. He told us of his plans to revitalise this Croydon landmark.

By: David Berman

click on the picture to play
1min 44sec
beano

Ken Parr who shoots at the Croydon rifle and pistol club is hoping for sucess in the 2012 Olympics.
By: Danny Fitzpatrick.

click on the picture to play. 2min27sec

rifle

Phillip and Queenie celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
4th January 2007
By: Danny Fitzpatrick.

click on the picture to play. 1min31sec
diamond

As pressure for new homes in the South East continues to grow, more and more old housing stock is being demolished to make way for new dwellings.
Charles Brooking manages to recover interesting and historically valuable architectural items. This fine Victorian house in Ewell is just about to be pulled down
By: David Berman
click on the photograph to play the show 1min 25sec
house

Rob Edwards has been selling Jukeboxes for the past 25 years. His shop in Thornton Heath caught my eye as I drove past.

By: David Berman

Click on the photograph to play the show
4min28sec
jukebox

Ewell St Mary’s Morris Men’s traditional Boxing day parade and performance of the Mummers play in Ewell.
The Mummers play depicts The killing of St George and his resurection.
By: David Berman
Click on the photograph to play the show
3mins55sec
morris