Solo - a film about videojournalism from david dunkley gyimah on Vimeo.
There is art in this thing we do, a non-quantifiable asset often hard to describe.
Some see the words, others see the spaces in between that connect the words. Many see what the eye records, but the artist sees the syllogism, past the obvious, reinterpreting and finding new meaning.
Can it be learned, studied ? Why oh yes! But often it comes from study, that insatiable and tireless habit to know why.
There are few geniuses in this world who can tilt the power of transaction, cause and effect, to be asymmetrical.
In life you get out what you put in.
Many through dexterity and greying hairs have become masters of their trade, but have not forgotten the respect for their craft. The writer chews over every letter, syllable, that emerges from the tips of their frayed fingers to the keys and magically finds itself on the screen.
But today we ask for the Master and Jack of all trades. It's not uncommon. Renaissance was coined centuries ago.
But have we become arrogant in those ways? New journalism does not prescribe old journalism as dead. For without one you cannot have the other. Without the foundation can we build sky scrapers that touch new space?
And have the masters also forgotten that at some stage they too must relinquish their crown? Time moves on, but deference to them must remain. And we're not simply talking about the Cronkites.
There is art in this thing we do, but it is one honed through late nights, early mornings and a bid to see past that where many will tell you it can't be done.
For all the great writers, many of whom had lean years, there are countless others clamouring to get to the top. For all the great videographers, another tier of peers awaits the chance to proclaim their prowess. For every multimediaist, there are countless more playing with form who say they have seen the future.
There is art in this thing we do, but often art does not seek a common consensus. It is the confidence of you and appreciation of others. It is the he or she that sticks their neck out for others to throw invectives.
It is he or she who dares say something that many of us find preposterous, only to realise eventually the haste in our reply was ill-thought.
Camera in eyes, full site streaming at 1gb, gesture video calling up by voice recognition: the hapless thoughts of fantasists.
There is art in this thing we do and sometimes when you're not deluded, you're the only one that knows and sees it. Till others see it as well. That is the greys in your hair, solemnity in your voice and the skill of your pen and video.
Therein lies the art.
