The experience of dining on the DU campus, with its various food options and locations, was the theme of my audio slideshow.

Originally, the photos were going to be a blend of long, medium, and close-ups of employees cooking, students ordering, a variety of food options, and then sitting down to enjoy food. My thoughts about this topic were that students currently enrolled at DU would want to know their food options and the locations that could serve their needs. I also wanted to show potential new students what they could enjoy if they chose to enroll here at DU. However, it became clear that it would be a challenge, as students did not want their pictures taken, nor did the dining staff.

The shots created for the audio slideshow are mainly medium to close-up. These were created to fill the frame and be straightforward. There are times when photos look down at the food, just like you would when walking the buffet line, to give it an authentic look. A few of the photos are close-ups of food to show its flavor, color, and texture. There are a couple of wide or long shots to establish a food location, students waiting in line, or the student body sitting to enjoy their meal. Tried to keep the shots consistent throughout to create continuity.

The audio on paper was a combination of sounds from the kitchen as chefs cooked food, chatter of students in line ordering, small talk, and their opinions while eating, and sounds of silverware or kitchen utensils in motion. Food sizzling on the grill, cooks talking about their craft, etc. Putting that plan in motion was another challenge. Students did not want to be interviewed or recorded. Plenty of the food was buffet-style, so there weren’t many sounds of food cooking. Cooks/chefs did not want to be interviewed or have their actions recorded. I was able to get one interview with a student who dines at the various DU campus dining options. That audio helped tell the story of DU dining and matched various shots throughout the audio slideshow.

My overall reflection on this audio slideshow topic is that the idea on paper was a great choice: the storyboard of various shots, student involvement, and audio from employees and students were all great; however, the actual plan in motion was completely different. People were not receptive to my vision of established shots and audio. No one wanted to have their picture taken or to be interviewed briefly about their experience. An age gap creates a lack of trust or understanding, forming a brick wall that keeps the creative juices from flowing. I had plenty of good ideas to establish this topic’s importance to the student body. Ultimately, I had to work with what was available. Many shots were done quickly, especially of students or staff. I was unable to get multiple shots of the food being cooked or eaten from different angles. The audio was fine, but the ambient sounds of utensils or chatter would have added an extra layer to the slideshow and drawn people in. More wide shots to establish the scene would have helped, followed by closer shots to bring in the students, the food options, and the connections they make while eating. To me, this assignment would have worked better in a group, either by collaborating with a fellow student on their dining experience or by convincing other students to help create a meaningful, student-led collaborative project that could be showcased on the DU website and serve as a powerful portfolio piece.