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How to Do Fieldwork
Sound-recording equipment John and Alan
Lomax
transported in the trunk of their car
during their fieldwork expeditions. |
"I remember well the first electrically
driven machine that I operated in 1933," John A. Lomax writes. "The
amplifier weighed more than one hundred pounds; the turntable case
weighed another one hundred; two Edison batteries weighed seventy-five
pounds each. The microphone, cable, the tools, etc., accounted for
sufficient weight to make the total five hundred pounds. . . . In
order to carry them in the car I tore out the back seat . . ." "Field
Experiences with Recording Machines,"Southern Folklore Quarterly,
vol. 1, no.2
(June 1937), The University of Florida in
Cooperation with the Southeastern Folklore
Society, p. 58). American Folklife Center photo |
Preparation and Basic Supplies
A simple checklist for fieldworkers might
include the following items.
The list will vary according to the project:
1. Notebooks, pens, and pencils
2. Camera, film, or digital medium, and accessories as needed, such as an
assortment of lenses, a flash, lighting equipment, and a tripod
3. Audio or video recorder (battery-operated ones are useful); microphones;
plenty of fresh tape, discs, or sound cards; batteries; and an extension
cord
4. Tape measure for recording the dimensions of material objects
5. Appropriate dress, which is both comfortable and/or right for the occasion.
Some fieldworkers need a stout pair of shoes and casual clothes, for example;
others, collecting at events such as a family dinner or a church service,
will need more formal clothes.
6. Release forms -- sometimes
also called "consent" or "permission" forms
(see sample forms section)
7. Maps
Sound Recording
When John Lomax recorded American folksongs for the Library of Congress
in the 1930s, he traveled through the southern states with a heavy and
cumbersome disc recording machine in the trunk of his automobile. Today,
however, there are lightweight, digital and analog recorders on the market,
of various prices and qualities. Recording technologies are changing and
merging so rapidly that even professionals debate over the "best" equipment
to use. Much of the debate focuses on the durability of the recording,
once made, since long-term preservation is of utmost importance. For that
reason, archivists usually advise collectors to avoid DAT tape because
of concerns about deterioration.
At the American Folklife Center, folklorist
Peter Bartis instructs Celina Campas, a teacher from California,
in the use of a cassette-tape recording machine. It is important
for the beginning fieldworker to become thoroughly familiar with
the operation of documentary equipment. Photo August 2002 by
James Hardin |
The use of sound recorders has made the collection of folklore a different
task than it was in the days when pencil and paper were the primary means
of collecting; and the ability to record the performer's voice has preserved
a human presence for future generations to hear and study. Recording is
important because it collects the information just as it was spoken, sung,
or played. But the audio recording does not make the fieldworker's job
effortless. There is much to learn about the equipment before going into
the field, much to do while you are there, and much to do when you return.
The recorded material must be numbered and logged, and the social and cultural
context in which it was made must be described as part of your fieldnotes.
Because video cameras are able to capture and document a broader context,
their use by fieldworkers has increased (see the section on video cameras).
Here are some hints on using a sound recorder -- many also apply to
the use of a video camera:
1. If you have the opportunity to make advance arrangements for the interview,
mention that you would like to record it. Be sure to tell the informant
what the recording will be used for (to be placed in an archive for research
purposes, to be used in the preparation of a publication or an exhibit,
a term paper, etc.), and make sure that he or she understands and approves.
Professional folklorists always ask that a consent form be signed. Collectors
should anticipate that future commercial recordings, exhibits, and publications
both in print and online may result from their work. Sometimes members
of the informant's family will have proprietary feelings about the person
and traditions in which you are interested, so you will want to consult
with them as well. It may be helpful from the start to offer a copy of
the recording or photograph, or to agree to play back the interview for
approval and commentary.
2. Speak directly to the person and respond to statements in an encouraging
way. Try not to be preoccupied with the recording machine; practice with
it before the interview to ensure that you feel comfortable using it.
3. Do not be afraid to have your own questions, comments, and responses
on the recording. They place such documentation in context and account
for the reason and logic behind the responses. Leave the recorder on to
make an uninterrupted recording of the session. But avoid using such expressions
as "I see" or "uh-huh," which are likely to be distracting
to someone using the recording later on.
4. If you are using tape, sixty-minute and
ninety-minute cassettes are recommended. Longer ones are subject to stretching
and tearing. Cassettes
that are fastened with screws in the corners are usually of high-quality
construction, and you can easily take them apart if the tape snaps or jams.
If using a CD or minidisc machine, buy high-quality discs. Do not try to
economize in the purchase of your recording medium.
During a workshop on sound-recording techniques
at an American Folklife Center field school conducted in partnership
with Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, in June 2002, Selena Lim, Gloria
Paterson, and Bob Thometz take turns setting up and operating the
equipment. Photo by David A. Taylor |
5. Set the microphone as close to the performer as possible or use a lavaliere-type "clip-on" microphone.
Beware of ambient noise, such as the hum of a refrigerator or traffic noise
from the street outside a window.
6. Number your recordings as you take them off the machine so as not to
confuse them. Later you can write other necessary information on the cassette
or disc: title of the project, the name of the performer or speaker, name
of the interviewer, date and location of the recording, and the kind of
material or key subjects recorded (for example, "songs," "stories," or "weaving
techniques").
7. Do not trust the label alone. Professional archivists recommend that
you record on each cassette or disc an announcement of date, location,
and persons present be spoken directly onto the recording at the start
of the recording session and at the start of each tape in succession.
8. Listen to the interview and write a "log" or topic-by-topic
summary for each recording, using as a guide the example in the back of
this pamphlet. Make sure the label on the recording matches the heading
on the recording log (recording number, date, and names of people or events).
9. Store recordings in a dry, temperature-stable atmosphere away from
electronic or magnetic equipment. Be sure they are at least eighteen-inches
from fluorescent lights, telephones, and electric motors. Remove recordings
from your automobile as soon as possible and avoid the common practices
of resting recordings on recording equipment, television set, and VCR or
DVD players (see section on archival considerations).
Still Photograph Documentation
Ken Light photographs four generations of an
Italian American extended family in Pueblo, Colorado, while several
family members hold cherished photographs of relatives. From the
American Folklife Center's 1990 Italian-Americans in the West
Project. Photo by David Taylor |
Fieldworkers should attempt to use the highest-quality camera, flash,
and lighting equipment available to them. For images comparable to good
traditional film cameras, digital cameras with at least 3.2 mega-pixels
should be used. Extraordinary technical advances in both film and digital
cameras allow even the most amateur among us to take good pictures. But
good photographs alone do not satisfy the need for comprehensive data.
They must be accompanied by notes that provide information concerning location,
date, subject matter, and additional observations. Prepare a photo log
for each roll of film or disc you use (see sample forms). Write along the
back edge with a soft pencil and mark prints with numbers that correlate
with a photo log sheet. Slides may be identified with roll and frame numbers
to match them with the photo logs. Digital images should be printed in
smaller formats (similar to film's contact sheets).
Before the interview or photographic session, check to be sure batteries,
flash, and extra film or discs are on hand. Usually by the end of an interview,
even the shyest persons will agree to having their pictures taken. A complimentary
photograph will be appreciated by the informant and can open the way for
further contact and the development of greater rapport. Remember that the
photograph is a tool to help you collect and understand traditional culture.
The documentary information depicted in the photograph is of primary importance;
the photograph's aesthetic appeal is secondary. Of course, a combination
of art and information is most desirable, especially since photographs
may later be used for educational displays.
Peter Bartis inspects one of the American Folklife
Center’s digital video cameras, in preparation for an interview,
to ensure that it is functioning properly. Photo August 2002
by James Hardin |
Take enough pictures to properly document the person, event, process,
or performance you are studying, whether the various steps in the construction
of a chair or the way a musician holds his or her instrument. Some photographs
should include the normal surroundings of the person, object, or performance.
They should show, for example, the household of the person interviewed,
the use of space, decorations, and characteristic details such as an icon
corner or workshop.
In the past, professionals photographed with both color slide film and
black-and-white negative film, to have a wider range of options for using
the photographs. Color slides were once very desirable for illustrated
talks, such as those in the classroom, while black-and-white prints are
cheaper to reproduce and therefore may be more desirable for publications.
Once again, however, technologies have brought new modes of presentation
that are mostly digital and computer-oriented. In some cases, you may want
to use the entire range of possibilities to capture the still image. If
you have a good camera and want to avoid the high cost of the best digital
camera, remember that relatively inexpensive scanners can provide digitized
images should they be needed. The general rule is the slower the film speed,
the higher the quality of slide or negative. Most photographers, however,
find ASA 400 black-and-white film suitable for general purpose work. For
the initial processing, professionals frequently order contact sheets.
Contact sheets provide an economical method for determining which negative
frames should be printed and are useful reference tools that may be easily
filed. Digital cameras produce a similar product.
Video Documentation
The popularity of affordable high-quality video recording equipment will
encourage many to consider its application to fieldwork. This is particularly
so since digital video cameras often may be used for still photography.
Digital video cameras with sophisticated features and simplified operating
procedures are leading to a new era of field documentation and provide
opportunities for studying, preserving, and teaching.
As with still photography, the first concern of video camera users in
the field should be the development of straightforward documentary footage.
Leave the art of filmmaking to the specialist. Consider the following:
Peter Bartis clips a lavalier microphone to
the blouse of Taru Spiegel, while Veterans History Project staffer
Timothy Roberts readies a digital camera for an interview. Using
separate microphone, rather than the camera’s built-in microphone,
provides superior sound. Photo August 2002 by James Hardin |
1. Avoid excessive movement of the camera. A common mistake is the overuse
of zooming and panning.
2. As with sound recordings, announce the date, location, event, and people
present (as well as interviewer's name) directly on to the recording.
3. Prepare a video log for each event recorded (see sample audio and video
log). Label cassette boxes and cassettes.
4. If music or narration is of primary interest, consider using high-quality
sound recording machines and microphones in addition to a video camera.
5. Since management of video equipment usually
requires more than one person (unlike the use of a sound recording machine,
once microphones have been set),
video recording may require team fieldwork or a technical assistant -- particularly
if the subject of your interview is in motion.
The Release Form
Try to anticipate the future uses of the materials you collect. Fieldworkers
should always ask the person interviewed for permission to share both the information
and the audio and visual documentation created during their visit. Permission
should be given in writing, using a prepared document called a "release
form" (sometimes called a "consent form"). This is particularly
important if the documentary materials being created will be housed in a public
archive or used in a public venue such as online presentations, exhibits, print
publications, documentary films, or television.
At the American Folklife Center's June 2000 field
school in Bloomington, Indiana, held in partnership with Indiana University's
Folklife Institute and the Evergreen Institute, team members Chris Tobar-Dupres
(right) and Ronald J. Stephens interview Claude Rice about Bloomington’s
courthouse square. Photo by David A. Taylor |
The interviewee/performer/informant signs a written release form to indicate
his or her awareness of the goals of the project and willingness to allow remarks
or photographs to be used in public educational programs or for other purposes.
Release forms may be very specific (such as requesting permission to use a
person's image in a video produced by a high school classroom), or they may
be very broad, so that the documentation may be used in ways it is impossible
to anticipate at the time of the interview. The broadest release form is often
best and more likely to be favored by institutional and public archives. An
example of a release form used by the American Folklife Center is included
in this booklet.
Fieldworkers, including the photographer, the person who ran the video camera,
and the person who ran the sound recorder may all be asked to sign release
forms if the results of their fieldwork are deposited in a public archive or
library. Why? To give the institution the right to publish or exhibit the material
and to allow use by others.
Even though a release form has been signed, fieldworkers should notify persons
whose pictures, words, songs, or artifacts are being used for public display
(especially when that use includes Internet presentations). A signed release
form, of the kind used by most field projects, does not mean that an informant
relinquishes his or her rights to the material. It is a good idea to allow
space on the form for special provisions of use or permissions negotiated by
the informant and the collector.
Generally speaking, a release form is not needed in cases where people are
publically participating in public events -- a photograph of a large group
of people watching a parade or dancing at a festival, for example. But use
caution when photographing or recording professional performers participating
in staged events, since many professional performers do not allow such documentation
without their consent.
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