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Nice presentation by the Rockford Register Star for its coverage of a local bridge implosion.
The fantastic photos by staff photographer Max Gersh show the moments before and after the bridge was demolished. The high-speed photography, opposite of time-lapse photography, shows details that are virtually impossible to view otherwise because of the speed at which the action takes place.
Really neat photos.
This approach to a great way for print publications to show a sequence of events that. My only objection to this package is the order in which these photos were presented. First of all, these photos are meant to be shown in sequence. Seeing what is perhaps the most compelling of the frames displayed large — and first — steals some of the thunder (pun intended) of the package as a whole.
Comparing the main photo to the four below, the dominant image appears to be the third frame in the sequence, judging by the debris flying upward and size of the splashes on the water. That large photo and the third smaller photo also seem really similar. Here's a closer look:
To be more effective, I would have argued to place the smaller photos above the larger one. Readers would be more likely to go to the an image at the top left, follow the sequence and end on the larger image. Here, seeing that great, large photo first, the smaller photos don't have as much impact.
On a front page that is always tight for space, I think the Star did a nice job getting five photos in that package. Because of the similar photos, I would have suggested using only four. Doing so, though, may have caused the package to run deeper, which may have forced a fifth photo.
It's a bit tight overall, but a strong page.
Want to see more? Check out Gersh's gallery from the implosion here.
The cutline mentions a video, so naturally I had to check it out. It's not linked to from Corina Curry's story online. When I found it here, I learned why. Oops!
Luckily, someone with a cell photo had a better vantage point and uploaded a video here. The implosion begins at the 39-second mark.
Nice page!
Joe Greco is corporate design director for GateHouse Media.
Contact him at jgreco@gatehousemedia.com.
Missed front page of the day? Find the archive here.
UPDATE: Jennie Broecker, deputy managing editor at the Rockford Register Star, politely responded to my remarks about the video. Apparently, I didn't see the link to Corina Curry's video, which was in clear view midway down the right rail on the same page as her story. Here's Broecker's note in full:
Joe:
Glad to see our work on Saturday’s paper recognized on GHNewsroom. Thanks. It was a fun day! Got a lot of Facebook reaction and 2,000 page views on reporter Corina Curry’s video alone.
FYI, since you might have missed it because the videos got buried by the sidebar:
Corina’s video was linked to from the story; hers is first, the one atop the News Tower is second and then two other community ones.
Have a great day.
JENNIE BROECKER
Deputy managing editor
Rockford Register Star
815-987-1242 – office
815-987-1365 - fax
twitter.com/rrstar | facebook.com/rockfordregisterstar
Thank you, Jennie, for being so polite. And thank you for pointing out my blunder. I do apologize. And, for the record, Curry's video is quite good for the proximity to the detonation. If you like implosions, do yoursefl a favor, check it out here!
