Creating Space for Storytelling
For some, the right place to tell a story is behind a microphone or a pulpit. For others, it's a comfortable chair in their own living room.
For Dan Guenther, the ideal place to share a story about nature is, of course, among the thriving trees and waving grass of a naturalized greenspace. As a board member of the Quinte Field Naturalists, it makes sense that he finds his flow in the great outdoors.
The Power of Context
Finding the right space for a story is one of the best zero-cost ways to strengthen the work we do. Putting a trucker behind the wheel of a big rig isn't just about establishing a relevant setting; it's also about nudging the interviewee into the active headspace that unlocks memories and experiences. Psychologists call this context-dependent memory. Some might even say that the right match between location and storyteller can promote a state of flow.
Managing Environmental Noise
One challenge of this valuable technique is managing environmental noise: wind, air conditioning vents, road noise, or chirping birds. Case in point: I once recorded an interview between Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of students. We chose the outdoors, of course. Sadly, the recording bordered on unusable, because we were serenaded by an unrelenting chorus of late-afternoon birds.
Fortunately, there are fixes for many of these annoyances, including windscreens for microphones, built-in background filtration, and post-production adjustments. Knowing which method to reach for is a matter of trial and error and lived experience.
For anyone setting out to create audio or visual stories, I'd recommend a quick test recording of the environment using your microphone or even your mobile phone. Then jump in the car, your handiest sound booth, and play it back at medium to high volume. You'll know quickly whether you've found the right space or whether you need to make adjustments to capture just the right sound.
In this sample, hear how naturally Dan speaks about the work of the Tree Committee of the Quinte Field Naturalists. The entire interview was recorded as we walked through Clifford "Sonny" Belch Park in Belleville.
