The journalism industry is going through particularly tough times, with revenue from ads and subscriptions declining considerably.

However, during the harshest economic climates, innovative ideas flourish more than ever, and news outlets are tapping into the power of convergence: mixing forms of communication to create multimedia packages that deliver stories that are accessible by the “Web 2.0″ generation.

Fortunately for photographers, visuals are an integral part of the multimedia wave.

Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to check out our August post on some of the best newspaper photo blogs out there, as well as some of the multimedia features on most newspaper sites, like the New York Times, SF Gate, the San Jose Mercury News, and some college newspapers, including my alma mater, the Daily Bruin.

Many sites feature audio slideshows, which are one of the simplest and easiest forms of multimedia storytelling–if you’ve got the right tools and elements:

1. Photos that tell a story.

Whether you’re photographing a family holiday, sporting event, or documentary news, try to shoot a variety of images from different angles of different moments. Take close-up and wide photographs.

After the shoot, pick photos that have a narrative or chronological order of events and happenings.

2. A recorder and quality audio that matches the story.

Use a digital recorder that can transfer sound files onto your computer. I usually use a MicroMemo attached to my iPod video (ancient, I know). I’ve also had some hands-on time with the Olympus DS series, which capture very crisp audio. The higher end model, the DS-61 has different modes to capture directional sound, which is very useful when recording specific types of sounds such as ambient noise versus a single person speaking.

When recording audio, find a quiet place to capture interviews and voices, to reduce distracting background noise.

3. Audio editing software.

Audacity is a free audio editing program that can be used to cut, edit, splice, and record audio–all very straightforward.

You can also use programs like Adobe Audition for more in-depth editing.

4. Slideshow software.

Several publications use Final Cut Pro to put together an audio slideshow. iMovie also can do the job.

For fast production and ready web publishing, try Soundslides. A free demo is available on the site.

Soundslides is a very intuitive program for uploading photos and audio, and adjusting timing points and transitions. It also has a feature for exporting to web if you have an FTP set up.

5. Share.

Share your project on your website. If you don’t have one, check out Weebly.com to make a free customizable site.

6. Be inspired.

Check out some of the links above and explore a bit for ideas.

One of my favorite examples of the simple, yet powerful integration of photography with another medium is the package by New York Times, One in 8 Million.

The project tells one story each week, focusing on one central character, someone you might brush shoulders with on the subway of New York. The subject describes, in his or her own words, anything from their own personal struggles, triumphs, daily life or something that defines them. The images work to visually capture the story with a timeless quality, in black and white.

Together, the two mediums form a very intimate local human-interest story that fosters a sense of community–which is quite an impressive undertaking considering the expansiveness of New York City.

If you’ve got a favorite multimedia site or an audio slideshow to show off, share a link!

Image Credits: Shure SM58 by laffy4k, Shot Glass by S. Su, rage by murplejane, IMG_0864 by emkladil

Adding a vignette to a photograph can add depth to the composition and draw attention to interesting details.

However, a cautionary word: overdoing post-processing and editing techniques like vignetting can be at best distasteful. At worst, it might seem to over-compensate for what might simply be an otherwise uninteresting photograph.

Generally, the less editing needed on a photograph, the better the photograph. And naturally, the better the photograph, the better the photographer.

The same idea can apply to using vignettes: less is more.

Most editing programs like Photoshop and Adobe Camera Raw have a setting that adds vignettes, but I prefer the freedom of selecting my own areas and levels to add the effect.

Here’s a quick how-to guide on manually making a subtle vignette in Adobe Photoshop to complement an image:

1. Use the marquee tool to select the part of the image that you want to emphasize.

The default shortcut key: ‘M’*

*Windows shortcuts denoted in (parenthesis) when different

Depending on the area you want to emphasize, you may want to use a shaped marquee.

In this example, I’m using a rectangular marquee because the photo has a lot of horizontal lines and I want to focus on the farmers in the general center of the photograph.

2. Select Inverse.

Default shortcut key: Command (Ctl) + Shift + I

Now, the area to be edited is selected.

3. Feather generously.

Default shortcut key: Option (Alt) + Command (Ctl) + D
Note: If you’re using a Mac, you may need to turn off the default keystroke shortcut for toggling the Dock; the shortcut is the same.

The Feather Radius depends on the size of the original paragraph, but for most photos, it’s best to feather generously, above 60 pixels.

Note: In Photoshop CS4, the option will be listed as “Refine Edge” or a feathering option will show up on the menu bar while using the select tool. CS4′s Refine Edge mode is useful because it shows how much of the image will be selected when feathered.

By feathering, the selection will be rounded and blended more naturally with the rest of the photograph. The larger number radius, the more blended the feathered area becomes.

4. Create a new layer for levels and adjust the midtones.

It’s usually a good idea to create a new layer for each type of adjustment. Once they’ve been made, they can be toggled back and forth to compare the original to the adjustments made.

To create a new adjustment layer, click the half-shaded semi-circle at the bottom of the layers window.

The layer will only affect the currently selected area.

Move the mid-tones slider towards the whites to darken the mid-tones to the desired effect. Toggle the preview button to compare.

5. Hide the marquee to see the vignetted area.

Default shortcut key: Command (Ctl) + H

By hiding the marquee, the overall photograph is more visible and the effects of the adjustment are more apparent.

Continue to adjust the mid-tones to the desired darkness. In this case, I’ve only moved it from the normal 1.00 to 0.73 for a subtle, yet clearly present vignette effect.

The Final Product:

Mouseover to compare to the original.

Another example of vignette editing, with the marquee drawn closer to the subject: