Pedaling to Albany

When it comes to reporting, you have to go into a story anticipating what will be at the location for your shoot. For example, knowing who's going to be there, what can I get video of and who will I be able to interview. This a classic example of NOTHING going as anticipated (as with anything in news).

Here's the Background:
I was going to cover an event where a 'group' of people were supposed to be pedaling into town on bicycles from Buffalo as they were making their way down to Albany. They wanted to send a message of green energy in light of the elections.

But, I emphasize the word 'group' because a 'group' was NOT what I was greeted with I arrived at the location for my shoot.

When I drove up to an empty parking lot in Dewitt, I noticed a van with a bike parked up against it and a guy wearing a shirt promoting the event.

First thought, 'hey I made in time to get all the bikers pedaling in. Great.'

So, I rolled down my window and asked the guy wearing the bright yellow shirt when the bikers would be rolling in and he said, "We just got here."

Second thought, "you have got to be kidding me, where is everyone?"

Turns out the 'group' biking from Buffalo to Albany was ONE GUY. That's right. One Guy. And if there was one guy I would have pegged as the guy biking hundreds of miles from Buffalo to Albany it would not be this guy in the front giving a thumbs up.

Reporting Approach:

Adjust to what you're given. So what, a group of bikers turned into one guy. I focused my whole story around this one guy. I let him tell the story and tried to relay the message that if this guy can do it, ANYONE CAN.

I tried to get video, natural sound and capture everything that was atypical about this guy biking to Albany. For example, his 'bike's dashboard' and his pseudo sound system.