During the election last week, I went with reporter Alan Burdziak to voting precincts in Southgate and Lincoln Park.

We went for video that would go with election stories on the web. We were looking for feedback of how people were voting and why. The precincts weren’t busy but enough voters were coming in and out to collect opinions.

What was most interesting about the experience was how people became more hesitant and less willing to talk with us when we pulled the camera out. While some voters didn’t want to speak at all, plenty seemed willing to answer quick questions. But only two people wanted to be on camera. One woman said she wasn’t eloquent enough. Even after we explained it was just for the website and they wouldn’t be on TV, most still weren’t interested.

In this case, it was harder to collect information with a camera. I think more people would have spoken with us if we had been without it.