Overview Snapping a photo on your camera is easy. Even a baby can do it (trust me from experience). But taking well composed, technical photos that an illumnate and event in just images or tell a story is reaaaaalllly difficult. And that's what photojournalism is--the communication of news through photographs. It takes practice, practice, practice, and more practice. In this photojournalism project, I want you to practice 3 photography composition techniques and then attempt 2 different applications of photojournalism.
Processing and deadlines You are responsible for download, organizing and editing your photos. They do need to be organized so you can easily use them for your final portfolio. For each techniue or application, choose 5 of your best pictures to edit and submit unless told otherwise. In order to get 5 good photos, you may need to take 50-100... yikes. It's all about experimentation, evaluation, and practice.
You will need to create a portfolio of your photos in InDesign and export it as a PDF (see me if you're not sure how to do this). Doesn't have to be anything flashy, but it should have clear section headings so the viewer knows what your composition technique practices were and what the events were that you took photos of. Here's an example portfolio from a few years ago. Note: These should all be new work. I can’t accept photos you took last semester or for other pages/assignments.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPOSITION TECHNIQUES (choose 3) 1. Dramatic angles (5 pictures) Take pictures around campus or in the community from unusual angles. You might shoot down from the top of a stair. Or shoot up lying on your back. Or shoot someone framed by something else. Or really close in on something. Or shoot a seldom-seen view of something. Use your creativity, as long as: 1) it’s not the common viewpoint; 2) at least half your photos have people in them. . I suppose I don’t need to tell you not to try anything dumb like lying on the railroad tracks or shooting hanging off the Rims? Hey, it’s been done.
2. Focus. (5 pictures) Photos that emphasize depth-of field and showcase bringing and object or person into focus compared to the background.
Use a f/stop on your camera to decrease depth of field.
Focus on adding interest to the foreground of your photo. This could mean a specific focus subject in a landscape photo or using foliage to frame a wildlife portrait
3. Light fantastic (5 pictures) Photos relying on several common qualities of light. Include at least three different examples from these options:
strong natural light, dramatic shadows and highlights. May be sunlight, strong window light.
flash on camera, pointed directly at subject. If you don’t have a flash, try setting up a spotlight or lamp.
diffused light, cloudy day, classroom, filtered through window.
colored light: incandescent, fluorescent, candle. NO FLASH--turn off flash, if automatic.
4. Contrast (5 pictures) Photos relying on the use of contrast between colors or light and dark.
You may want to use the Photoshop raw editor to increase your contrast, but try to keep it subtle. You want these photos to look natural.
2 of your photos should include at least one person.
5. Symmetry (5 pictures) There are many occasions in nature and life when symmetry occurs, these opportunities can create dramatic images. Be it a sunset reflecting off a lake, people walking down a hall, or a tree mirrored reflection in a puddle.
Use a low f/stop on your camera to decrease depth of field.
2 of your photos should include at least one person
6. Compose yourself. (5 pictures) Identify elements of photo composition, and compose a still life in a way you believe produces a more dynamic photograph. Think about arranging flowers, or ladders, clothes, or candles. Anything school appropriate! Try to emphasize a single element you think dominates more than any other. Don't forget to play around with light sources.
PHOTOJOURNALISM APPLICATION (choose 2 different events) 7. Event Photography (5-10 pictures) Choose a newsy event to cover: a speech, a press conference, a meeting, a birthday, a protest, a concert, bad weather, an accident, etc. Try to emphasize unusual angles, getting in close, interesting lighting, etc.
Don't forget to go through Photoshop to crop, adjust for exposure, adjust to correct color, sharpen, and improve whatever else you think necessary. Don't hand in photos directly from the camera!
8. Place Photography(5-10 pictures) Take an opportunity over a weekend to offer a “sense of place” through a photo story. Prepare at least four photos, including:
one long or medium photo to establish the scene (think landscape scene or a photo of a building)
one photo of a significant detail
one informal portrait of a person doing something.
other photo you think helps tell the story, emphasizing people
one photo of your choice
9. Personality Portrait (5-10 pictures) Shoot pictures emphasizing personality portraits: people doing things that help to tell a story of their character. You may rely on friends or relatives as subjects, but they
CANNOT just stand or sit there looking directly into the camera (formal mugshot);
CANNOT be talking on the telephone, sitting at an office desk, shaking someone’s hand, typing at a computer or reading a book, unless you can find a radically new and different approach.
All photos must be of people, no more than one, two or three together.
10. Sports (5-10 pictures) Choose a sporting event you like, and shoot pictures of dynamic action shots emphasizing the excitement of the sport. Recommended are daytime outdoor sports, as these offer most forgiving light needed to stop fast action. Try to get as close as you can to the action; some sports are difficult to photograph without telephoto lenses, so check with Mr. Restad to get one attached to your camera. Think about capturing more than just the players. Think of the crowd, the concessions, the coaches, the refs, the cheerleaders, the field or court, anything that would help establish the diversity and feel of the event.