Photojournalism

A Primer

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 What is it?
Is it shooting and writing?

No.

It is telling a story using photos.

However...

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 What are the tools of the trade?
The main tool is, of course, the camera.

• Camera phone
• Tablet
• DSLR
• Point and shoot
• SLR
• Instamatic or Lomo camera

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 What then do you choose?
There are a few questions that you have to
face:
• Cost
• Availability
• After sales support
• How to get to the images

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 There are other considerations.
• Do you have enough memory card space?
• How powerful is your computer?
• How many lenses do you have?
• What kind of lenses do you have?
• Do you have a scanner?
• Will you be open to lending equipment to
students (assuming your school doesn't have
equipment)?

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 The Technical Stuff
• ISO
 What does it give you?
 What are the limitations of each ISO?
 What can your camera/film do?
 What happens with noise?

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 The Technical Stuff
• JPEG vs RAW
– Which should you use?
– One results in a small file.
– The other a larger but more flexible file.
– Guess which one is used by the professionals.

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 The Technical Stuff
• Aperture
– The bigger the number, the smaller the hole.
– The smaller the hole, the less light gets in.
– The bigger the hole, the more light gets in.
– The creative aspect:
• Bigger number: Less in focus (the background is
blurred)
• Smaller number: More in focus (more of the
background is in focus)

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 The Technical Stuff
• Shutter Speed
– There are two sets of numbers – on either side
of the number 1.
– Starting from the highest number, list down all
the numbers.
– Most of these numbers are fractions: E.g.,
“125” is actually 1/125 of a second.
– The creative aspect
• Faster shutter speeds freeze motion.
• Slower shutter speeds blur motion.

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 But there are Automatic modes
• Don't the professionals also use these
automatic modes?
– Of course we do.
– But we do know when to use them and when
not to.
– We also know enough not to be slaves to
them.

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 Then there's the lens
• Does it really matter if your lens is expensive?
– Generally, it does.
– Sometimes, it's a question of sharpness,
better color, and resolving power.
– It can also have a bearing on durability.
• There are actually around three tiers in terms
of lens lines.
– Pro, consumer, entry-level

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 Then there's the lens
• Lens attributes
– Maximum aperture
– Constant aperture or variable aperture?
• Many pro lenses are constant aperture.
• Most consumer and entry level lenses are
variable aperture.
– Fixed aperture
– Focal length
• Low numbers are wide angle.
• High numbers are telephoto.
• The 50mm is the “standard” lens.

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 There's the creative aspect
• Longer lenses will tend to blur the
background.
• Shorter lenses (or focal lengths) will tend to
get more things in focus.
• Zoom lenses can be used for fancy effects.

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 The Computer
• How should you prepare your computer?
– Keep away from software piracy. You don't
want people stealing your stuff.
– Amor con amor se paga.
• Suggested operating system: Linux.
– It's free.
– There are so many versions to suit you.
– It isn't a computer resource hog.

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 The Computer

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 The Computer

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 The Computer
• But I want to stay with Windows.
– Great! There are many free apps for you.
– Plus, Adobe Creative Cloud is already available
and is not so costly.
– Your camera normally comes with useful
software. Use it.
– If you shoot with an iOS, Windows, or Android
phone or tablet, there many free apps.

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 The Computer
• Learn to archive.
– First, shoot with RAW when you can.
– Organize your files according to date and add
keywords.
– Find a way that will make it easy for you to
remember where one thing is.
– NEVER erase usable shots.

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 Now the Real Meat
• Composition
– The idea is always to tell a story.
– Use the Rule of Thirds.

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 The Rule of Thirds

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 Now the Real Meat
• Composition
– Break the Rule.
– The name of the game is to fill the frame.
– Mind the headroom.
– If it's not good enough, you're not close
enough.
– Get the wide shot.

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 The Controversial Set Shot
• The Firing Squad
– Should you or shouldn't you?
– There will be times when you have no choice
but to do it.
– So, how do you do it?

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 The Writer in You
• Captions
– Who, what, when where, how
– Brevity is the soul of wit.
– But who writes it anyway?

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 The Conflict in You

When should you shoot and

when should you help?

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 The Conflict in You

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 Getting in Close

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 Getting in Close

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 Controversy

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 Slice of Life

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 Slice of Life

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 Slice of Life

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 Slice of Life

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 Slice of Life

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 Creative Control

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 Creative Control

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 Creative Control

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 Give a Sense of Expanse

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 Coming in Close

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 Let Go of Inhibitions

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 Let Go of Inhibitions

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 Always be Ready

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 Always be Ready

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 Always be Ready

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 Always be Ready

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 Don't be Afraid

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 Be Open to How Others Live

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 Be Open to How Others Live

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 Be Open to How Others Live

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