Photo Journal Writing
Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a story and has played a large role in documenting events, including wars, to unique cultures in distant lands. It is a career that is threatened by the decline in magazine & newspaper industries as well as the plethora of cameras & smartphones now in the hands of the general public.
Photojournalism still plays a very important role in documenting stories that need to be told, and despite more and more publishers and broadcasters using user submitted photos, many of the photos you see in news stories were taken by a professional. As technology changes and the consumption of media changes, photojournalists will find ways to support through their careers in new and interesting ways. A few examples of recent changes in journalism include:
Photojournalism still plays a very important role in documenting stories that need to be told, and despite more and more publishers and broadcasters using user submitted photos, many of the photos you see in news stories were taken by a professional. As technology changes and the consumption of media changes, photojournalists will find ways to support through their careers in new and interesting ways. A few examples of recent changes in journalism include:
- Web-based crowdfunding of niche photojournalist projects
- Photojournalists telling stories via video as mini-documentaries
- Self-publishing books and e-books
DIRECTIONS
Select one photo located from the current Photo Journal assignment. Copy the Photo and paste it on the document. Resize the photo smaller if needed. Write a paragraph with at least 15 sentences or more that describes the photograph.
Use the QUESTIONS below to help guide your writing. Use Google Docs to complete this assignment. Print it out and place on my desk for grading.
Why do you select this photo?
When I look at this photo, it makes me think of...
How is the technical quality? Let’s start here before we get to the more subjective issues of composition and emotion.
· Is the photo In focus? (or if not, could it have been intentionally out of focus?)
· Exposure: Is it too light or dark? Are there blown out whites or underexposed black areas?
· Was the use of depth of field used to control the viewer’s eye? Where?
· Use of contrast? Too muddy (flat and grey) or too much contrast?
· How was lighting handled? Outdoor, indoor, studio lighting? direction
· How do the colors look? realistic or unrealistic? cool or warm? dull or intense? no color?
How’s the composition?
· Where is your eye drawn to?
· Is Framing, The Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Filling the Frame, or Pattern used?
How is the emotional appeal?
· What emotion do you feel when you look at the photo? Or lack of?
· Did the photographer connect with his subjects or do they look tense, or posed?
· Does the photograph tell a story, or part of one? (It could be as simple as, “here are
my kids who I adore” or “here’s my dog catching a frisbee.” Or a very deep one such
as, “this is what poverty looks like, right in my hometown.”)
If I were to improve or change anything, I would...
Overall this photo is...
REMEMBER - A PARAGRAPH with a minimum of 20 sentences is required!
Select one photo located from the current Photo Journal assignment. Copy the Photo and paste it on the document. Resize the photo smaller if needed. Write a paragraph with at least 15 sentences or more that describes the photograph.
Use the QUESTIONS below to help guide your writing. Use Google Docs to complete this assignment. Print it out and place on my desk for grading.
Why do you select this photo?
When I look at this photo, it makes me think of...
How is the technical quality? Let’s start here before we get to the more subjective issues of composition and emotion.
· Is the photo In focus? (or if not, could it have been intentionally out of focus?)
· Exposure: Is it too light or dark? Are there blown out whites or underexposed black areas?
· Was the use of depth of field used to control the viewer’s eye? Where?
· Use of contrast? Too muddy (flat and grey) or too much contrast?
· How was lighting handled? Outdoor, indoor, studio lighting? direction
· How do the colors look? realistic or unrealistic? cool or warm? dull or intense? no color?
How’s the composition?
· Where is your eye drawn to?
· Is Framing, The Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines, Filling the Frame, or Pattern used?
How is the emotional appeal?
· What emotion do you feel when you look at the photo? Or lack of?
· Did the photographer connect with his subjects or do they look tense, or posed?
· Does the photograph tell a story, or part of one? (It could be as simple as, “here are
my kids who I adore” or “here’s my dog catching a frisbee.” Or a very deep one such
as, “this is what poverty looks like, right in my hometown.”)
If I were to improve or change anything, I would...
Overall this photo is...
REMEMBER - A PARAGRAPH with a minimum of 20 sentences is required!