Photojournalism

Continuing on with the exploring different ways to tell stories with photography, we will engage with photojournalism as a way to just that. How can we explore a topic using photography?

Step 1: Choose a topic.

While it would be totally awesome if we could pick whatever topic we want - this wouldn't really model the real world experience of a photojournalist. As such, you can choose from one of the topics below. No more than one student per topic, please!

Photo30_JournalismTopics

Step 2: What is the story that needs to be told?

Before you start taking pictures, you need to become familiar with your subject a little bit. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the topic, the people and places it involves, and what the real "core" of the subject is. This is how you will know what story needs to be told.

Step 3: Now that you are familiar with the topic and what its core is all about, it is time to start writing some interview questions. Don't worry about who you will be interviewing, think more about what you would like to know.

Step 4: Once you have your questions sorted, start to make a shot list : what photos will make the story you want to tell come to life?

Step 5: Get shooting! Now that you know what questions need to be answered, and what pictures need to tell the story get out there and start checking off shots!

Step 6: Get writing!

Obviously the story is meant to be mostly communicated through photos, but you need some writing to guide the reader through the experience. Start a new blog post in your photographers portfolio and begin assembling your pictures and answers together. Some pointers:

  1. Don't write anymore then you have to. If you are trying to explain that the barn was red, full of horse poop, and musty smelling, just show the picture of the red barn and let the audience read about the things they can't see. The photos and words should work together, but the pictures should do most of the talking - worth a thousand words, remember?
  2. Grammar! PLEASE!
  3. If a photo doesn't tell a story on it's own, it probably isn't the correct photo for the point you are trying to make.
  4. Use a photo that will work well as a "thesis statement' as your blog featured image.