Photography and photojournalism

Photographs can be used in two ways for a news story:

  • to illustrate a text story – generally one or two photos.

 

  • to create a photo story (photojournalism) – generally 5 or 6 photos with explanatory captions.

For FNMA News, we recommend using an iPhone to capture images (Apple or Android). The quality of shots that these digital cameras take is excellent. However, they have limitations: they are not good for long distance shots (landscapes) and they do not have any control over the depth of field (as does a standard SLR camera).

Elements of photography

  • Lighting. This is an essential part of photography. There are times of day when the lighting is best for outside shots. Always have the sun behind you so your subject has the benefit of it’s light. When shooting indoors, be careful that there is sufficient light to reveal your subject.
  • Colour. You will not always have control over this, but look for elements in your shot that give vibrancy and life to the subject.
  • Composition. Where you take the photo from is important,
  • Framing – distance, edging

Some more hints on taking photos, view this online resource.

Editing Photographs

Although there is very sophisticated =photo editing software available (eg Photoshop), we suggest the editor on your iPhone is sufficient.

There are two main features you need to use:

  • Cropping. The image needs to reveal the subject that you are displaying. Cropping is a method that focusses attention on the subject and eliminates extraneous elements.
  • Adjusting. This is in colour balance and light. Use this feature with care. You do not want your image to look unnatural. But, if your image is too dark, it can be lightened.

File formats:  JPEG or PNG.

Principles of photojournalism

  1. Get in close
    Photos will often be published on low quality newsprint focus on a single, frame-filling centre of interest not more than two or three people. Not more than a few objects with a clean, contrasting background. If you cannot get in close, crop ruthlessly which destroy the entire image.
  2. Find unusual angles
    Good Photojournalists are always moving to take photographs so that it will cover the whole situation or image.
  3. Get indents
    All subjects easily identifiable must be named. Most editors will reject photos without indents. Ask and write their in your reporter’s notebook.
  4. Burn pixels
    Take more number of photos of the situation /function so that it is easy to pick the good pictures.
  5. Avoid obvious posing
    Try to make the scene appear natural. Photojournalism aims to cover people doing things, not people posing.
  6. Add light but don’t make it obvious
    Available light is ideal. In some cases, light comes from ugly angles or is so weak you cannot even get close to stopping the action. You need to control the color balance of bright green florescent or difficult combinations of artificial and natural light. A good Photojournalists carefully analyse the light falling on their subject and find an angle which best enhances the scene.
  7. Go beyond the cliche (over used statement)
    Take photographs of unusual scenes look for interesting actions which are not taken by others, but should be eye catching to the public. Make your shot stand out from the regular and common photos.
  8. Focus faithfully, stay steady
    The photographers should focus properly on the scene to be shot. A blurred photos or many slight fuzziness will be enhanced by poor quality paper and fast reproduction. Most fuzzy photos can be blamed on camera movement. Use a minitripod.
  9. Dump poorly exposed photos
    Expose the camera carefully and correctly. Do not use poorly exposed photos for publication.  
  10. Have guts
    Photojournalists should be more open minded daring to approach the people to take the photographs the people and to snaps. Note down their names and should posses a press pass to take close up of sports actions etc.