Journalism 2300: News Photography

Journalism 2300:News Photography Weeks Nine & Ten April 8, 2013

If I were grading today… • A: 360+ • B: 330-359 • C: 300-329 • D: 270-299 • F: <270 www.d.umn.edu/egradebook

Announcements Photojournalist Presentations: April 15: Jessica, Min Lee April 22: Julie, Justin, Paige April 29: Shannon, Zack F.

To be a better photographer…

…you need to take a lot of photos!

The week in pictures • MSNBC: • http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3842331/

Upcoming major assignments • Major Assignment VI: Spot News • Due 6 pm on Monday, April 15 • Any luck?? Weather can always be a backup! • Major Assignment VII: Photo Story • Due 6 pm on Monday, April 29

Spot News Ideas • Police ride along • Sports celebrations • Weather: Wintry spring weather • Northern lights • Steelhead running

From last year….. • Public construction projects • Need to get background information • Duluth Shipping News • Feature photograph: find news hook • Flood photos • Nature: waterfalls

Tonight in class….. • We will review your winter event photographs, rank them • Rewrite your captions from the major assignments and resubmit them during class

Chapter 10: Covering the Issues • Photojournalists can bring about change • Dorothea Lange: Depression • Carol Guzy: Haiti, Sudan, Somalia • Nick Ut: Vietnam napalm screaming little girl • Jacob Riis: NYC slum conditions • Lewis Hine: Child laborers

Nursing homes: A case study • San Jose Mercury News investigates elderly abuse • How to photograph? • Background information • Generations under the influence • Pages 208-211 • Helpers in the war on AIDS • Pages 213-214

Let’s brainstorm local issues

Ideas from last year…. • Race: Native American population • Unfair Campaign • Diversity in churches • Homeless population • Poverty • Single parent families • Education: budget cuts/new schools • GLBT/same sex marriage amendment • Environmental issues

Day in Pictures • San Francisco Chronicle Web site at: • http://www.sfgate.com/

And the winners are….. https://picasaweb.google.com/115943674943334661819/March42013MajorIIEnvironmentalPortraits What do the top photos have in common???

Chapter 11: Photo Story • Era of modern photo story • W. Eugene Smith for Life magazine • Finding stories: • Personal experience • Assignments • Topical trends

Major Assignment VI: Photo Story • Developing a photo story on a specific theme: • Editorial essay portraying a particular point of view • OR • A documentary that neutrally captures a lifestyle, place or issue • Five photographs due on Monday, April 29

Picture story has a theme • Not a collection of pictures on a topic • Test theme with a headline: • No theme if these headlines work: • “All you ever want to know about…” • “A day in the life...” • “Aspects of …” • “Scenes from…” • Examples from book: • “Every Day is Father’s Day:” page 132 • “Generations under the influence:” pages 208-11 • “Final Salute:” pages 58-59 • Find a newspeg

Types of people stories • The well known • People magazine grew out of Time section • Little known but interesting • Little known but representative • One person as an example of a trend • “Never too old for love” • One person representing an abstract topic • One person living on the streets: homelessness

Visual consistency • Photos interact in a print layout • Same person • Same object or place • Mood, theme, perspective

Narrative storytelling • Stories have common structure: • Complication, resolution • Compelling photo story also need action that can be photographed • Woman in a wheelchair: complication • If tries to walk, potential narrative photo story • Showing struggle a possible resolution • Photos walking alone completes story

Complication, resolution combined • Boston fire: pages 36-37 • Annie Wells’ story of breast cancer: pages 240-43 • Motel dad: pages 254-59

Natural Narratives • Hostage situation: p. 30 • A deadly search for missing soldiers: pages 288-91 • Sports story: female boxer, page 239 • Health-related stories

Comparing documentary and photo essay to narrative story • Editorial essays: A point of view • Highs, lows of alcoholism • Development in western states • American gun culture • Documentaries • Remain neutral; let viewers judge for themselves • Documenting a lifestyle, place, issue

Let’s look at Pulitzer Prize winners…. http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Feature-Photography

Let’s brainstorm photo story ideas! • Take out a sheet of paper, and put your idea in the center • Draw spokes out for at least 5 other possible photographs

Let’s brainstorm photo story ideas! • Pass your photo idea to your right • Add another photo idea • Keep passing around, until all have added one idea • Now, discuss the ideas at your table

Pregnant teenager • Sonogram • Telling family • Baby shower • Stages in pregnancy • School • Prom • bedroom

Final Dance rehearsal • Stretching • Actual dancing • Choreographer advice • Getting ready • Makeup • Hair • Costumes • shoes

Weekly auction at seller’s estate mall • Auctioneer • Bidder • Looking at items • Top bid • Family selling things

Garage sale, estate sale • Seller • Bargaining • Before and after • Setup • Teardown • Follow one item as it’s bought and sold

Farmer’s Market • Sellers • Contacted a farmer • Crops growing • Selling items • Set up • Tear down • Bargaining

High school prom • Follow one person/couple • Getting ready • Picking out tux • Go to a tuxedo place

Wedding • Mother/father • Wedding singer • Flower girl • Wedding workers • Bartenders • Wait staff • What goes into a wedding

Fitgers • Brewhouse • Making beer, bottles, process of making beer • Red Star • Difficult light • Fitger’s Inn • Rex bar – local musicians • Light, flash, set up, practice

Sports • Golf course, starter, ranger • Bowling: bowler, scorecard, kids • Softball

Let’s look at yourWinter Outdoor Event Photographs • Overall good job! • What was the biggest challenge? • Biggest surprise? • What did you learn?

Let’s work on websites • Continue to work on your personal website for the final project

Journalism 2300: News Photography