Photojournalism
Overview
A documentary photographer has months. A photojournalist has the length of the event and then a deadline, and the picture will be printed next to words written by somebody else. That single fact changes everything: what you shoot, how many frames you send, what you are allowed to alter, and what happens if you get the caption wrong.
This note is about photography as reportage. It covers the assignment and the news brief, the range of frames an editor needs from a single event, the technical decisions that have to be made in advance because there is no second chance, the rules on manipulation that professional news organisations enforce by dismissal, and the hardest question in the genre, which is when to put the camera down and help.
Objectives
- Use the photographic process to record events as they happen to support the written word
- Use a range of photojournalism materials, tools and techniques such as manipulation of images for artistic effect through depth of field, shutter speed, focal points and viewpoints
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Photojournalism. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which of these is permitted on a photograph filed as news? A) Cloning out a distracting sign B) Combining the sky from one frame with the foreground of another C) Adjusting the brightness and contrast of the whole frame D) Moving a figure to improve the composition Answer: C
- The specification defines photojournalism as using the photographic process to: A) Build a long-term body of personal work B) Record events as they happen to support the written word C) Control the environment for portraiture and still life D) Create non-traditional photographic outcomes Answer: B
- Which frame is most often missing from a beginner's coverage of an event? A) The main action B) Reaction frames of people watching C) Close-ups of the subject D) Frames of the winner Answer: B
- A photographer shoots a group of fifteen protesters from very close with a wide lens at ground level so the group appears vast, and captions it 'thousands march'. The file itself has not been edited. This is: A) Acceptable, because nothing was altered in software B) Acceptable, because viewpoint is an artistic choice C) A misrepresentation, because viewpoint and caption together report something that did not happen D) Acceptable if the photograph is in black and white Answer: C
- For general news coverage of moving people, a sensible default shutter speed is about: A) 1 second B) 1/15 C) 1/60 D) 1/500 Answer: D
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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