Photojournalism: Picture With Thousand Words

At a glance, this phrase seems to be impossible, but it really does.

Mrs. Cheryl Ducado-Villanueva, adviser, The AVS Courier tackled the various principles, techniques and technical skills a would-be photographer should be. Her lecture on photojournalism shed a great explanation why this is so.

She regarded life as a camera for what's important is being focused, the good times captured, and negatives are developed. If not satisfied, another shot is taken.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism is something new to the participants. They are used to see pictures of various themes, shots, but they have lack the sufficient knowledge of the elements of photojournalism, the different technical skills needed to have a good picture. At least they know that pictures have editorial and technical values.

The participants have now a clear point of view on what is photojournalism, that's, fusion of picture and word - creating a story so to speak.

Photojournalism is anchored on the elements of timeliness, objectivity, idea, narrative, technical quality, and creativity. A photographer is said to be a good one if he has the following technical skills like knowing the different kinds of camera, electronic publishing and digital imaging, expanding knowledge on digital photography, ability to focus sharply, compose properly and shoot with adequate time, cropping and knowing the subject and considering the background.

Another new rule for the participants as far as photography is concerned is the rule of thirds, that is, the subject must occupy 2/3 of the picture.

Rules to observe in Campus Paper Publication

Campus paper is publishing pictures that should have technical and editorial value. These pictures for publication must have a cutline story, answering who, what, where, when, and why questions; and phrase cutline as used with an article.

These should have cutlines to let them stand out and be understood. Therefore, writing cutlines should follow these simple rules:

1. Use present tense. 2. All rules in news writing apply to cutline writing. 3. It should be written in short, concise sentences, say an average of 15 words for a sentence.  4. The basic questions every cutline must tell of its picture are:  Who?  What?  Where? When? and Why? 5.  Give the full Christian names or first names to identify everyone in the picture. 6.  Match the cutline with the mood of the picture. 7.  A cutline is conversational. 8.  Cutline should supplement what is seen. 9.  The cutline should not contradict the picture. 10.  Do not begin a cutline with “Photo shows. 11.  Do not rewrite the news story as a caption. And 12.  Do not tell what is obvious in the story.

Principles of Photopage/Pictorial Design: Maximum use of photos, Use of contrasting shapes and sizes,
Wise use of white spaces, Inclusion of Text (Title, Body, Cutline and Credit Line).

Lay-Outing

Lastly, lay-outing photos should also have tips to observe. Just like the following:

1. Have the face of a person look towards the inside fold of the paper. 2. Leave some space on the side towards the subject is facing. 3. In cropping a picture, sacrifice the body to play up the face. 4. In a group photo, each face should be not smaller than a 25-centavo coin. 5. A cut maybe used under the shoulder of a multi column head. 6.  A cut may run above or by the side of the story which it is connected. 7. If two cuts are related to the same story, they may be run next to each other or one above the other. 8. If you try to reverse the position, be careful not to alter any fixed element in the picture like printed material appeared inverted or right-handed person looked left-handed.

New-Found Friends

(In the Day 2 of our Campus Journalism seminar at Planta Hotel, Bacolod City and while we were having our supper I have found the following teachers who are too friendly and amiable. They're Ms. Emee Marie M. Matula of Luis C. Tembrevilla Elem. School, Hinobaan; Ms. Gloria A. Duro of Himamaylan Central School, Ms. Rhodora L. Quilantang, Binalbagan Elem. School, Ms. Leony C. Espin of San Isidro Elem. School, Pontenvedra, Neg. Occ., and Ms. Adora T. Avance of Isabela 2, Central Elem. School.)