Photojournalism: The Art & Craft of Visual Story-Telling

People | Duration: 6 weeks | Session: 24 September - 8 November 2008

Whether you travel the world with your camera or simply explore your own home town, visual stories are everywhere. Viewing the world through photojournalistic eyes means more than taking the occasional snapshot. It involves a deeper look to uncover the facts and then present them in an informative and creative way. This online photography course will point you in the right direction.

View from Above

Designed for Intermediate through Aspiring Professional skill levels.
Learn to see as a visual story-teller.
Create a potentially publishable photo-essay or photo-story.

Toolbox Needs

Digital or film camera (requiring access to a scanner).

Working knowledge of aperture and shutter speed and interrelationships thereof.

Lenses in the 16-35mm range. A “standard” 50mm would come in handy, but it’s not required.

Bio_photo_from_camp_dwyer

David Bathgate (view profile)

Course Outline

Week 1: Selecting Stories with Interest and Impact / Gaining an Insider's View
Does the topic appeal to a broader audience? Am I able to “see” the broad picture? Approaching Strangers with and Earning Acceptance.

Week 2: The Grammar of Visual Story-Telling
Take a lesson from Hollywood. Parallels with the written word. Shooting from every which-way and down.

Week 3: Shooting in "Other" Cultures / Working in Personal Space
Every social situation has its system. Discerning the parts and seeing the whole. Long lenses lend impact – wide-angle conveys emotion.

Week 4: Editing the Take and Telling the Story
Opting for color (tone in B&W) and design. Establishing a visual narrative.

Week 5: Captioning in the Digital Age
Getting the facts straight. International publishing standards. “Key Words” that bring results.

Week 6: Finding an Audience
Packaging the work. Getting your best foot in the door. Where to go from here.