Chapter 6: Visual Storytelling with Photographs

Digital Photography has changed photography as now anyone can take a picture, upload, and have it published.

It is important to know the basics of photography, such as composition in today's journalism world.

Digital cameras are great tools as the allow people to
-take as many pictures as they want
-immediately see if the picture they took is one they want
-upload photos, anytime, anywhere
-avoid having to purchase film
-easily edit photos

Make sure to understand the new copyright laws concerning photos on the internet. Don't Steal!

Camera Basics:
There are two kinds of digital camera, the "point and shoot" which is an all-in-one camera that is compact and easy to use and the "DSLR" which captures better photos but is expensive and tricky to use.

Basic camera functions are:
-Camera Modes
-Zoom
-Flash
-View/Delete

** An important tip for a good picture is to have quailty lighting such as 1) natural light only 2) a flash as the primary light source or 3) a mix of the both. **

When shooting mug shoots, there are also many tips of the trade:
-avoid high-noon sunlight and strong backlight
-try to photograph when the skies are overcast, or try to photograph in a situation that replicates overcast skues
-use a flash as a last resort
-pick the right background, as least busy as possible
-position the subject away from walls
-make sure there isn't anything "growing" out of a person's head, such as a telephone pole

The biggest mistake new photographers make is not having enough TIME to take decent photos.

Since journalists normally take more photos than needed, be careful in selecting a "good" photo. A fresh eye is always helpful.

Keep your photos well organized on your computer for easy access. There are many editing softwares for all types of photographers to help suit your needs.

Here are some helpful hints to prepare an image for online publishing:
-Edit a copy of the photo (never use the original.)
-Crop the Photo.
-Resize the Picture.
-Modify the resolution.
-Tone and color correct the picture
-Save a Web version.
-Keep it simple.

Journalism Next recommends using the software "Photoshop Elements" to edit photos for journalists.