Documentary

Photography
 refers to photography used to chronicle
both significant and historical events and
everyday life.
 It is typically covered in professional
photojournalism, or real life reportage, but it
may also be an amateur, artistic, or
academic pursuit.
 The photographer attempts to produce
truthful, objective, and usually candid
photography of a particular subject, most
often pictures of people.
Lee Friedlander and Gary
Winogrand – “social” landscapes
Photojournalism:
Telling the Visual
Story
Definition
 Journalism in which a story is presented
through photographs.
What is photojournalism, anyway?

 It includes composing photographs to

catch viewer’s attention and have
meaning.
 Also includes writing captions.
Photojournalist
• An individual who uses the images taken with a
camera to tell a story.

• A person who takes pictures is a photographer.

• There is a difference
Role of a Photojournalist
 Be a storyteller
 Take photos that reflect life not art or a
product (v. art/commercial photographers)
 Work with editors, writers and designers to
complete assignments
Pros of being a Photojournalist
 Travel
 Meeting interesting people
 Access to places most people don’t have
 Share work with large audience
 Fluid work schedule
Cons of being a Photojournalist
 Unusual hours (holidays, nights and weekends)
 Short notice for assignments
 Working under deadline pressure
 Physical danger (floods, fires, accidents)
 See tragedy regularly
 Lots of equipment
 Low pay to start
Purposes of
Photojournalism
1. To “sell”
 Photos are the most viewed part of a
publication and help readers connect
visually to information.
2. Provide Impact
 A picture really is worth a thousand words
 Photos help convey emotion
3. Serve “watchdog” role of
journalism
 Photojournalism helps readers know about
atrocities
 Keeps big business/government in check
4. View of the World
 Photojournalism provides the average
person with a view of the world.
 It takes them places they cannot go or do
not have access to.
5. History
 Photojournalism provides a historical
record of places, people and events.
 Examples: opening of a new school,
presidential elections, etc.
Five ways a
photojournalist
accomplishes
storytelling
1. Research
 5 W’s and H
 Photo assignment slips - talk with
writer/editor and those involved
2. Be Prepared
 Equipment - how much, which pieces
(lenses, light, card size, etc.)
3. People Person
 Make subjects feel comfortable
 Spend at least 15 minutes with subject
 Be seen with camera
 Be comfortable talking to new people
4. Assertive
 Get close to subjects
5. Gather Caption Info
 5 W’s and H
 Carry notebook
 Laying Out Pictures : Choose the best
photos based on Technical – not blurred,
not over or under-exposed, not backlighted,
closed-up, good angle Editorial- has a story
in itself; anchored on the theme or issue
given
 Avoid tomb stoning
 Observe facing-in rule
Captions
 For group photos, identify only the
important persons, pinpoint his/ her
position. In identifying person in the picture,
write his location in relation to the other
persons inside a parenthesis.
 Match caption with the mood of pictures
Caption should supplement the picture not
repetition. Don’t begin with “Photo
shows….”
Goal of Photojournalism
 Selecting story telling
photographs that can
convey the fullest,
most accurate sense
of the situation
photographed
Goal of Photojournalism
 Engage the heart and
mind of a viewer with
a compelling version
of truth that results
from bearing witness
or a situation or
event.
Age of the Visual Journalist
 Visually intense society raised on millions
of pictures.
 Average of 5000 images a day in a variety
of forms.
 Role of the photographer and writer are
changing.
Photojournalism
• Photojournalism is distinguished from other
branches of photography by the qualities of:

1. Timeliness
2. Objectivity
3. Narrative
Photojournalism
IS…
…Universal
language,
understood
everywhere
… history. It
records events
and lasts for a
long time.
… job:
Professional
photographers:
sports,
modeling,
weddings,
nature,
advertising,
news
Modern day
documentary  http://www.dewitzphotography.com/
/photojournalists photography-product-reviews/top-
10-modern-photojournalists-and-
documentary-photographers/
 http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlin
es/2013/04/the-best-of-
photojournalism/
 =Writing Captions=
 CAPTIONS or CUTLINES are the most read body type in a
publication next to headlines or titles of stories.

 Standards of a Good Caption

1. Accuracy
2. Clarity
3. Completeness
4. Good Writing

Hot tips for Writing Caption

1. Check the facts 2. Be Accurate 3. Avoid stating the obvious
 = KINDS of CAPTION=
1. NEWS CAPTION– A one-sentence paragraph that may be
similar to summary lead in news, where 5Ws are
answered.(Things that are not obvious in the photo). Written
in every photo in the layout.
2. PHOTO ESSAY CAPTION– A one or more-sentences in a
paragraph. The content may be a summary or explanation
of all the five or more pictures in the layout.
3. CREATIVE CAPTION– This caption is also written in every
photo in the layout, but the content is different from news
caption because it not answers the 5Ws. The content of the
caption must be creative or something poetic.
 =Writing CATCHLINE=
 CATCHLINE is usually a short but striking
statemenr describes the significance of
the shot.
 =News Caption Format=
MODERN HEROES. Firefighters (noun)
battle (present-tense verb) a fire (direct
object) at Zacarias Mall (proper noun)
near the intersection of Edsa and North
Avenue in Quezon City (place) on Monday
(day of the week), May (month) 1 (date),
2018 (year).
 =News Caption Format=
in Filipino
BAGONG BAYANI. Inaapula (pandiwa)
ng mga bombero (pangngalan) ang apoy
(direct object) sa nasusunig na Zacarias
Mall (proper noun) malapit sa
interseksyon ng EDSA at North Ave. sa
Lungsod Quezon (pook) noong Lunes
(araw), ika-1 (petsa) ng Mayo (
buwan),2018 (taon).