teach yourself photojournalism

[ade1971]

hello its been since I log in but does anyone know how you can teach yourself photojournalism I have tried books and also you tube as there are no school to go to any help thanks

 

[Gary A.]

I went to school for photojournalism (Degree in Communications). I strongly recommend you find a school and seek an externship/internship with a local newspaper(s). Most/many schools will have their own school newspaper to augment what you learn the classroom. Getting on as a stringer or intern/extern with a large Daily Newspaper without any formal or hands-on experience is a recipe for failure.

Most large market daily newspapers won't hire you unless you have a degree in journalism and/or years and years of experience. A photojournalist is journalist first and a photographer second. You have to know how to cover a news story, separate the important stuff from the less than important stuff, than capture the important stuff ... the single story defining image, in an interesting/appealing/dramatic fashion and make deadline.

If you lived in the US, I'd suggest you enroll into a Community College. I don't know what they have in the UK.

 

[snerd]

Southern New Hampshire.com?

 

[snerd]

Southern New Hampshire.com?

That was a joke! Sit at your computer for a few weeks, answer a few question, and bingo! You're employable!! I just don't get the online degree thing.

 

[Didereaux]

hello its been since I log in but does anyone know how you can teach yourself photojournalism I have tried books and also you tube as there are no school to go to any help thanks

go to your local newspapers and sit down if you can with an editor. Very few today keep photographers on staff. So what you ask them is what type of photos are they looking for, what format etc. But putting the cart before the horse what you have to do first is go to the library (yes, those archaic old things with stuff printed on paper) and look at all the pictures in newspapers you can. You will get a very accurate feel for what is considered printable photo journalism stuff.

then go out to all the boring meetings at clubs, city guv, banquets, Boy Scout doings, Seniors centers etc and start shooting. That is what the papers want. Unless you are a reincarnated WeeGee you aren't going to get many sensational moments shots....but always be ready. Oh yeah, for those sensational moments you had better understand your camera to the nth degree because these things don't stand still while you diddle fart around with settings. Lens? You simply cannot go wrong with a Nifty-Fifty' I am serious...it is still one of the best all around street lens' made. A little wider angle one is usually needed for the meetings and such news media want the scene, not a portrait.

...and remember Weegee got some of his best shots pointing away from the body. So if you stumble onto a fire or minor incident get the 'scenario' shots out of the way then turn around and look behind you...high probability the money shot will be there.

 

[Microbois]

While I totally agree with Gary A., this solution is if you want to make a living at photojournalism with a major newspaper. This is the way to go if you are very serious about it.

If you just want to dip your toes in photojournalism without getting through that much education, you can always try to offer your services as a photographer, assuming you are already a very good photographer and have enough gear to cover any situations, to local newspapers in your area (if they still exist). You will get assignments to small events covered in the local press, but would be of no interest in a larger paper. You'll end up covering minor league sport tournaments, marathons in your city, new store openings, that old lady that turned 110 years old, press conference of the mayor announcing they change garbage day, all the community stuff, stories, etc...

That's how I started some 25 years ago but with today's technology being so accessible and easy to use for anyone, I doubt local newspapers still hire photographers nowadays. From what I've heard, it's the journalist who writes the story who will take the pictures, but if he's loaded or it's too complicated to get a good shot, you may get some of his tougher assignments. Don't expect to get rich doing this either...

Good luck!

 

[Fox_Racing_Guy]

Horrible decision. Newspapers won't exist in 1o years

 

[dennybeall]

Many large newspapers and some small newspapers have laid off their photographers and handed point and shoot cameras to their reporters. Our small local paper has a Photo Editor but he no longer has a staff (used to have 2 +him). He picks photos from the many pics that are sent daily via email from the public and occasionally goes out and shoots something if they want to be sure to get it.
It's very sad to me as I grew up in the darkroom of The Washington Daily News and it was an exciting time listening to the police scanner and racing out to get photos or going to The White House for news.

 

[Microbois]

Many large newspapers and some small newspapers have laid off their photographers and handed point and shoot cameras to their reporters. Our small local paper has a Photo Editor but he no longer has a staff (used to have 2 +him). He picks photos from the many pics that are sent daily via email from the public and occasionally goes out and shoots something if they want to be sure to get it.
It's very sad to me as I grew up in the darkroom of The Washington Daily News and it was an exciting time listening to the police scanner and racing out to get photos or going to The White House for news.

Indeed, this is what happens with newspapers nowadays. You can always try with your local newspapers, but I would not have high expectations in regards of how much you will get paid for it. Maybe you can take the pictures they can't do themselves so you gain some experience and build a portfolio, but it may not be profitable in the end once you factor in all your expenses. This is getting crazy insane as I'm pretty sure, one day, companies will ask us to pay them to have the honor to work for them...

 

[Didereaux]

Horrible decision. Newspapers won't exist in 1o years

Actually that is very incorrect. Large printed media may well shrink further, but according to industry data, small community newspapers are increasing, fairly rapidly....and profitably.

 

[ade1971]

thanks for your help like I say I am interested in photojournalism but I only want the basics . It just wanted know how start I am a long way of being one like I say thank for your advice but ? any suggestions

 

[curly]

Many large newspapers and some small newspapers have laid off their photographers and handed point and shoot cameras to their reporters. Our small local paper has a Photo Editor but he no longer has a staff (used to have 2 +him). He picks photos from the many pics that are sent daily via email from the public and occasionally goes out and shoots something if they want to be sure to get it.
It's very sad to me as I grew up in the darkroom of The Washington Daily News and it was an exciting time listening to the police scanner and racing out to get photos or going to The White House for news.

Sounds like something a news channel started doing here. All of a sudden, their Facebook page is full of "selfie" style recordings of their reporters out in the public at a news scene, essentially dumping the need for the rest of the camera crew.

 

[dennybeall]

Yup, they give the reporter a tripod and a camera with a transmitter and send them off to the scene. Actually pretty much the same in the studio in many places, the cameras are robotic controlled from the desk in the control room.

 

[Gary A.]

thanks for your help like I say I am interested in photojournalism but I only want the basics . It just wanted know how start I am a long way of being one like I say thank for your advice but ? any suggestions

Take classes. Working on a school paper/magazine is close to working on a real paper/magazine ... and you'll get published and you can actually begin a real portfolio of your published work (string book).

If you don't mind begging, knock on the doors of small newspapers and magazines and see if they have need any help. Very humbly tell them you want to learn the business ... even for free. They may bring you in as long as you don't get in the way ... after a while of free they'll probably pay your expenses and a little more.

If you have long and fast lenses, (at least long), you can attend local sporting events and offer the images from those events to the local papers. With this scenario you're not begging and you actually have something valuable. Most small newspapers are always looking for "art" from local sporting events.

Find an event.
Shoot it.
Get the email of the local paper's sports editor.
Email your best images to the editor.

Make sure you include that the images are copyrighted and to contact you for approval. Very importantly, get caption information. Get all the names of the players in the images and be able to add valuable info for each image submitted. Like ... Joe Blow scoring at 28 minutes ... John Smith receives Red Card after biting Bill Russell ... et cetera. Ideally, you need to take notes from whatever you shoot and complete the package with caption info. If you shoot a fire, address of fire, type of building, names of people in the images, et cetera. This is the stuff you learn from taking classes. Photojournalism isn't just about taking pictures. It is about reporting accurately with a camera.

 

[Microbois]

Very humbly tell them you want to learn the business ... even for free. They may bring you in as long as you don't get in the way ... after a while of free they'll probably pay your expenses and a little more.

I strongly disagree with this approach. While it may have been a good idea in the good old days, I think in today's world, it's just being very naive. Full time photographers are losing their jobs everyday and are being replaced by just anyone who can hold a camera and provide pictures for free, or almost. Would you beg Walmart to work for free so you can gain experience, hoping you will eventually land a job at minimum wage? Huh?

Begging local newspapers to let you take pictures for them for free is a huge mistake. If you are to work for free, then just make your own portfolio yourself. Attend the same events, cover them like a real photojournalist, and save your best pictures. If none of the local newspapers can pay something for your work, then they don't deserve you.