Overall the module has helped me develop my photography skills and given me enough confidence to use a camera instead of my phone. The basics to using a camera and how i can create a style of my own has really inspired me. There is sill a lot to learn but learning how to tell a story through a picture was a really enjoyable journey.
week 1
This was our first class in the photojournalism module, providing an opportunity to understand what will be expected of us over the next twelve weeks.
I always loved taking photos since I was young. I used to edit them on my phone. That is why I was looking forward to this module and learning how to do this professionally.
This week’s task involved going out to find a story to pair with a couple of well-taken photos, considering framing and the elements in the foreground and background. I found it challenging to find an engaging story, so I chose an easy, nearby option.
As a result, the story wasn’t very adventurous, but I believe my photos were well-framed and aesthetically pleasing for a first attempt.
My story was on the increasing thefts in stores. The pictures included a portrait of the store employee and photographs of the store. I didn’t have much confidence to use the camera in week one. The images turned out to be okay needed some more work.
week 2
This week, we were assigned to research various styles of photojournalism to gain inspiration and identify which style we prefer for our final assignment.
I discovered that I am most drawn to food photojournalism because it makes you think about different ways you can take a picture to make it look appealing.
I studied several journalists who historically used this style, as they excellently captured the pictures.
As a result of this research, I decided to pursue this style for my assignment. I plan to research more about food photography and try and create pictures like professionals do.
week 3
In week 3, our lecturer reviewed image formats and introduced new cropping tools, including how to use Adobe Photoshop.
The lecture on image formats and correct photo sizes for journalism and digital publishing was very useful. It reminded us about the importance of descriptive alt-text and embedding high-quality images. We also practiced using Photoshop’s perspective crop tool to straighten images, which was new to me and very enlightening.
For my photo project pitch, I chose to explore health and the benefits of eating healthy. I plan to highlight the role calories play in achieving your ideal weight and physic
week 4
This week, we studied focus, aperture, and depth of field.
With little experience using cameras, I found it enlightening to learn how settings affect photo depth while maintaining focus on the subject. Initially nervous about using a camera for this module, I felt more confident after learning more about the settings.
Experimenting with the aperture setting in ‘Portrait’ mode on the iPhone was particularly interesting, as it’s not a common everyday setting. Karl sent us out to use this mode in natural lighting, which showed me how it enhances photo quality and makes the process more enjoyable. Compared to a camera it felt easier using the phone initially but as I practiced more it started becoming easier.
week 5
This week’s workshop was online. After learning about shutter speed and ISO, I realized how crucial shutter speed will be for my fitness project if I wish capture players and the moving ball clearly for a cricket game. I also learned that an ISO of 100-200 is ideal for outdoor shots to ensure the best lighting.
For the task, I used a high shutter speed setting to capture my subject jumping in the air. Next, I used low shutter speed and arranged the aperture and iso accordingly to take an optimal picture.
Photographic Journalism 