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23 

Lecture in PHOTOJOURNALISM

A Presentation by
JOSANLO M. CALDERA
Journalism National Lecturer
09488316390
 Definition

• Photojournalism is the use of a

group of pictures to reveal the
subject in more depth than a single
picture can do
 Definition

• Photojournalism a series of
pictures can present an idea,
explain facts, or make a point more
effectively than words alone.
 Types of Presentation

•There are 3 types of Photojournalism

presentation.
• 1. Picture sequence tells a story with a
series of pictures.
 Types of Presentation

• 2. Picture story is a multiple report on a

news event or personality.
 Types of Presentation

3. Picture essay is similar to

picture story but broader in
theme giving the photographer
freedom to present his
interpretation.
 Functions
5 main functions of photos, images

• 1. To attract attention. Pictures are

selected to symbolize an article’s theme
and are given prominence by means of
size or position in the layout. Their role is
to catch the readers’ attention
 Functions
2 . To illustrate a point.

–The simplest role of an illustration is

to make a point. This is typified by the
head-and-shoulder portrait (mug shot).
 Functions
3.To tell a story itself through
the aid of caption.

There are pictures that by themselves tell

a story. Only a minimum of caption is
needed. Examples: Human interest
pictures.


 Functions

4. To tell a story in sequence

with other illustrations.

• Use of a series of pictures called “caption

story
 Functions

• 5. To give visual relief to the

design or makeup of the story.

• Pictures are used to break the monotony

of a news page. Illustrations may be used
as a page decoration. If its only purpose is
to create a favorable impression on the
reader, it is a valid function.
 Qualities of a Good Photo

1.PROMINENCE. Pictures of
prominent personalities and other
newsmakers attract the interest of readers.

2.ACTION. In pictures, as in stories,

readers are attracted by action. The
cardinal rule is: snap your picture when
there is action.
 Qualities

3. HUMAN INTEREST. In some

unguarded moments, you can take
pictures of children acting like adults, a
mother silently crying, or the excitement
of fans in a basketball game. Pictures
that show emotions you can relate to
can be very interesting. Or pictures of
animals or oddities.
 Qualities

3. Drama
This is another form of human interest.
Pictures of fires, accidents or victims of
calamities belong to this category.
 Qualities

3. Timeliness
This is As in news stories, timeliness or
immediacy enhances the value of a
picture.
 Pictures selection
• The newspaperman has two things to
bear in mind when selecting pictures
for publication: the picture’s technical
value and editorial value.
 Pictures Selection 39

•TECHNICAL VALUE.
A picture has technical value when it is
technically perfect with proper light and
shadow, is free from smudges, and is
clean and clear for publication.
 Pictures Selection

•EDITORIAL VALUE
A picture has editorial value when
it tells a story at a glance and when it
shows life’s happenings and moments
of truth and significance.
 Proper Use of Photos

• 1. The photo will not be reproduced as

clearly as its original form.

• 2. Flat, smudgy, grayish pictures that melt

into the background should not be used.
 Proper Use of Photos

• 3. If the picture is great, it deserves to be

played big.; if ordinary, it needs to be
played big.

• 4. Action pictures are better than the”firing

line” or “firing squad” and posed pictures.
 Proper Use of Photos

• 5. Get glossy prints, not matte.

• 6. Get big prints for reduction.

• 7. Don’t put pictures back to back.

 Proper Use of Photos

• 8. If you have to use group pictures, use

them big to allow recognition of people in
it.

• 9. A crash scene looks dead with only the

plane shown. Better if there are people
shown in the picture to make the photo
livelier.
 Proper Use of Photos

• 10. Small pictures are ineffectual. Details

and impact are lost.

• 11. A one-column picture can be very

attractive, so is a shallow but wide picture
as outstretched hands dropping coins in a
hat being passed around for earthquake
victims.
 Improving Photographs

C ROPPING – Eliminates unwanted

parts or give more space for displaying the
point of interest.
 Improving Photographs

•R ETOUCHING – Eliminates
undesirable background to emphasize
center of interest (done usually by the
artist or engraver) or computer
manipulation.
 Photo Captions

CAPTION (cutline, underline) text :

accompanying any pictorial
illustration. It describes and explains
the picture to the reader. It is done
interestingly, accurately and in good
taste, in a lively vein.
 Captions
Overline

(Caption- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
---- -----------------
-) (Credit line)
 Photo Captions

OVERLINE
title or explanatory matter above the picture.

CREDIT LINE: Source of the picture and

immediately follows the caption
 Rules in Captioning
• Some basic rules:
•1. It should be brief say, an average of
about 15 words per sentence. (not to exceed 5
lines if it is for 2-column photos; 3 lines if the
photo occupies 5 columns )
•2. It should be in the present tense to stress
the immediacy or timeliness of the event and
must answer the basic questions Who? What?
When? Where? Why?
 Rules in Captioning

•3. It should tell the gist of the story

that accompanies the photo.

•4. Don’t include in the caption what is

already obvious in the photo.
 Rules in Captioning

•5. If it is a group picture, don’t identify

everybody as this would make your
caption long. Just identify the most
important person in the photo, like the
guest of honor of the occasion.
•6. Human interest pictures usually don’t
need long captions. Some don’t even need
captions anymore.
 Rules in Captioning

•7. Match the caption with the mood of the

picture.

•8. Captions should supplement what is

seen.

•9. The caption should nor contradict the

picture.
 Rules in Captioning

•10. Don’t begin a caption with ”Photo

shows…” especially if it doesn’t or “In the
photo are …” This is totally unnecessary.
 Rules in Captioning

•11. When a picture accompanies a

news story, explain the picture in the
caption: “Mr. Dante Mendoza who first
reported the fire …”, But don’t repeat in
the caption everything that Mr. Mendoza
says in the news story
 Rules in Captioning

•12. Don’t rewrite the news story as a caption.

This merely wastes space w/o adding
information.

•13.Captions should be indented an em or

nut at each side. Choose a different type from
the normal body type, bold face or italics. But be
consistent.
 Style Requirements

–Caption style rules that

deal with spelling,
capitalization, abbreviations,
grammar, titles, etc., are the
same as for the news.
 Parts of a Caption

•
The O VERLINE. Title or explanatory matter
above the picture. Just a few bright words to put
across the point of the picture, attract the
readers’ attention, or evoke a smile. The
overline is usually set in bold letters.

•
The BODY of the caption.
 Parts of a Caption

C REDIT. The credit acknowledges the

source of the pictures. It immediately
follows the body of the caption.
 Vocabulary

•Cut:: an engraving, etching or woodblock

from which a picture is printed. A
newspaper picture is also called a cut.

•Cutline: the explanation under a cut; as

the person’s name.

•Catchline: The caption under a picture.

 Vocabulary

•Overbanner: banner printed above the

nameplate; skyline; umbrella
• Overline: the headline above the picture.
• Photo: photograph.
• Sig cut: cut of signature or name of firm.
 Picture taking reminders:
• SAFE-T
• S – set
• A – aim
• F – focus
• E – expose
• -
• T - turn
 • Tips and Suggestions to
Photojournalists

• Know your camera well.

• Ask your subject what to do.
• Take more than one shot.
• Shoot unusual pictures.
• If possible, avoid handshaking or posed
pictures.
• Avoid firing squads, subjects facing away
from the sun.
CODE OF ETHICS
 GUIDELINES FOR THE SELECTION OF WINNERS
1. Photojournalism
a. Preparation:

1) Contestants should enter the assigned room 15

minutes prior to the event.
2) The contestants are allowed to use any Digital Camera
(point and shoot only) with a maximum of 24.3
megapixels with fixed lenses. Contestants who will use
any DSLR and other high-end cameras will not be
permitted to join the contest.
3) The contestants shall submit an empty memory card

and camera (internal memory) to be checked by a

proctor to be assigned by the SDO.
4) The contestant should bring his/her own camera cable

for uploading and saving pictures.

The contestant shall use a laptop/desktop in uploading his/her

outputs
B.Provision for Memory Card:
The contestants shall load the empty storage card with card
reader in front of the examiner on the contest day.

C.Photo Shoot, Uploading and Captioning

Contestants are given one (1) hour to take pictures.
Contestants are allowed to take unlimited shots but
will submit only five (5) possible photos with captions
for the given theme and the control shot.
Write the file name of each photo in the caption sheet
to be uploaded to the link.
Contestants will be given 30 minutes to write captions
for each of the five photos.
Throughout the duration of the competition, the
advisers, trainers, and parents shall stay at least 20
meters from the contestants.
 SCORE SHEET FOR PHOTOJOURNALISM
Technical Quality 40%
Exposure value and quality of image (free from digital noise)
Presents images with acceptable sharpness

Communicative Quality 40%

Shows clear and specific idea(s) or angle connected to the theme or topic
Uses creative photography techniques to highlight the visual story

Caption 10%
Writes a two-sentence caption providing context to the picture

Ethics 10%
Showcases original works of students.
Properly cites information and attributes these facts from the source of information (cut
across all events)
Observes standards of journalism in terms of fairness, relevance, accuracy, and balance
Has no potentially libelous or obscene content, plagiarism and copyright violations
Follows strict standards of no manipulation and alteration of reality

Total 100
%

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