Saturday 13 November 2010

THIS IS HOW YOU BECOME A GOOD PHOTOJOURNALIST

Last week, we had to go around downtown taking pictures for this pointless class I have to take. I don't know much about taking photos, but I felt the photos I took were pretty decent.

HOWEVER, all of my optimistic thoughts and dreams of being a GREAT (emphasize GREAT) photojournalist were shattered.  Today, the whole class (ALL 30 of us, yes) spent 21/2(or more, I don't know)  looking at all our pictures and listening to critiques.

I have heard "You need people in it," at least 20 times.
THEREFORE, this is what I have learned from the class today: 

NO PEOPLE= BAD PHOTO.
SO HERE ARE WHY THESE PHOTOS ARE GOOD AND BAD ACCORDING TO THESE RULES.


 This photo would make a great feature:  COLD AND ANGRY STUDENTS WALKING IN THE RAIN AT THE RYERSON CAMPUS BEING FORCED TO TAKE PICTURES AROUND DOWNTOWN TORONTO.

Hmm...what would make this a bad photo? Oh, there are people in this photo!! ONE POINT. HOWEVER, there's no action. NEGATIVE 10 points...I'm sorry... THIS WOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED. 

 WHY THIS PHOTO IS GREAT: 
1. There's action
2. There's people
3. Shows the sign "Fighing hunger"

However, won't be published because it's not zoomed in enough, and you can't see what people are doing. OH YEAH, RULE OF THIRDS. AND YOU DIDN'T GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND DO DIFFERENT ANGLES AND STUFF.GET A CLOSE-UP OF A PERSON.

 YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS PHOTO IS BAD BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PEOPLE IN IT. END OF STORY. NO ARGUMENTS.
 AHA! PEOPLE!!!!! A LOT OF PEOPLE!!! GOOD PHOTO APPLAUSE! BUT A SIGN WOULD BE NICE YES? WHY ARE THEY LINING UP!?!?!
 EUREKA! Two people in a picture!! But they're posing...so maybe it's not such a great photo. THEY NEED TO BE CANDID I TELL YOU!!!
 I think this photo and this veteran are great! HOWEVER THIS IS NO ACTION, THEREFORE IT WON'T BE PUBLISHED. PLUS YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THIS SHOT.

(Don't be hatin' on this veteran though! He was the best, and he was so sweet! He was such a charmer!!)
NO SAMANTHA. IT WOULD BE BETTER IF THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THIS SHOT. 
END OF STORY.


I'm sorry. I still think film is so much better.

4 comments:

  1. OMFGGG LOL. So basically no people = IT'S A BAD PHOTO. :(

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  2. Indeed Jan. Indeed. I WILL NEVER GET PUBLISHED!

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  3. teaching you to take stalker pics ftw =]

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  4. Wow talk about harsh. I mean, I know you need good composition and junk to get something published, but the criticism here seems so outlandish. There are plenty of great photos with no people or not many people. Doesn't saying the Scott Pilgrim cosplayers should be candid kinda undermine the point of getting permission to photograph them?

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