SESSION NOTES
Jack Henry
10 Must-Have Images of Photojournalism
1. Scene setter
- A broad view of the scene
- Get a high-angle and a use a wide-angle lens
- Wait for a moment
- Just because you are setting a scene does not mean the moment doesn’t matter
2. The Stars
- The most important person at any scene
- Photograph them early
- This allows everyone else at the event to realize there is a photographer and get used to the idea of getting photographed
- Don’t be afraid to cover the stars multiple times, they deserve recognition
3. Peak Action
- Find the key, highest energy moments
- Ex: Slam dunk
- Emotion, collisions, extreme eye positions
- Find the key, highest energy moments
4. Honest Emotion
- Facial expressions
- Body language — Gestures, postures
- Not having honest emotion is missing out on 50% of the story
- Find the most emotional people you can
5. Tight Portrait
- Opposite of a scene-setter
- Stand close to your subject, eye level
- Use a tight-angle lens and a shallow depth of field
6. Interaction
- People are predictable, and it is our job to anticipate what is going to happen
- All interaction is good interaction
- Every competitive team at your school either wins a championship or loses their last game; be there when that happens
7. Behind the Scenes
- Get there early, stay there late
8. Quiet Moment
- Opposite of peak action
- Usually on the edges of the event
9. Playing with Shapes aka “Getting Instagramy”
- High angles, low angles, and backlight all emphasize shapes
10. Artifacts
- Something of meaning
- “People without people”
_______________
What to Know Before College Journalism
1. College for Everyone
- Open your door
- Be motivated by learning, not by grades
2. Majoring in Journalism
- Find internships
- Find opportunities inside and outside of your school
- The why:
- Produces the best writers
- Communications skills
- Find a double major
3. Student Journalism in College
- Get started early
- Have the best sources
- The general public will never be on your side and will never understand the rules of journalism
- Treat your journalism like your actual job
- Find the power players (people with connections)
_______________
5 Things to Know to Prepare for a Journalism Career
1. Read, Watch, Learn
- Understand what you are taking in
2. Practice makes Perfect
- Get out of the classroom
- Get out of your comfort zone
- Start small and work your way up
3. Learn how to write
- Most important skill
4. Be flexible
- Be ahead of the curve
- Change and be willing to change
- Experiment in different mediums
5. Be Curious and Open-minded
- Don’t just say what happened, ask questions and dig deeper
- Simply ask “why?”
- Tune out the shouting
- Unblur the line between fact and opinion
- Don’t let your opinion sway how you tell a story
6. Network
- Find your future advisers, bosses, friends, colleagues
- Take advantage of people that want to help you
7. Let go of your ego
