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The Fundamentals of Photojournalism


Class Description



This eight-session (every 2 weeks)  course is designed to teach what it means to be a photojournalist and how to think like one. The various aspects of photojournalism will be covered and class members will learn how to report with a camera. Technique will be learned through studying various photojournalists and examining many examples of the genre, but mainly through course assignments. Caption writing, truth, ethics, and the history of photojournalism will be reviewed.

Weekly assignments will be given and are designed to be challenging yet fun and to learn how to tell a story through pictures. Subjects will range from the regular and everyday to the complex and socially difficult. A strong emphasis is put on the photographers to use personal vision to interpret assignments. The photojournalist is always a witness to the event.

Photographers should expect to be challenged and use their instinct and creativity to accomplish assignments. Changing light and weather conditions are to be expected; there are no excuses in not finishing an assignment; emphasis on deadlines is important in photojournalism.

No matter what type of photography career you choose – corporate, wedding, portrait, commercial or fine art – your work will be positively influenced by your photojournalistic skills and knowledge!

Week One: Photojournalism course overview. History of photojournalism, ethics, and legal issues discussed. Caption writing will also be covered. Discussion for first assignment will be on interaction. What does it mean? How do you find it?

Week Two: Assignment critique of interaction. Students are also encouraged to bring in up to three examples of interaction from newspapers and/or magazines to share. Examples of next assignment will be shown for news feature and environmental portrait photography.

Week Three: Assignment critique of news feature and environmental portrait photography. Students may also bring in up to three examples of feature and environmental portrait photography from newspapers and/or magazines to share. Discussion on general news and sports will be given and examples of subject matter will be shown for the next assignment. Ethics will be discussed on recording events as well as press credentials.

Week Four: Critique of general news and sports conducted. Students encouraged to bring in up to three examples of general news and sports from newspapers and/or magazines to share. Hard news photography and photo story in a day discussed to lead into the next assignment (hard news will be optional).

Week Five: Critique of photo story in a day (and hard news if any students complete it). Students encouraged to bring in up to three examples of hard news and photo story in a day from newspapers and/or magazines to share. Discussion on photo story. Assignment given for students to bring in minimum of three story ideas.
 
Week Six: Continued discussion on photo story and student story ideas. Students will pick one subject and begin photo story.

Week Seven:  Review of photo story ideas and progress and critique of work. Further discussion on photo story and documentary. Personal vision and portfolio building also discussed.

Week Eight: Final portfolios due with photo stories. Possible group exhibition discussed

Class Requirements

Course materials: DSLR camera, strobe, lenses that can accommodate different situations (fast zooms are ideal). If you have a telephoto it will be needed. If you don’t, you will need to either borrow or rent one, especially for the sports assignment.

A reporter’s spiral notebook is also required for caption information gathering.

Printing will be required for all assignments. Students must print one 8x10 print for class critique, as well as a contact sheet of images taken for each assignment.

Optional materials: Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach by Kenneth Kobre. AP Style Book.

Class Schedule

Date
Start Time
End Time
Location
Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wednesday, April 12th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wednesday, May 10th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 6:00 PM 9:00 PM

Additional Class Information


Class Images:

     

About the Instructor

Instructor Photo

Tom Baker: Tom Baker graduated in 2004 from the University of Montana School of Journalism with a BA in photojournalism.

He believes in the aesthetics of life, and that is what Tom seeks to convey in his work. Tom feels life can be found anywhere in the world and photographed, but more importantly the stories of life are what need to be told. Whether the story is about a person or persons, a place, a culture, or a struggle, he sees the camera as a tool that must be utilized to record, document, and create all at the same time. By way of the camera he cannot only tell people a story, but can tell people about himself. Tom’s career as a photojournalist has taken him from the Havre Daily News in Havre, MT, The Dalles Chronicle in Dalles, OR, and the Portland Tribune in Portland, OR.

He moved back to Minnesota from Oregon in 2006 and has for the last 10 years worked as a freelance photographer for numerous clients and publications.


Register for this Class

The cost of the "The Fundamentals of Photojournalism" class is: $595.00

Learn more about our membership and be eligible to receive a 10% on all MPC classes.

Please Note: This class is currently full. Please contact us if you would like to be placed on a waiting list and advised of the next scheduled class. In the meantime you might consider our One on One personalized education options with our trained professionals.


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