Journalism Today

Chapter 18: Taking and Using Effective Photographs

Overview

Photographs show the reader what the story tells. A good photograph attracts a viewer's attention, enticing him or her to take a second look. In addition, photographs provide information and entertain readers, helping them to form a bond with a publication that will keep them waiting for the next issue to come out. Through the use of high-quality photographs, a publication also establishes an identity with which the reader can feel comfortable.

Learning to compose images that are full of people doing unusual things is the first step to getting pictures that are more than just snapshots. This process starts in the mind of the photographer. After beginning photographers have learned to fill the frame with the subject, some simple composition guidelines apply. They include learning to use the rule of thirds, working with repetition and leading lines and curves, and avoiding mergers and awkward cuts. Keeping in mind the need to take photos that have meaning should also guide composition.

The role of the photo editor and photographer goes beyond just taking pictures. The photo editor and photographers should keep the photo department organized and the darkroom clean. They should keep supplies stocked (including film) and maintain working equipment. The photo editor and photographers should gather information while on assignment in order to write effective captions. The photo staff should also know how to crop, size, and position photos on a layout. Finally, the photo staff should communicate with the rest of the staff to ensure thorough coverage of every person and event possible.

Before going out to shoot pictures, photographers must be clear about their assignment. The more specific the assignment, the better the results will be. Once photographers have accepted an assignment, they have made a commitment to visually record a piece of history, and they should work to cover that piece thoroughly and with as much skill as possible.

Some publications run photo essays—a series of photos that tell a story or cover various parts of an event. Photo essays work particularly well in situations in which the story comes across more effectively through pictures than through words.