COMM 242, Advanced News Photography (Photojournalism)
Instructor: Ross Collins

Photojournalism Assignments 2008

Note: Photos should be new work. I can’t accept photos you took last summer, or photos pulled from your album. I’m counting on your honesty here; if something in an image makes clear that it was taken before this semester (like a football game), I can’t give you credit.

Submit your work (no more than number of images required, please), by deadline saved as jpgs, and attached to email to me, ross.collins@ndsu.edu. Write your cutlines in the email message.

Assignment One: become aware of your camera's functions and photojournalism principles.

a. Dramatic angles. Shoot at least a couple dozen images of people or scenes around campus from unusual angles. You might shoot down from the top of a stair. Or shoot up lying on your back. Or shoot someone framed by something else. Or really close in on something. Or shoot a seldom-seen view of something. Use your creativity, as long as: 1) it’s not the common viewpoint; 2) at least half your photos have people in them. Prepare for critique two unusual angles. I suppose I don’t need to tell you not to try anything dumb like lying on the railroad tracks or shooting down the campus smokestack? Hey, it’s been done.

Cutlines are not necessary for this assignment.

b. Meeting folks. Shoot at least a couple dozen images of people doing things on campus, preferably outside, but in well-lit buildings (window light recommended) if it’s too cold. Take candid (unposed) pictures of people you do not know. After taking their picture, approach at least two or three of these subjects. Explain that you are doing a class photojournalism assignment, and ask for their names, including proper spelling. Right down names on a notepad, numbered in sequence so you can later match your names to photos (you may wish to also describe surroundings to help you later match the name to the image). Prepare for critique two which you believe best show life on campus.

Formal cutlines are not necessary for this assignment, but you do need first and last names of people in photos, and a brief description of what they are doing.

Assignment Two: become aware of light.

Find photos relying on several common qualities of light. Include at least three different examples from these options:

• strong natural light, dramatic shadows and highlights. May be sunlight, strong window light.
• flash on camera, pointed directly at subject. If you don’t have a flash, try setting up a potlight or lamp.
• flash off camera, bounced off a ceiling or wall. If your flash won’t bounce, try a white hankie or Kleenex to diffuse the light.
• diffused light, cloudy day, classroom, filtered through window.
• colored light: incandescent, fluorescent, candle. NO FLASH--turn off flash, if automatic.

Include people in at least half your photos. Prepare at least three examples.

Cutlines: Formal cutlines are necessary for this assignment, and from now on. If people are easily identifiable, they must be identified with both first and last names. If I catch you making up a name, no credit, and you will be required to outline, in excruciating detail, the ethics chapter of the text!

Review lecture on writing cutlines.

Assignment Three: become aware of composition.

Compose yourself. Identify basic elements of photo composition, and compose them in a way you believe produces a more dynamic photograph. Try to emphasize a single element you think dominates more than any other. Shoot a few frames you know to be considered “composition mistakes,” to compare differences. At least half your photos must include people. Submit two examples, including cutlines describing the compositional element emphasized, or the “compositional mistake.”

Assignment Four: class documentary project.

The life of a campus: North Dakota State University 2008

We will devote the rest of the semester to preparing a significant documentary project, tentatively entitled, "The life of a campus." Based on class discussion, students will develop themes they think best reflect students and university life. From those themes students will choose areas to document photographically. Throughout the semester students will critique each other's photos, and make final choices for the documentary, based on strongest images that best reflect campus life.

• Most photos will include people; idents must be included. All photos must include complete cutlines.
• All photos need not be taken on campus, but all most include some clearly identifiable facet of campus life.
• This is not a public relations project; Photographers should work to portray an honest depiction of a campus, good and bad.
• Photographers may wish to write short articles to accompany photos, if they feel it is necessary to help explain the story.
• Photographers must avoid potentially libelous photos, or photos depicting illegal behavior in which a subject is clearly identifiable. Please review text chapters on law and ethics.
• As a class we will chose the best photos. The instructor cannot guarantee all students will see photos included in the final documentary. Class grade is not based on whether a student's photo(s) are selected for the final documentary.

Final choices as decided by the class will be printed and displayed on campus at the end of the semester. These photos, and possibly others, will also become part of a permanent web gallery.

Go back to photojournalism resources.