Photojournalism

COMM 242: Advanced News Photography

Instructor: Ross Collins, Ph.D.

Instructor's office: 321 Minard, North Dakota State University, Fargo.

Office hours: 1-3, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and by appointment. Tel: 231-7295; e-mail: Ross.Collins@ndsu.edu.

Required text: Kenneth Kobre, Photojournalism: the Professional's Approach. Third Edition.
Recommended text: Derek McClelland, Photoshop for Macs for Dummies. (Latest edition; best, cheapest quick guide I know of.)).

Course objectives:

• To understand the development of photojournalism and its importance in a visually-oriented world.
• To understand the requirements of professional-level photojournalism.
• To learn these requirements through a series of creative exercises designed to produce photographs of near professional-quality standards.
• To critically evaluate these and other photographs based on accepted professional standards.
• To gain a minimum level of technical skill using equipment essential to requirements of contemporary photojournalism.

Required equipment:
A 35 mm single lens reflex, fully-adjustable camera with normal (50 mm) lens. This is minimum requirement; strongly recommended is a second lens of 135 or 200 mm, or a zoom lens in the range of 35 mm to 135 mm, and a detachable electronic flash.

NOT ACCEPTABLE: Point-and-shoot cameras, 35 mm or other format. Professional photojournalists do not use this equipment, which is too limited for most photojournalism. (These cameras normally have no ability to accept interchangeable lens, and may have only a small built-in electronic flash.)

Other required material:
Because this class will rely on digital darkroom techniques as practiced by 98 percent of today's photojournalists, no darkroom equipment or chemicals will be required. However, we will be shooting standard color print film, and processing that film. Students can expect to buy about ten 24-exposure color print films, and pay for processing (only negatives and proof sheet are required) throughout the semester. Total cost: around $100. Also required: computer ZIP disk to store photos.

Attendance:
This is a small, seminar-style class That means we adopt an informal approach, and that you have lots of opportunities for individual attention. It also means your absence will be noticed. However, on principle the instructor does not grade attendance. Nevertheless, in-class lecture information not available in the text may be part of exams, and in-class assignments cannot be made up (see below under Grading).

Grading:
Tenttative highest possible point totals for this course:
Midterm, 100 pts.
Final, 150 pts.
Photo assignments: 350 pts.
Photoshop and other assignments: 100 pts.
Final portfolio: 100 pts.
Total: 800 pts.

The total number may change slightly, depending on the eventual number of assignments completed during the semester. Standard grade percentages:
90-100=A
80-89=B
70-79=C
60-69=D
Below 60=F

Note: bylined publication in the Spectrum of any photo taken for a class project will earn 15 extra credit points; publication in the Forum will earn 50 extra credit points; publication anywhere else will earn 10 extra credit points.

Out-of-class assignments handed in late will be accepted, but grades will suffer according to the length of tardiness. In-class assignments cannot be made up. Students who miss a class in which such an assignment is completed will receive an F on that assignment. However, the instructor may offer extra-credit opportunities during the semester as a way to help offset missed in-class assignments or low grades.

Official University Notices
Disabilities: If you need special accommodations for learning or have special needs, please let the instructor know as soon as possible.

Academic dishonesty/plagiarism: Work in this course must adhere to the NDSU Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct. This addresses cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or facilitating dishonesty. Instructors have the right to respond to a student's dishonesty by failing the student for the particular assignment or test, or even the entire course, or recommend the student drop the course.

Recommended reading: The best way to learn is to study great photojournalists and their work, including Alfred Eisenstadt, Jacob Riis, Robert Capa, W. Eugene Smith, Weegee, Dorthea Lange, Lewis Hine, and the National Press Photographers Association yearbooks.

Week Two: The camera and the digital darkroom. Digital darkroom assignment. Read chapter 12.

Week Three: Film and exposure. Critique assignment one. Read chapter 10.

Week Four: Exposure, cont., characteristics of light. Read chapters 7-8. Assignment two.

Week Five: Characteristics of light, using flash. Editing and critiquing photographs. Read chapter 9 and 11.

Week Six: How to deal with color. Critique assignment two. Assignment three.

Week Seven: Composition for photojournalists. Critique assignment three. Assignment four. Review for midterm.

Week Eight: Great photos and photojournalists. Midterm review. Read chapter 15. Midterm exam.

Week Nine: Special problem: travel photography. Critique assignment four. Assignment five. Read chapter 4.

Week Ten: Special problem: news. Read chapters 2 and 3.

Week Eleven: Special problem: portraits. Read chapter 5. Critique assignment five. Assignment six.

Week Twelve: The art of seeing.

Week Thirteen: Special problem: sports. Critique assignment six. Read chapter 6.

Week Fourteen: Preparing a portfolio. Assignment seven. Read chapters 7-9.

Week Fifteen: Ethics and law. Prepare portfolios. Read chapters 13 and 14.

Week Sixteen: Critique assignment seven. Present portfolios on line.

Final exam.

Tentative assignment list.

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