CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Photojournalism Fall 2015 Instructor: John Smock [email protected] Office Hours: M 1-3p, W 1-3p and by appt.

Room 330 Monday: 9:30a12:20p

COURSE DESCRIPTION This is an introductory course in photojournalism presented in a multimedia context. Students will use the journalism school’s Canon dSLRs (those who have equivalent cameras of their own are encouraged to use them). The course will be taught as a hands-on workshop. Instruction will progress from basic camera operation and the news “one shot” to more comprehensive visual storytelling. Despite technologies that in recent years have transformed how news photography is produced and distributed, the strength of the still image remains undiminished. In fact, the market for stories communicated visually has never been stronger. The social media sphere has opened new opportunities for photographers. Photographs, presented alone or as an essay in a multimedia context, continue to provide the photojournalists who make them a uniquely powerful window onto the world in which we live. The semester will be divided into two segments: single image stories, camera and technique (seven weeks); photo essay production, presentation and the pro marketplace (eight weeks). Students will be responsible for weekly assignments as well as two long-term projects. Much of the courses content and supporting material will be present on the class website. Students are responsible for weekly readings, quizzes, tutorials, resource material and discussion presented on the site. Students are encouraged to use assignments for other courses as the basis for work in this course when appropriate and with the permission of the instructor . Students may also use the course to develop a photo component for their capstones. Course content will include: • Comprehensive instruction in the use of the Canon Rebel T2/T3ii and or Canon 60D/70D dSLR, including an introduction to the school’s selection of lenses, flashes and other accessories (students with comparable cameras of their own may use them) • The essential elements of good visual storytelling • How to photograph the single image news and feature assignment • Techniques for developing and structuring professional caliber long-form photo stories

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How to edit, caption and organize large numbers of photos Intermediate/advanced use of postproduction software including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Bridge, Photo Mechanic, along with software used for presentation and small-scale multimedia presentation. Tools and standards for building a professional portfolio and presenting visual work online. GRADING

Grades for the course will be broken down as follows: • First eight weekly assignments: 40 percent • First photo essay: 20 percent • Second photo essay: 20 percent • Class participation (including online discussions, professionalism and attendance: 20 percent Attendance is mandatory. See the ACADEMIC CALENDAR for the fall course schedule. Students who must miss a course should notify me beforehand. Extra credit is available to students who wish to do a 10-15 minutes presentation on a photographer of their choice. Other projects may be considered for extra credit. Note: Students who wish to incorporate material from the class into a capstone project or work for other courses may be able to make special arrangements. COURSE MATERIAL NOTE: While news values and ethics in photojournalism does not appear as a specific topic in the outline below, we will discuss it frequently in the context of what is outlined. Class One Introduction ● Course overview ● Examples of student work ● Camera equipment: What’s in a pro camera bag (and what does the school have)? ● How to file assignments ● Intro to the Canon 60/70D ● Assignment #1 Class Two Post-production tools and the pro camera bag ● Review of assignment #1 and the camera revisited ● The vocabulary of photography and photo critique ● Postproduction tools Adobe Photoshop & Bridge ● Caption, tags and keywords ● JPG/RAW file management ● Assignment #2

Class Three – The environmental portrait and more on postproduction software ● Review of assignment #2 ● Photographer of the day ● Shooting the environmental portrait ● Shooting the self-portrait ● Assignment #3 Class Four – The News and Feature Assignments ● Review of assignment #3 ● Photographer of the day ● News vs Feature ● Finding stories ● SPEAKER: TBA ● Assignment #4: ● Mobile photo Class - Five Editing photographs and Lighting Workshop ● Review of assignment #4 ● Working in an news environment ● Editing your own work ● Editing stories for publication ● Photographer of the day ● The pitch form ● Assignment #5 ● Lighting workshop (both sections) Room: TBA Class Six - The Photo Essay ● Review of assignment #5 ● Photographer of the day ● Identifying photo essay projects ● Ideas for an essay due ● Assignment #6 ● Class Shooting Trip Class Seven – Themes and personal style ● Photographer of the day ● Review of Assignment #6 ● Professional style and personal vision ● Final idea for first photo due ● Assignment #7 and assignment #8 (flash) ● Speaker: TBA Class Eight - Exhibit Visit ● Begin shooting first essay a profile ● Review of assignments #7 & #8

Class Nine - On Assignment: From Local News to Travel Photography ● Photographer of the day ● Writing For Photographers ● Review of first photo essay part 1 Class Ten - The Scavenger Hunt ( WIFI ) ● Shoot and edit scavenger hunt ● Review first photo essay part 2 ● The pitch form Class Eleven - Photography in a Multimedia Context and with Audio in Particular ● Photographer of the day ● Review first photo essay part 3 (final) ● Edit and sequencing of first photo essay ● Photo in a multimedia context ○ Using photo with design text ○ Using photo with graphics ○ Using photo with audio ○ Using Photo with video ● Discussion of final essay/series with multimedia component ● Individual or group? ● Final essay idea due ● Shoot final essay part 1 Class Twelve - Planning the multimedia piece. Class based photo project? ● Photographer of the day ● Review of final essay part 1 ● Shoot final essay part 2 ● Upload final sequence first essay ● Speaker:TBA Class Thirteen The professional world of photojournalism ● The Photo Portfolio ● Review of final essay part II with final multimedia component concept ● Assignment: final essay part 3 ● Copyright and fair use of photographs ● What editors are looking for ○ Developing the portfolio site ○ Presentation tools ● Selling your work ○ PhotoShelter ○ Demotix ○ Trans Terra ○ Others

Class Fourteen - The future of photojournalism ● Emerging tools ● Experimental photo projects ● Changing pattern of distribution ● Review final photo essay part 3 (final) ● Edit and sequencing of final photo essay with multimedia component (upload) ● Speaker: TBA Class Fifteen - Review of final projects ● Review of final projects