Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with PHotojournalism

How do I become a sweet globe-trotting photographer?

borkingchikapa — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:51:25 -0800

I want to be an adventurous, globe-trotting photographer! How do I do that? I can't really see my current situation leading to any globe-trotting, so I'm leaving in August to travel through South America for a few months and find some place I like enough to stay. What can I do right now to make it easier to sell photos and pursue my dream when I get there? (my last question was sort of related to this)

I just graduated with a BA in international studies and I'm working full-time here in DC, but I don't think this sort of coasting is going to lead me to to the life full of adventure I want. So, I'm blowing it off.

I'd like to do photojournalism, but I'd take pictures of people's babies if it meant I got to travel. I'm also not relying on this for a full income right off the bat - I've got English teaching experience and I'm not averse to working less interesting jobs if I have to.

I have a portfolio and clippings; I've taken a lot of photos for minor periodicals and such in the area and I'll keep doing so until I leave. I'm also familiar with the whole "get a job with a local newspaper for a while and get press credentials from them" avenue, but my local paper is the Washington Post and I'm totally unwilling to work as an unpaid mail room intern for two years.

Other than continuing to take pictures and build up a resume, what can I do right now to further my goal? What sorts of people should I get in touch with? What should I be researching?

If I can't find a job it's down to Dad and Myrtle Beach

riane — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:54:38 -0800

What person, place or thing in Myrtle Beach, SC, lends itself to a multimedia piece? I'm heading down to Myrtle Beach with my dad, sister and dad's girlfriend for a week. We'll get there Feb. 21, this Saturday. I've got about a month of school left and need to get some stuff done on vacation, so I don't run out of time.

Long story short, I'd really like to get a multimedia piece out of the way. I'll be coming at it from a photojournalistic standpoint so I want something that will work photographically, but I also need some audio and video and possibly a "talking head" kind of interview to run through the whole thing.

I've been thinking about plopping myself down on the beach and shooting everything that walks by me, or maybe a specific old diner or shop, or a specific interesting neighbourhood? I've done the hard-hitting stuff before and sort of want something a little more light and fun.

I can travel a bit, but not excessively so.

Any ideas? I'll take any suggestions.

Past examples of altering images in media

CitrusFreak12 — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:37:28 -0800

I'm looking for examples of incidents where photographers/newspapers/photojournalists altered photos (e.g., the Reuters Smoke incident of '06). Help? I need to write a paper for a class. I'd like it to be on photoshop in the media, namely any controversy over the use thereof, but I'm unsure of whether or not there are enough examples for me to use. I have LexisNexis at my disposal, but the search results (usually hovering at about 1000) are overwhelming.

Any prior incidents that you could enlighten me about would be wonderful.

Best. Band. Photos. Ever.

2or3whiskeysodas — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 08:16:38 -0800

Tips on taking good band photos? Best band photos ever? Hi, I'm a member of a startlingly unphotogenic indie/punk/weirdo rock band. Not that any of us are unattractive per se, it's that some of us just don't photograph well, individually or as a group. Additionally, we hail from the (thankfully) fashion unconscious city of Houston, TX, so we don't have the hipster wardrobe one is accustomed to seeing in band press photos. When the four of us try to take pictures, we end up looking like four kinda slobby dudes just...sort of...standing around.

It's pretty important that we get some good photos asap. I'm looking for advice, suggestions, inspiration, examples, whatever. Especially interested in hearing from photographers and musicians, obv. But also happy to look at anyone's I've-always-loved-this-photo photos. Thanks!

How can I find out if and/or where a given press photo was printed?

moift — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 02:26:33 -0800

How can I find out if and/or where a given press photo was printed? The image in question is of this casualty of Katrina (potentially nsfw, another variation). I'm trying to determine whether this picture ever made its way into print. The first photo is attributed to David Grunfeld, Photographer & Photo Editor of Times-Picayune, but also to the Newhouse News Service, so I suppose it could have ended up anywhere.

Are there any good resources to track press photos? I've tried the sites of the T-P and Newhouse without finding mention. Are these photos at any point assigned some kind of ID they can be referenced by? I also tried a few runs at Lexis-Nexis, but that's not really working out either.

Photography Freelancing

tomcosgrave — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 15:08:51 -0800

I've been interested in photography since I was a kid, starting to take it more seriously as a hobby in 2000, and have taking it very seriously since last year, especially photojournalism. I had some experiences photographing last year that made start to wonder if this wasn't something I was good enough at to do and now I'd really like to start thinking about freelancing as a photojournalist as a sideline to my day job. I've built up a decent amount of good equipment that would allow me to make a start. I'm not sure how to go about it, short of writing off to publishers with a portfolio and a letter, which has come to nothing so far.

Have any photographers - especially photojournalists out there got any advice? Thanks in advance!

Good photojournalism sites?

malphigian — Sat, 24 Apr 2004 23:09:27 -0800

Good photojournalism sites? [MI] I'm interested in finding some sites that offer good news phototraghy. There seems to be a tendency among most news sites to offer tiny postage stamp sized wire service pictures, and that's it.

The best I know of so far is MSNBC week in pictures, which is pretty good (aside from the obligatory goofy animal photos), but are there are other news sites that offer well composed, decently size photos?