| Sign in: |
| Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features. |
|
|
|
|
|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Help I have to talk to a high journalism class
Chris McGathey, Photographer
 |
Mesquite | TX | USA | Posted: 12:02 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> Ok. I am not much of a public speaker to begin with. And I have never taught anyone anything. So when I received correspondece from a journalism class student from one of our local high schools asking me to talk in front of the class the best I could come up with is showing them some of my work. I doubt if they will be interested in the daily grind of my usual work day. They will ask questions I'm sure. But what else can I talk about other than my style, what I look for in a photo etc.... Iv'e done this before but it was in front of a bunch of sixth graders where I kept things pretty simple. But with high schoolers I don't want to bore them to tears either. |
|
Chris Machian, Photographer, Assistant
 |
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 12:05 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> well, as discussed in earlier threads talk about the business side of it. The dos and MANY DON"Ts.
Kids love to hear about money. |
|
Mark Smith, Photographer
|
Elk City | OK | USA | Posted: 12:20 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> How do you know they will be high? ;) |
|
chris curry, Photographer
|
Peoria | IL | usa | Posted: 12:28 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Chris,
No! Not money!
Anything but the business side.
We did not become visual storytellers to become rich.
The one thing that got me excited when I first started my career was that I was a liaison between our paper and the community. I became everyone's pair of eyes, so to speak.
The last thing on my mind was money.
I think the best way to reach this high school class is to talk to them about what brought you to become a photojournalist. Give them a slide show and talk about why your pictures are important and how you made them. I think photography is a good way to really understand what is going on in our community. Look what it did with the civil rights movement. And just recently look at how visual reporting of the Tsunami disaster has inspired us to band together, raise money and help victims.
The business of photography is important but don't overload these kids with the politics that come with the job. As an introductory lesson this kids need to know why you love what you do, assuming that you do.
Good luck with it,
chris curry |
|
Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
 |
Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 12:39 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> For the love of all things Good, throw some ethics talk in there. People seriously don't know that newspapers don't alter photographs. |
|
Chris Machian, Photographer, Assistant
|
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 12:51 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> I meant the business side so they don't make the same rookie mistakes that we all pay for.
I am not talking like a college level business class, but 15 minutes of pointers that makes sure they don't set themselves up for a fall.
Wesleys suggestion of ethics is a good thing too
see also:
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=14004
that is what I am referring to, |
|
Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
|
Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 2:53 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> How about discussing the various philosophy and code of ethics in modern journalism? From those groups that observe the doctrine of non-interference to those whose values are based on the situation. For example - when do you become leave the role as an unbias documentor to an active participant? Should you assist or not assist or continue to record the moment?
To get the class involved in the discussion ask how they would feel about . . . . whatever situations you could come up with. |
|
Mark Smith, Photographer
|
Elk City | OK | USA | Posted: 3:04 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Chris, whatever you decide to talk about, do it with enthusiasm. We have the greatest of jobs
Also, if things get too slow, then you could, you know, just in case, have a bag full of White Castle burgers. ;)
(just can't help myself) |
|
Matt Miller, Photographer
|
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 3:07 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> please please please leave out the business side of things (unless the econ class gives you a call).
these are high school kids. have fun with them. do not bore them.
there is a good possiblity that many of these students will not even go into the journalism field. but it is a great chance to pass on why journalism is important, what roles photojournalists play in the community and why your job is a great job (if it is).
these students are interested in journalism--hopefully you can make them excited about our jobs and maybe give them a better understanding of journalism ethics and its importance. hopefully this could be one small step to making the general population a little bit more knowledgeable about journalism.
i imagine you will have 30-60 minutes with the class. bring business cards. remember your audience (i live in nebraska, usually when i speak, i throw in some husker football pictures. they love it). i usually tell people to just holler out questions during the slide show. you may want to consider bringing some of your gear. have some general points you want to get across with your talk.
i speak at schools every month or so here. even though i have my ten-year reunion this year, i still remember a bit about high school. i remember having good speakers and bad speakers. at the very least, i try to be one of those good speakers who keeps things light and gets you out of doing work for an hour.
and have fun. maybe you will get some ideas out of doing this.
matt |
|
Niko Kallianiotis, Photographer
|
Watertown | NY | | Posted: 3:21 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Whatever Chris Curry wrote, times 2.
Talk about the importance of photojournalism and how important it is to the world but also to you.
DO NOT mention the money side, if someone does something for only the money then it looses the entire point. If we were all in for $$$ we would do something else. Personally I would have open a Gyro Place, which sounds pretty good:)
good luck
n. |
|
Chris Machian, Photographer, Assistant
|
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 3:36 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> I think most of you completely missed my point.
I didn’t suggest to tell the kids about how much money you could make or do it just for the money.
I meant to teach them how to avoid mistakes kids usually make. I was suggesting to mention in your lecture how photographers shouldn't give up rights to their photos for access to an event not to sell themselves short.
That is why I put the link the other discussion on this topic where many people talked about how students aren't being taught such simples principles.
By no means did I suggest turning it into an economics lecture. When new photographers have good business ethics to start, it benefits us all. |
|
Guy Rhodes, Student/Intern, Photographer
 |
East Chicago | IN | USA | Posted: 3:40 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> I agree with bringing some gear along. When I was a junior in high school way back in 1999, a photographer from a local paper came to speak to my newspaper class about her job. (At the time, I was the ass't. editor of the school's paper and the school photographer).
Anyway, the photographer brought along one of the paper's brand new NC2000's. Having only shot digitally with my little Casio QV100 or a Sony floppy-drive Mavica (the majority of our work was still shot on Tri-X), being able to hold and look through such a "professional" digital tool was a thrill! - Especially once she told us how much it cost.
The photographer sent us a CD a few weeks later of the images she'd taken of us in class. |
|
chris curry, Photographer
|
Peoria | IL | usa | Posted: 3:56 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Chris Machian,
I agree that those are some really important issues but I don't think they would really apply to an introduction of photojournalism for high school students.
To teach such business practices someone needs to know more about what photojournalism is and how we go about making the pictures that we get.
Without that knowledge they are really lost and may not have a clear understanding of what a photojournalist is.
Don't give too much information. Just enough to get them curious about photography and pick up their dad's camera and make a few frames. That's how it worked for me. And I've taken that approach and passed it on to several high school students hoping that they will see 'why' we photojournalists do the job we do and not fixate on details and the problems that surround our industry.
Eventually they will learn to practice good business ethics but for now let them enjoy themselves.
chris curry |
|
Matt Miller, Photographer
|
Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 4:01 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> there is a difference between disaggreeing and missing the point. i don't believe it is worthwhile or important to talk about the business aspects of photography.
this is a group of high school students interested in journalism. when i talk, the number one question asked about money? "how much do you get paid?" pretty simple, huh? (answer: enough to do it for a living)
the number one question? "what is the coolest assignment you have ever had?" (answer: going to the sandhills to shoot cowboys and cattle branding)
i get the second question much more often.
mcgathey, if you have any more specific questions, feel free to contact me.
matt |
|
Ian Halperin, Photographer
|
Plano(Dallas) | TX | USA | Posted: 4:23 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> I hope this visit has been approved by the district communications office ;-) |
|
Ian Halperin, Photographer
|
Plano(Dallas) | TX | USA | Posted: 4:24 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> And they will ask about money. That is the number one thing they relate to at that age. So be ready with an answer. |
|
Brian Ray, Photographer
|
Iowa City | IA | USA | Posted: 4:25 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> I have always found that showing lots of photos to illustrate my points has kept the students interested when speaking to high school classes. Plus it gives them an opportunity to ask questions about how the photos were made. |
|
Margaret Bowles, Photographer
|
Charlotte | NC | | Posted: 4:34 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> Chris, think about the great talks you have heard other photographers give and follow that lead. We had some great talks at the Luau, and they all had one thing in common--we saw some awesome photographs and heard some anecdotes about those photos. Some made me cry, some made me laugh, but they all made me want to be as good a photographer as the speaker. I could have looked at their photos all day. The reality is, journalism isn't a profession you go into for the money, and that's mostly what they need to know. If they do go into journalism, they will get the ethics courses in college. |
|
Chris Pietsch, Photographer
|
Eugene | OR | USA | Posted: 5:14 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Keep in mind that very few, if any of these kids will actually end up in journalism jobs. And, if they do, they will most likely go into PR ;-)
Keep it light and fun. By all means, show your images and encourage them to ask questions as you go along. You will be surprised how fast the hour goes.
Oh, and watch your language. |
|
Allan Campbell, Photographer, Assistant
|
Salem (Portland) | OR | USA | Posted: 5:26 PM on 01.26.05 |
| ->> Be a journalist and a story teller.... Who, What, Where, Why and When should cover everything they will need or want to know.... |
|
John Lariviere, Photographer
|
Tigard | OR | USA | Posted: 5:45 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Cris,
I'm not a PJ, but might I suggest touching on the process from assignment to print. Getting assignments (or coming up with ideas on your own...plus, the different types of assignments), taking the photos (your approach to types of assignments), the post processing, the editorial selection (why some photos make the cut and others don't).
Not knowing what it is like in your world...those would interest me.
Good luck...and like others suggested...have fun with it!
John |
|
Scott Sewell, Photographer
|
Topeka | KS | USA | Posted: 8:37 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> I spoke to a HS photography class a couple of weeks ago and an hour goes by rather quickly in this kind of situation so you might want to focus on just two or three key topics.
I focused on what it's like to be a photojournalist--how assignments are made, how photogs deal with deadlines, and a little about choosing and processing shots for print.
And, having seen some of these HS shooters out and about at several events, I thought it was important to talk to them about shooting etiquette...things like sitting down at courtside and not pacing the baseline trying to track down the shot, being respectful of other photographers, and how to deal with pre-game and post-game shooting.
I also spent a little time showing them some good web sites for reference outside of the classroom (this site being one of them, of course!).
Remember to keep it simple, keep it light and let them ask questions. And, best of all, have fun. |
|
Zach Honig, Student/Intern, Photographer
|
Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 8:49 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> I'd like to emphasize Scott's post.
"I also spent a little time showing them some good web sites for reference outside of the classroom (this site being one of them, of course!)."
Although a photog never came to speak to my journalism class (we didn't have guest speakers), I regret not knowing about this and other professional organizations until college. You should make it clear that all of the students should check out this site and become aware of the resources available to them.
Best of Luck!
-Zach |
|
Stanley Leary, Photographer
|
Roswell | GA | USA | Posted: 11:36 PM on 01.26.05 |
->> Chris Curry is on target. Talk about the why not the how. Why do you get up and do this? What is exciting about this career?
I like people to know I get up everyday and get to go on a field trip, just like I did when I was in kindergarten. I remember going to the fire station and getting to sit in the big engine. I remember them showing me the fireman's pole.
Every day I get up I get to go somewhere and learn something new about what other people do.
This past year I had the rare opportunity to shoot photos at all of my family members jobs for various reasons. How many other people do you know get the opportunity to learn what your relatives do for a living and then help tell their stories to the world.
Just think how much more meaningful my conversations at the holidays are with my family now. I can ask better questions than just how is your work going.
Most everyone in the class will not be professional photographers. So maybe telling them why you work a certain way as a photojournalist verses the portrait photographer or commercial photographer would help them understand how newspapers help in the form of government where the people need to be informed about their community so when they go to the voting booth they are well informed enough to make their communities better.
When you are done speaking will they know your passion? Have you talked with enough enthusiasm they understand how excited your are about what you do?
Chris Curry did an excellent job speaking at the NPPA flying short course and at the Atlanta Photojournalism conference doing just what he suggests.
Jahi Chikwendiu -- Staff photographer, The Washington Post spoke at the Atlanta Photojournalism Conference and his topic was "not the how, but the why." Everyone came out talking about his passion and how exciting he was to listen to--because he spoke from the heart. |
|
Thomas B. Shea, Photographer
|
Pearland/Houston | TX | USA | Posted: 5:52 PM on 06.13.05 |
->> If I may add one more thing. I think you should talk about a little about your experience maybe show them a few black white frames and talk to them about film processing and enlargers and then later on in your slide show, show them a few recent digital frames. Talk about how photography has changed in such a short matter of time. Talk about some of your images how you made the decision to take that photograph on what angle you chose, exposure and lens you chose. Talk to them about what was your thought process was when you took the photos. Show them good photos why you think they are successful and also show them some bad photos . Talk to the students why you thought the bad photos were not successful.
You might even want to do a demonstration. Take your lap top and a camera and some lights and shoot some photos and show them how the working journalist uses a digital camera, Photoshop, photo mechanic and a lap top. Even let some of the students hold a camera or shoot a few frames. In my experience when I was a high school photography teacher the thing that interest the students the most is when I would do demonstrations.
Remember to be yourself and have fun.
Good Luck,
Thomas |
|
Return to --> Message Board Main Index
|