Photojournalism

This course introduces you to photojournalism and the basics of digital photography. You will learn to take photographs and explore the entire process of photojournalistic principles, ethics and practice. Through the various short videos in this course, including the 'Meet the photographer' modules, you will be introduced to eminent Indian photographers and photojournalists. Here you will learn professional skills and practical tips from 25 experienced practitioners including photojournalists, photographers, photo editors and teachers, some with a professional career spanning over 60 years and also budding new personalities in this field.Additional online resources will give you a wide exposure to some of the best photographic and photojournalistic work, including images, videos, research articles and dissertations. You will also have an opportunity to improve your photography skills through experimentation with online camera simulators. These will be helpful to understand the basic photography concepts especially for those who don't have a digital camera. A curated reading list will enrich your thirst for more. By the end of 15 weeks, you will be able to identify and develop your creative expression, style and voice and be prepared for a career in photojournalism and self-employment.Course Objectives1. Learn concepts and tools of photography2. Learn the qualities and skills to prepare as a photojournalist3. Encourage self-employment4. Encourage creative skills5. Develop interest in photography and photojournalismCourse Outcomes1. Learner would master the concepts and importance of photography2. Learner would be able to understand photo coverage and photojournalism3. Learner would be ready to join any media organization as a photojournalist or be self-employed4. Learner would develop her/his individual talent and potential for photography5. Learner would be introduced to different branches and styles of photography and photojournalism

Week 1 The role and importance of photojournalism in media   Becoming storytellers: Qualities and skills needed to be a photojournalist   Meet Gurinder Osan: Photojournalist, landscape and social documentary photographer. Presently works as photo editor for India's premier news agency, Press Trust of India, heading and mentoring a pan India team of many talented photojournalists.   Week 2 Introduction and development of photography by Desikan Krishnan, senior photojournalist and former photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai   Traditional and digital camera by Gopinath Sricandane, a communications specialist in charge of photo documentation of various projects and a former photojournalist with the Outlook group & photo editor of Outlook magazine’s website.   Meet Prashant Panjiar: Photojournalist, documentary photographer, and photo editor. One of India’s leading photo-practitioners, he has worked for international and national publications. Served on several juries, including the jury of the World Press Photo Awards. He works on several issues for international non-profit organisations.   Week 3 History of photojournalism with special focus on Homai Vyarawalla, India’s first woman press photographer by Prof. Sabeena Gadihoke, AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, who is also a photo historian & curator and has written extensively on Indian photography.   Tools of photography: Introduction to photography, exposure and exposure triangle   Tools of photography: Understanding shutter speed, aperture and ISO   Week 4 Digital photography: Experiments with understanding light (underexposure and overexposure)   Digital photography: Camera lenses, focal length and starting off to shoot   Photography elements and principles: Understanding depth of field   Meet Raghu Rai: Awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 1971, nominated by Henri Cartier-Bresson to join Magnum Photos in 1977, laureate of the first edition of the Académie des beaux-arts Photography Award - William Klein in 2019.   Week 5 Emergence of digital technology: Basics of digital camera   Digital camera: Shooting modes and menu   Digital photography: Crop factor, colour temperature, pixelation and noise   Week 6 Doing photography: Composition   Doing composition: More on rules and in-camera composition   Meet Saumya Khandelwal: Contributing photojournalist with many international publications. A Getty Images Instagram Grantee 2017 and recipient of the National Foundation of India Award 2017.   Week 7 Different types of lighting and its uses: Available light and time of the day   The use of flash in photography   Writing captions for photographs   Week 8 Life of a working photojournalist   Meet Selvaprakash Lakshmanan: Independent photographer with many national and international publications. A recipient of Paris Match Award 2007, the India Press Photo Award 2008 and the Robert Bosch Art Grant 2009-2010. Along with editorial and documentary, his work includes photographing portraits, lifestyle, architecture, interior, product and food.   Role of subject and quality of photographs: Researching stories for long term projects   Week 9 Meet Dinesh Krishnan: Photojournalist and photo editor. Presently, visual editor with The Hindu, Chennai.   Selecting images   Meet SR Raghunathan: Photojournalist. Presently, chief photographer and deputy photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai.   Week 10 Photograph editing: Basic techniques and workflow   Cropping, enlarging and reducing   Clubbing and grouping: Mind mapping, developing photo essays, features and human interest stories   Branches of photography: Need and importance   Week 11 Introduction to sports photography

Becoming a sports photographer   Qualities and skills needed to be a wildlife photographer   Week 12 Ethics and responsibilities of a wildlife photographer   Photography for conservation: Planning, shooting and writing   The need for ethics in photojournalism   Photography and ethics   Week 13 Beginning a career in photojournalism: News organisations, NGOs, freelancing and negotiating contracts, grants, residencies and training   Meet Madhuraj: Photographer and writer. A recipient of the Maja Koene National Award in 2003, Silver World Medal at New York Festival 2005 for the picture depicting the endosulfan tragedy in Kerala, and Prem Bhatia National Award for Environmental Reporting 2011. Presently, senior chief news photographer, periodicals, Mathrubhumi.   Meet Avinash Pasricha: Octogenarian photographer, with a career spanning over 60 years. Renowned for his performing arts photography, he has co-authored several books on Indian classical dance and music, and also made audio-visuals on prominent performing artistes. The range of his work includes portraits, fashion, advertising, industry and architecture. He was Photo Editor of SPAN magazine for 37 years.   Arts and cultural photography: Documenting performing artists and cultural activities   Week 14 Carving a career in photojournalism: Preparing a portfolio with a lifetime of images   Meet Vicky Roy: Selected by the US based Maybach Foundation to photo document the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York in 2008. Awarded the MIT Media Fellowship in 2014. An honouree on the 2016 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia' list.   Meet Navroze Contractor: Independent photographer and cinematographer of many award winning feature films. His photographs of jazz musicians are in the collection of the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, USA.   Week 15 Fielding questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor   Fielding more questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor   Travel and documentary photography   Future of photojournalism