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How to Take Good Pictures for the School Newspaper

Many of today's professional photographers got their start as photojournalists for their high school or college newspaper. As a contributing photographer for your school's newspaper, you'll be expected to provide interesting, well-composed photographs which are documentary in nature. Contrary to popular belief, a bag of expensive equipment isn't necessary to produce acceptable pictures. All you really need is a digital camera -- either a compact point-and-shoot or a single lens reflex (SLR) -- and the willingness to document campus life.

Things You'll Need

Digital camera
Wide angle lens (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Learn your equipment well. Take time to acquaint yourself with each button, knob and dial on your camera so you'll be prepared when a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity presents itself. Read your owner's manual thoroughly and go on several practice shoots before you begin to cover events for your school's newspaper.
- 2
  Create effective compositions using the rule of thirds. According to this rule, you should imagine that the camera viewfinder is divided into equal thirds horizontally and vertically. To create an interesting, aesthetically pleasing composition, place the main subject(s) at the intersection of these imaginary lines.
- 3
  Use shutter priority mode when shooting sporting events or fast action. Shutter priority mode, usually represented as Tv or S on most DSLR mode dials, allows you to select the preferred shutter speed while the camera chooses an appropriate aperture, or lens opening. A shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second is fast enough to freeze most moving subjects.
- 4
  Switch the mode dial to aperture priority mode when shooting portraits. This mode appears as Av on most dials and allows you to choose the size of your lens opening, and thus the depth of field in the resulting image. Depth of field (DOF) is the lens' range of effective focus at a given aperture. Use a wide aperture, such as f/2.8 or f/4, to blur a distracting background while your main subject remains sharply in focus.
- 5
  Make use of your on-camera flash unit when photographing low-light or nighttime action. While some deem on-camera flash overbearing, it's better to have a usable, brightly lit shot than one that is dark and incoherent.
- 6
  Attend most of your school's on- and off-campus events. Have your camera ready at every rally, talent show, student government speech and fundraiser event. The more usable pictures you take, the better the chances are that one or more will be selected for publication by your school's newspaper.
- 7
  Maintain a friendly, sociable demeanor. Fellow students and staff will be more likely to pose if you're smiling and energetic about your role as a newspaper photographer.

Photography