Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: Introduction to Photojournalism
Introduction to Photojournalism
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the primary purpose of photojournalism?
- A. To create artistic images for galleries
- B. To tell news stories truthfully through images ✓
- C. To advertise products and brands
- D. To document personal family events
Why: Photojournalism aims to inform the public by visually documenting newsworthy events and issues accurately and truthfully.
Q2. Which ethical principle is most central to photojournalism?
- A. Maximizing the number of likes on social media
- B. Altering images to make them more visually appealing
- C. Accuracy and not misrepresenting the scene ✓
- D. Using staged photos to better illustrate a story
Why: Credibility depends on accuracy. Photojournalists should not manipulate or misrepresent what actually happened in front of the camera.
Q3. What does the term 'decisive moment' describe, popularized by Henri Cartier-Bresson?
- A. A photo taken with a long exposure at night
- B. The instant when visual elements align to express a story or emotion ✓
- C. The final edited version of a photo sent to print
- D. A photo taken immediately after a disaster
Why: Cartier-Bresson used 'decisive moment' to describe capturing the fleeting instant when composition and content come together meaningfully.
Q4. Which of the following best describes a photo essay?
- A. A single image with a long written caption
- B. A written article with one photo attached at the top
- C. A series of images that together tell a story with a clear narrative arc ✓
- D. A collection of unrelated portraits from different events
Why: A photo essay uses multiple coordinated images to develop a story, often with a beginning, middle, and end, offering depth a single photo cannot.
Q5. What is a key difference between documentary photography and photojournalism?
- A. Documentary photography always uses color film, while photojournalism uses black and white
- B. Photojournalism is typically tied to timely news events, while documentary work often explores subjects over longer periods ✓
- C. Documentary photography is only done in studios
- D. Photojournalism never includes people in its images
Why: Photojournalism usually responds to current news, whereas documentary photography often takes a longer-term, in-depth look at a subject or issue.
Module 2
Module 2: Ethics in Photojournalism
Ethics in Photojournalism
Knowledge check
Q1. Which of the following is generally considered the core ethical principle in photojournalism?
- A. Making every photograph as visually striking as possible
- B. Accurately representing the events being photographed without deception ✓
- C. Maximizing the number of published images each week
- D. Ensuring photos always flatter the subjects
Why: Photojournalism depends on public trust, so images must accurately and honestly represent what occurred without misleading viewers.
Q2. What does digitally altering a news photograph in a way that changes its meaning violate?
- A. Only the photographer's personal preferences
- B. Copyright law alone
- C. The standard of truthfulness that readers expect from news images ✓
- D. Nothing, as long as the edits are small
Why: Changing a news image's content or meaning breaks the implicit promise to viewers that the photo documents reality, eroding credibility.
Q3. When photographing people in a vulnerable situation, such as grief or injury, what is a sound ethical consideration?
- A. Always photograph them as closely as possible for maximum impact
- B. Treat subjects with dignity and consider the potential harm of publication ✓
- C. Ignore their feelings since the story is more important
- D. Only photograph them after they have been paid
Why: Photojournalists balance the public interest in a story against the dignity and wellbeing of the people shown, especially those who are vulnerable.
Q4. Which practice is generally considered acceptable in photojournalism?
- A. Staging a scene and presenting it as a candid moment
- B. Cropping an image lightly for composition while keeping its context intact ✓
- C. Paying a subject to pose for a news photo without disclosure
- D. Combining images from different events into one photo
Why: Light cropping for composition is widely accepted as long as it does not remove context or alter the truth of the scene; staging and combining images are deceptive.
Q5. Why is captioning important in photojournalism ethics?
- A. Captions are required only for legal reasons with no ethical role
- B. Captions give accurate context such as who, what, where, and when, so the image is not misread ✓
- C. Captions should be written to sell more copies, even if misleading
- D. Captions are unnecessary if the photo is strong enough
Why: An accurate caption provides essential context; a misleading or missing caption can make an authentic photo convey a false story.
Module 3
Module 3: Capturing the Moment
Capturing the Moment
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the 'decisive moment' concept most closely associated with?
- A. Using the widest possible aperture to isolate a subject
- B. Pressing the shutter at the instant when visual elements combine to tell a story ✓
- C. Shooting only in natural light to avoid artificial color casts
- D. Taking as many frames as possible to ensure a sharp image
Why: The decisive moment, popularized by Henri Cartier-Bresson, refers to capturing the fleeting instant when composition, gesture, and expression align to convey the essence of a scene.
Q2. Which shutter speed is generally the safest starting point for handheld photojournalism to avoid motion blur from camera shake?
- A. 1 second
- B. 1/15 second
- C. 1/250 second or faster ✓
- D. 1/2 second
Why: As a rule of thumb, handheld shutter speeds should be at least the reciprocal of the focal length (for example 1/125 s for a 125mm lens). Fast speeds like 1/250 s or higher also freeze action common in news events.
Q3. Why do photojournalists often shoot in continuous (burst) mode during fast-moving events?
- A. To reduce the file size of each image
- B. To increase the chance of capturing a peak moment of action or expression ✓
- C. To automatically adjust white balance across frames
- D. To avoid needing to focus manually
Why: Continuous shooting increases the odds of catching the single best instant in rapidly changing situations, where a fraction of a second can separate an ordinary frame from a powerful one.
Q4. What does anticipation mean in the context of capturing the moment?
- A. Waiting for the subject to look directly at the camera
- B. Predicting where and when the key action will happen and positioning yourself and your camera accordingly
- C. Editing images quickly after the event ends
- D. Pre-setting all camera settings before leaving home
Why: Anticipation involves reading a scene, understanding its flow, and getting ready before the important action occurs, so you are not reacting too late.
Q5. Which ethical principle is most important when photographing people in vulnerable or emotional situations?
- A. Always using flash to ensure the image is well lit
- B. Maintaining respect and minimizing harm to the dignity of those photographed ✓
- C. Shooting from a high angle to appear more authoritative
- D. Prioritizing the most dramatic image regardless of consequences
Why: Ethical photojournalism requires balancing the public interest in documenting events with respect for the people involved, avoiding exploitation or unnecessary harm to subjects in distress.
Module 4
Module 4: Composition and Lighting
Composition and Lighting
Knowledge check
Q1. Which composition guideline divides the frame into nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines?
- A. The golden ratio
- B. The rule of thirds ✓
- C. Leading lines
- D. Symmetry
Why: The rule of thirds divides the frame into a 3x3 grid. Placing key subjects along these lines or at their intersections creates a more balanced and engaging image than centering everything.
Q2. What is the main advantage of shooting during the 'golden hour' just after sunrise or before sunset?
- A. The light is harsh and creates strong shadows
- B. The light is soft, warm, and directional, flattering most subjects ✓
- C. The light is brightest at midday
- D. The camera autofocus works better in the evening
Why: During golden hour the sun sits low on the horizon, producing soft, warm, directional light with gentle shadows that flatter people and landscapes alike.
Q3. What does the term 'leading lines' refer to in photographic composition?
- A. Lines printed on the camera sensor
- B. Lines within a scene that guide the viewer's eye toward the main subject ✓
- C. The horizontal lines of a tripod
- D. Lines of text added to a caption
Why: Leading lines are natural or man-made lines such as roads, fences, or shorelines that draw the viewer's eye into the photograph and toward its focal point.
Q4. What is 'front lighting' and how does it typically affect a photograph?
- A. Light coming from behind the subject, creating a silhouette
- B. Light coming from directly behind the camera, which minimizes shadows and flattens texture ✓
- C. Light from a source above the subject only
- D. Light reflected off a white wall
Why: Front lighting comes from the camera's direction, illuminating the subject evenly with few shadows. This lowers contrast and reduces texture, which can make images look flat.
Q5. In photojournalism, why is it important to fill the frame with relevant detail and avoid distracting background clutter?
- A. Editors require all photos to be square
- B. It keeps the viewer focused on the story's key subject and emotion ✓
- C. Clutter improves the file size of the image
- D. Background clutter is required by press ethics codes
Why: Photojournalism communicates a story quickly. Removing distracting elements and framing tightly on the essential subject and emotion helps the viewer understand the moment immediately.
Module 5
Module 5: Interviewing Techniques
Interviewing Techniques
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the primary purpose of opening an interview with a simple, non-threatening question?
- A. To immediately reveal the most controversial aspect of the story
- B. To help the subject relax and build rapport before harder questions
- C. To test whether the subject is telling the truth
- D. To fill time while the camera settings are adjusted
Q2. Which type of question is most effective for encouraging a subject to share detailed stories?
- A. Yes or no questions
- B. Leading questions that suggest the desired answer
- C. Open-ended questions beginning with how or what
- D. Multiple choice questions with three options
Q3. Why should a photojournalist conducting an interview avoid interrupting the subject while they are speaking?
- A. Interruptions make the audio recording unusable in every case
- B. Interruptions can break the subject's train of thought and reduce the richness of their response
- C. Subjects are legally required to finish every sentence they begin
- D. Interruptions always cause the subject to end the interview immediately
Q4. What is a good practice when a subject gives a vague or unclear answer?
- A. Move on to the next question without comment
- B. Ask a follow-up question to clarify, such as asking for a specific example
- C. Repeat the same question word for word, louder
- D. Tell the subject their answer was wrong
Q5. Why is it important to record or take notes during a photojournalism interview?
- A. To ensure accurate quotes and context for the published story and captions
- B. Because notes replace the need to photograph the subject
- C. Because editors will not accept stories without a transcript of every word spoken at a scene
- D. To prove to the subject that the interview took place at a certain time
Module 6
Module 6: Storytelling with Images
Storytelling with Images
Knowledge check
Q1. In photojournalism, what is the primary purpose of a photo essay?
- A. To showcase the photographer's technical equipment
- B. To tell a story through a sequence of related images ✓
- C. To create visually appealing artwork for galleries
- D. To replace written captions entirely
Why: A photo essay uses a series of related images to develop a narrative, showing different angles, moments, and details of a subject so the audience understands the story as a whole.
Q2. Which shot type is most useful for establishing the location and context of a news story?
- A. Close-up
- B. Extreme close-up
- C. Wide shot ✓
- D. Macro shot
Why: A wide shot shows the surrounding environment, helping viewers understand where the story takes place and how the subject relates to its setting.
Q3. What does the term 'decisive moment' refer to in photojournalism?
- A. The instant when the photographer decides to publish an image
- B. The split second when action, expression, and composition align to convey meaning ✓
- C. The final deadline for submitting photos to an editor
- D. A moment when the camera settings must be changed
Why: Popularized by Henri Cartier-Bresson, the decisive moment is the fleeting instant when visual elements come together to capture the essence of an event.
Q4. Why is a sequence of images often more effective than a single photo for telling a story?
- A. Multiple images always cost less to publish
- B. A sequence can show progression, cause and effect, and multiple perspectives over time ✓
- C. Editors require exactly five photos for every article
- D. A single photo cannot be printed in color
Why: A sequence allows the photographer to show how events unfold, reveal relationships between people and places, and give the audience a fuller understanding than one frame can provide.
Q5. What is an ethical responsibility a photojournalist should follow when storytelling with images?
- A. Staging scenes to make them more dramatic
- B. Altering backgrounds to remove distracting elements
- C. Accurately representing the people and events without misleading the audience ✓
- D. Selecting only images that flatter the subject
Why: Photojournalism depends on credibility, so photographers must present subjects and events truthfully and avoid staging or manipulation that could mislead viewers.
Module 7
Module 7: Editing and Publishing Photos
Editing and Publishing Photos
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the primary ethical principle photojournalists follow when editing images for news publication?
- A. Enhancing colors to make images more visually appealing
- B. Preserving the truthful representation of the scene as it occurred ✓
- C. Cropping images to match the publication's layout preferences
- D. Adjusting lighting to emphasize the photographer's artistic vision
Why: Photojournalism relies on credibility. Edits should not alter the factual content of a scene, so the image accurately reflects what happened.
Q2. Which editing action is generally considered acceptable in photojournalism?
- A. Removing a person from the background of a scene
- B. Adding clouds to a dull sky
- C. Adjusting overall exposure and contrast to correct the image ✓
- D. Combining two separate photos into one composite
Why: Global adjustments to exposure, contrast, and white balance that correct how the camera captured the scene are widely accepted. Removing, adding, or compositing elements alters reality and is generally prohibited.
Q3. What does a photo caption typically include in a news publication?
- A. Only the photographer's name and camera settings
- B. Who, what, where, and when, plus context about the image ✓
- C. A personal opinion about the subject of the photo
- D. The price the photo was sold for
Why: Captions provide essential context, identifying the people, event, location, and time so readers understand what the image shows.
Q4. What file format is most commonly used to deliver high-quality images to news editors?
- A. GIF
- B. BMP
- C. JPEG at maximum quality or TIFF/RAW-derived files ✓
- D. Animated PNG
Why: High-quality JPEG or TIFF files preserve detail suitable for print and digital publication, while GIF and animated PNG are not appropriate for editorial photographs.
Q5. Why do photojournalists often shoot in RAW format before editing?
- A. RAW files are smaller and load faster on websites
- B. RAW files retain more image data, allowing greater control when correcting exposure and color ✓
- C. RAW files automatically add captions and metadata
- D. RAW files cannot be altered, which guarantees authenticity
Why: RAW files contain unprocessed sensor data with more tonal and color information, giving editors more latitude to correct errors without degrading image quality.