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Photojournalism can be defined as an art of telling a good story with the help of images. It is a very different field of photography. Unlike other forms of photography like documentary photography, celebrity photography and street photography, photojournalism is all about narrative, objectivity and timeliness. Good news with a meaningful picture can be very fascinating for readers. Photojournalists are trained professionals that take beautiful, emotional and thought provoking pictures that help in conveying the real meaning of a news story. Photojournalists are also called as news photographers. They perform the role of a reporter and accentuate their news by taking photographs of events, places, community, people, and political and sports events. Photographs taken by them are of commercial quality. These images are often needed by newspapers, online publications, magazines, journals, or television companies.
Photojournalism is a delicate art where timeliness plays a great role. The images must be relevant to the news submitted. Photographs should appear as an integral part of event being covered. The success of a photojournalistic piece is determined by the way a reader is able to relate to the news story. A photojournalist is able to use modern gadgets like digital cameras, laptops and camera phones in order to develop pictures of highest quality. This field is an integral part of mainstream journalism.
To become a photojournalist, one must acquire a college degree in photography or other related field. He/she needs to be familiar with the latest photography equipment like digital cameras, photography software, digital enhancement techniques and scanners etc. The course curriculum usually covers subjects like fundamental of photography, principles of design, principles of digital photography, photography software, photo techniques, studio techniques, color printing and design, portfolio foundations photography and advanced principles of photography etc. Budding photojournalists often go for hands-on experience while completing their education. Internships prove vital in gaining valuable job experience.
In order to have lucrative job opportunities, photojournalists must have a good portfolio. This way, they can display their expertise by covering a wide range of scopes. A good collection of photographic subjects is very important in getting good job offers. If they manage to publish their photographs in famous publications, nothing like it. This is a popular career choice for youngsters. There can be plenty of job opportunities in journals, magazines, online publications and newspapers etc.
In India, quite a number of educational institutions are offering courses for photo journalism at the postgraduate diploma level. The basic education qualification is completion of graduation from any recognized institute or a university. Photojournalists can find good job opportunities in media houses, publications, newspapers and magazines. They can specialize in scientific photography, commercial photography, aerial photography, fashion photography, wildlife photography and industrial photography etc.
Some of the prominent institutes offering courses in photo journalism are:-
Indian institute of Mass Communication, Delhi,
India International Photographic Council, New Delhi,
Biju Patnaik Film & Television Institute, Bhubaneswar,
Asian College of Journalism, Chennai,
Bhavan’s Institute of Communication & Management, Mumbai,
Indian Centre for Media & Communication, Pune
Amity School of Journalism & Communication, Delhi,
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