The Science of Taking a Good Photo

Taking a good photo doesn’t just happen. Whereas I would just point my camera at my subject and press the button,  Laura Pohl,  a freelance photographer and SOC alumnus, taught us that it requires a lot of forethought and hard work to get a good shot.

Freelance photographer Laura Pohl demonstrates proper photography techniques for American University's journalism graduate students.

While she explained how terms factors like the shutter speed, ISO and T-4 all affect the quality of photos, the most important advice she gave us was to not be afraid to make mistakes. Rather than believing that she was born with a talent in photography, Pohl said that the way she learned was by practicing.

It is important to remember that although photographers may not necessarily be reporting on stories, they are still journalists and are expected to follow the same ethical standards as reporters. This idea of journalistic ethics can include such issues as not posing photos, but it also includes gray areas.

In addition to giving us advice about the technical aspects of taking a good photograph, Pohl took time to discuss the ethics of documenting events and when, if ever, a photojournalist should intervene.

Reporter Gives Warning, Encouragement to AU Grad Students

Rachel Wulff shares portions of her station's Web site with journalism students at American University

I would imagine that at least some of my classmates have decided on a career in journalism for one of the same reasons I have – because we hope of becoming the next Woodward or Bernstein. Rachel Wulff, an I-Team reporter at WDSU in New Orleans, gave us a harsh, though necessary, reality check.

While some may think that a career in journalism would be glamorous (or at least constantly exciting), Wulff’s experience proves that it, just like any other career, has its ups and downs. After graduating from American’s weekend journalism program, Wulff started working at a television station in Salisbury, MD, where she earned just $19,000 per year. In order to make ends meet, she had to wait tables at a restaurant in Georgetown on her days off.

“I would just say to all of you, if you really want to be in broadcasting, in journalism, be prepared to make very little or no money,” she warned. “And if you go into broadcasting thinking it’s really great being on TV, well, that facade and that dream will probably burst.”

Despite early difficulties in her career, Wulff has taken advantage of technology in her position at the New Orleans television station. In addition to using social networking sites like Facebook and My Space (she says the potential for tips through these sites is fantastic if reporters are willing to actually use it), Wulff has set up a portion of the station’s Web site where residents can post complaints about abandoned homes in their area.

During her talk, Wulff emphasized the skills new journalists will need in order to get jobs in the industry.

Wulff advised AU’s newest crop of journalism graduate students to get their own Web sites and prove that they can use the technology and create the stories – in otherwise, she reminded, “it’s about shameless self-promotion.”

After listening to Wulff’s talk, I realized that, as hard as I think getting my foot in the door in this profession will be, reality will probably prove to be much more challenging. At the same time, she also gave me an example to follow.

When times get tough, I’ll remember her secret to success: “It’s gotta be a passion; it’s gotta be something you really wanna do,” Wulff said about succeeding in journalism. “It takes a tremendous amount of drive and determination.”