Photojournalism
I am trained in the basics of photography (rule of thirds, lighting, etc.) While I do not do individual photojournalism, I am constantly reviewing and evaluating photos taken by our staff. My knowledge of photography allows me to select the most appropriate photograph in any situation. I also competed in the 2024 KSPA Regionals cutline competition.
I've provided an example of my photo selection thought process below, along with samples of my photo caption writing.
Photo selection
Here, my subject is in the middle of the frame, but you can't see much more. The player behind him is completely blocked, and the referee is out of frame. More importantly, the backboard and rim are both out of frame. This doesn't paint the whole scene like I want it to.
This photo was selected as the cover for my article. Here, the referee is in frame, along with several other spectators not present in the first image. The rim is also in frame, and the ball is a split-second away from plunging through the net. The player trailing is still blocked, but we have a greater sense of the difference in the two players' elevation. We can also see the focus and determination of the dunking player here much more clearly than in the first photo. I picked this photo because it does a better job of painting the scene as a whole.
Caption writing
Caption writing is an essential part of photojournalism. I have written over a dozen photo captions for our publication this year, including the three below. Each one takes a separate interview, a first draft and then a revised, polished caption. It's worthwhile because I believe a well-written caption adds an entirely new layer of depth to our photography team's work.
Hollis Moeller comes off the field during a game against St. James on Sept. 15. While Moeller’s first position is long snapping, he will also play tight end this year for the stags. Moeller has caught two touchdowns in three games.
Junior Jordan Ortiz leads a traditional line dance to "El Payaso del Rodeo." Ortiz said a crowd of people recognized the song instantly and ran to the dance floor. "You just kind of learn it,” Ortiz said. "At my families’ parties we usually do it."
Senior Michael Oswald busts a move to “Teach Me How to Dougie” during the ‘80s Mixer on Friday, Aug. 25. Oswald had been pushed into the middle of a dance circle alongside freshman Isaac Frenzel (left). “Frenzel was the best dancer there,” Oswald said. “He went in the middle and kinda one-upped me."
