Free Online Course on Photojournalism : SWAYAM Central

By Kuntala Sarkar

4 July 2022

About

This course introduces you to photojournalism and the basics of digital photography.
By the end of 15 Sessions, you will be able to identify and develop your creative expression, style, and voice and be prepared for a career in photojournalism and self-employment—course Objectives1. Learn concepts and tools of photography2. Learn the qualities and skills to qualify as a photojournalist3. Encourage self-employment4. Encourage creative skills5. Develop interest in photography and photojournalism course Outcomes1. The learner would master the concepts and importance of photography2. The learner would be able to understand photo coverage and photojournalism3. The learner would be ready to join any media organization as a photojournalist or be self-employed4. The learner would develop their talent and potential for photography5. The learner would be introduced to different branches and styles of photography and photojournalism.

Syllabus

Session 1 The role and importance of photojournalism in media   Becoming storytellers: Qualities and skills needed to be a photojournalist   Meet Gurinder Osan: Photojournalist, landscape and social documentary photographer. Currently works as photo editor for India's premier news agency, Press Trust of India, heading and mentoring a pan India team of many talented photojournalists.   Session 2 Introduction and development of photography by Desikan Krishnan, senior photojournalist and former photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai   Traditional and digital camera by Gopinath Sricandane, a communications specialist in charge of photo documentation of various projects and a former photojournalist with the Outlook group & photo editor of Outlook magazine’s website.   Meet Prashant Panjiar: Photojournalist, documentary photographer, and photo editor. One of India’s leading photo practitioners, he has worked for international and national publications and served on several juries, including the World Press Photo Awards jury. He works on several issues for international non-profit organizations. Session 3 History of photojournalism focuses on Homai Vyarawalla, India’s first woman press photographer, by Prof. Sabeena Gadihoke, AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, who is also a photo historian & curator and has written extensively on Indian photography.   Tools of photography: Introduction to photography, exposure and exposure triangle   Tools of photography: Understanding shutter speed, aperture, and ISO   Session 4 Digital photography: Experiments with understanding light (underexposure and overexposure)   Digital photography: Camera lenses, focal length, and starting off to shoot   Photography elements and principles: Understanding depth of field   Meet Raghu Rai: Awarded the 'Padma Shri' in 1971, nominated by Henri Cartier-Bresson to join Magnum Photos in 1977, laureate of the first edition of the Académie des beaux-arts Photography Award - William Klein in 2019.   Session 5 Emergence of digital technology: Basics of digital camera   Digital camera: Shooting modes and menu   Digital photography: Crop factor, color temperature, pixelation, and noise   Session 6 Doing photography: Composition   Doing composition: More on rules and in-camera composition   Meet Saumya Khandelwal: Contributing photojournalist with many international publications. A Getty Images Instagram Grantee 2017 recipient of the National Foundation of India Award 2017.   Session 7 Different types of lighting and its uses: Available light and time of the day   The use of flash in photography   Writing captions for photographs   Session 8 Life of a working photojournalist   Meet Selvaprakash Lakshmanan: Independent photographer with many national and international publications. A recipient of the Paris Match Award 2007, the India Press Photo Award 2008, and the Robert Bosch Art Grant 2009-2010.
Along with editorial and documentary, his work includes photographing portraits, lifestyle, architecture, interior, products, and food.   Role of subject and quality of photographs: Researching stories for long-term projects   Session 9 Meet Dinesh Krishnan: Photojournalist and photo editor. Currently, visual editor with The Hindu, Chennai.   Selecting images   Meet SR Raghunathan: Photojournalist. Now, chief photographer and deputy photo editor with The Hindu, Chennai.   Session 10 Photograph editing: Basic techniques and workflow   Cropping, enlarging, and reducing   Clubbing and grouping: Mind mapping, developing photo essays, features, and human interest stories   Branches of photography: Need and importance   Session 11 Introduction to sports photography

Becoming a sports photographer   Qualities and skills needed to be a wildlife photographer   Session 12 Ethics and responsibilities of a wildlife photographer   Photography for conservation: Planning, shooting and writing   The need for ethics in photojournalism   Photography and ethics   Session 13 Beginning a career in photojournalism: News organizations, NGOs, freelancing and negotiating contracts, grants, residencies and training   Meet Madhuraj: Photographer and writer. A recipient of the Maja Koene National Award in 2003, Silver World Medal at New York Festival 2005 for the picture depicting the endosulfan tragedy in Kerala, and Prem Bhatia National Award for Environmental Reporting 2011. Currently, senior chief news photographer, periodicals, Mathrubhumi. Meet Avinash Pasricha: Octogenarian photographer with a career spanning over 60 years. Renowned for his performing arts photography, he has co-authored several books on Indian classical dance and music and made audio-visuals on prominent performing artists. His work includes portraits, fashion, advertising, industry, and architecture. He was Photo Editor of SPAN magazine for 37 years.   Arts and cultural photography: Documenting performing artists and cultural activities   Session 14 Carving a career in photojournalism: Preparing a portfolio with a lifetime of images. Meet Vicky Roy: Selected by the US-based Maybach Foundation to photo document the reconstruction of the World Trade Center in New York in 2008 and awarded the MIT Media Fellowship in 2014. An honouree on the 2016 'Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia' list.   Meet Navroze Contractor: Independent photographer and cinematographer of many award-winning feature films. His photographs of jazz musicians are in the Smithsonian Museum, Washington DC, USA collection.   Session 15 Fielding questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor   Fielding more questions from students: Interaction with Navroze Contractor   Travel and documentary photography   Future of photojournalism