Chapter 7: Editing Photos

Question 1

What are some of the decisions you need to make as a photo edit?

Answer 1

You will need to choose what will give your publication the best PHOTO

3 major areas you need to make decisions in

• Selecting the correct assignment
• Selection of a photo that is both visually connected and humanizes the sotry
• Choosing the correct photographer
• Knowing the styles and how they will fit with stories
• Be able to search archives you can’t obtain first hand
• Of places you cannot afford to send a photographer
• Unavailable events due to exclusivity or events taken place in the past.

Question 2

What are the hazards of the all-in-one photographer?

Answer 2

Photographers can get emotionally attached to photos
-Circumstances of the shoot or a personal connection to the subject may cloud objectivity

The positive side of the all in one photographer is the efficiency
-One photographer means one idea followed through the entire process, no hand offs and explanations needed

The negative side is that you loose objectivity and the photo published may not pair as well with the story.

Question 3

What are some photo selection strategies?

Answer 3

Informational

• Lowest common denominator of photos
• Reports facts with no flavor
• Covers the standard 5 W’s and H

Graphically appealing

• Making a picture interesting with framing
• Gives the facts but with more flavor

Emotional

• Causes the reader to feel something about the subject
• Captures the subject emotion

Intimate

• Private look into a subjects life that is not usually shared with the public
• Transforms the reader into a participant

Question 4

What are some building blocks of selection?

Answer 4

Combine categories for a great photo to better fit the story.

Inform the shooter on what the stories feel is for a better idea of what to look for while shooting

Having the right light and a clever angle isn’t enough
-There must be a connection between the shooter and the subject

Question 5

How do editors and shooters review their photos?

Answer 5

Do not get lost in explaining pictures by categories
-Explain what they make you feel and why

Do not exclude large population segments

• Different races, Genders, Sexual Orientation, or Religious beliefs
• Break away from stereotyping a population segment

Question 6

How should the editor think of his readers?

Answer 6

Be aware of the difference in inciting a riot and informing the public

Look at the reason behind the reaction of the photo, if it is an issue the public needs to know run it.

Try not to run pictures of a dead subject
-Some exceptions apply be aware of the affects it has on the reader

Be mindful that you’re opinion and the readers opinion of a good photo differ in multiple areas

Question 7

How do colors effect photos?

Answer 7

Readers now prefer color in the photographs they look at, but black and white photos can stand out

Black and white photos generally give the feel of age, historical distance, and aura

Most get the feel of a documentary look

Keep in mind that color carries more information that black and white
Sometimes too much information

Question 8

What should yo do when editing photos?

Answer 8

Cut out the fat
-When being put in a publication it will be butchered to fit the puzzle that is the article

Perfect framing is rare
-Fix this as much as possible with your editor

The price of cropping is reduced quality

• Blowing an image up to much reduces quality
• Only increase the image size a little if possible

Crop the excess

• Emphasize certain elements of the photo
• Cut out lights or windows if they are not important to the shot

Crop ruthlessly
-Give the viewer less to be distracted from the intended elements of your message

Preserve the mood
-Don’t crop so much you loose the intended feel of the picture

Cropping can change the image
-Taking out an element can change the impact of the photo

Question 9

How does size matter?

Answer 9

Drama
-When a larger picture can accentuate the character or situation by seeing the textures in the photo

Detail

• A wide shot can loose all its impact by loosing detail when shrunk
• Everyday objects and crowds need space when being printed

Contrast in Page layout
-Changing the sizes of pictures on different pages keeps the reader interested and not bored of the same format

Pictures on the internet

• Viewers go to summaries and titles of stories before pictures
• Use simple photos for the internet

Question 10

How should you use multiple images?

Answer 10

Pairing Pictures for the 3rd effect

• Pairing can tell a more complete or complicated story than the individual images themselves
• Be careful to not combine unrelated images to tell a lie