Photojournalism

Photojournalism Electronic Study Group being formed

Under the direction of Carol McCreary, a Photojournalism Electronic Study Group is being formed. The first group will have eight members and an enrollment fee of $5.00. This Electronic Study Group is open to any PSA member interested in improving their photojournalism images. Contact Carol McCreary at tcmccreary@cox.net or (405) 634-1817 for further information.

Photo Story Competition 2004 Correction

In the December Photojournalism Division (PJD) news column (PSA Journal, December, 2004), it was reported that there were no awards in the Digital Slide category, implying that the entries were not worthy of an award. In fact, there were no awards made because the digital slide category was experimental and had not been approved for recognition by PSA.

Photo Story Competition 2005

One of the most fascinating programs sponsored by the PJD is the Photo Story (PS) Competition. Last year an experimental digital Photo Story section was included prior to PSA-recognition of digital competition in the PJD. Digital entries in photojournalism were approved during the 2004 Conference and went into effect in January 2005 making digital PJD acceptances now eligible for PJD Star Ratings. The 2004 experimental digital judging helped work out the judging details, and the PJD is grateful to Carol McCreary and John Larson for participating. So, this year there will be an all-new electronic imaging (EI) section, along with the more traditional slide and print sections. The November Journal identifies the requirements for EI submissions.

The PJD is excited about this change, for it will encourage digital shooters and scanners to enter one of the most challenging and rewarding competitions available to serious PJ photographers. The PJPS is a series of photographs, along with a narrative, designed to tell a story. The effect is more analogous to a magazine spread than a front-page solo shot. There are differences between print submissions and slide or EI submissions. The print presentation depends in large part on the overall initial impact of the TOTAL presentation, enhanced by layout, the size and prominence of key images, juxtaposition of close-ups and long shots and of verticals and horizontals, use of white areas, and the like. Slide and EI stories, on the other hand, present individual images one by one--the viewer does not get the visual impact of the TOTAL presentation at the outset as with the print story but sees the story unfold through the sequence of pictures and accompanying narration. A print story, therefore, normally requires far less narrative than a slide or EI story or none at all, and what is presented in words need not necessarily be tied to an individual image as in a slide presentation. In slide, EI, and print presentations, each picture should add a new idea to the story or expand meaningfully on an idea already put forward. If it does not, it is probably superfluous. Using the maximum allowable images (20) is not required and may not be desirable.

Start planning now! Members may submit up to three entries in slide, print, or digital format. Slide and digital stories must be at least five but not more than 20 images, including any titles, with a script of not more than 500 words. Print stories must be at least three and not more than eight images with a script of no more than 200 words. The top five stories in each format will be shown at the PSA Conference in Salt Lake City. The submission deadline is July 16, 2005. Contact Tony Oberbrunner at tonyofoto@aol.com or (262) 781-3872 for further information.

Keith Vaughan, FPSA, EPSA, Editor

7 Amberwood Court, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3M 3X6

(902) 445-9887

Keith.Vaughan@smu.ca

COPYRIGHT 2005 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
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