Visual Journalism: Looking at the other in the age of selfie
via Independent
- Provider
Independent
- Cost
Free Online Course
- Session
Finished
- Language
English
- Duration
4 weeks long
Overview
This is a course on photography in the digital era. The fact that most of us have some sort of device that captures images in very high quality has empowered us to be able to document our own world. Paradoxically, with the surge of social media, most of us consume photography in extraordinary proportions on a daily basis, but the content on those photographs are often in a highly curated version of people’s “glamorous” lives.
How do you turn your mind and camera away from the “selfie” mode? How do you focus on telling other people’s stories?
By studying the humanistic tradition towards photography with deep roots in the early 20th century, students will document the history of photojournalism and understand how this universal language speaks for itself despite all the technological aspects.
Syllabus
Introduction Module: Course Introduction
In the introductory module, you will get an overview of the course structure and meet the instructor.
Module 1: The History and ethics of photojournalism and documentary photography
This module will cover:
History of “Humanistic photography”
Great Depression, Spanish Civil War and WWII and role of photography
The golden years of photography in the print media
Ethical standards in the journalistic world
Evolution of the perceptions of photographic reality
Guest Speaker: James Wellford – National Geographic Magazine
Module 2: Self portrait vs. Selfie
This module will cover:
The drive to use your own body to tell a story
Looking at the inner world vs. global issues
Developing portrait skills
Guest Speaker: Diana Markosian – Magnum photographer
Module 3: The importance of strong visuals and the photobook as an object
This module will cover:
The documentary project from idea to the book/exhibition
Photographic skills in unknown territories
The importance of photobooks as a definitive media of communication
Guest Speaker: Stephen Ferry – American photographer based in Colombia
Module 4: Using social network platforms to create outreach
This module will cover:
How to increase your audience on traditional and social media
Creating meaningful work that avoids creating visual noise
How to survive as a photojournalist
Engage with a complete stranger and photograph them
Guest Speaker: Adriana Zehbrauskas – Brazilian photographer based in Mexico