PHOTOGRAPHY PRACTISE

1. PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BROADCAST MEDIA

 2 PhoChaptertography For Journalism.

Broadcast Media Photography 

1. Introduction to Broadcast Media Photography

Photography for broadcast media refers to the use of still images and motion visuals to support storytelling in television, news, digital streaming, and documentary production.

Focus: Visual storytelling that supports or complements moving images.

Mediums: Television news, online news portals, documentaries, interviews, promos.

 

 2. Role of Photography in Broadcast Media

(a)Visual Documentation: Captures stills for news stories, reports, and documentaries.

(b)Promotional Use: Photos used in banners, posters, website thumbnails.

(c)Continuity: Photos help maintain scene and shot continuity in TV production.

(d)Reference Material: Used for graphics, visual planning, and archival.

(e)Thumbnails & Titles: Used in TV listings and social media to promote content.

 

 3. Types of Photography in Broadcast Media

News Photography:

(a)Capturing real-time events.

Requires speed, accuracy, and ethical responsibility.

(b)Documentary Photography:

In-depth storytelling with visual narratives.

Often accompanies longer-form video documentaries.

(c)Studio Photography:

Behind-the-scenes and promotional shots for TV shows.

Controlled lighting and set environments.

(d)On-Location (Field) Photography:

Events, outdoor shoots, live reporting.

Often handheld or lightweight gear is used.

(e)Publicity/Promotional Photography:

Headshots, show posters, actor profiles.

Used in press kits and social media.

 . Essential Equipment

DSLR / Mirrorless Camera

 

Zoom & Prime Lenses (e.g., 24-70mm, 70-200mm)

 

Tripod / Monopod

Lighting Kit (for studio or on-location)

Audio Sync Tools (if shooting BTS or hybrid photo-video)

Portable Backdrops (for interviews/photoshoots)

Reflectors / Diffusers

 

 Camera Settings for Broadcast Use

Aperture: Wide for shallow depth of field (portraits), Narrow for events.

Shutter Speed: Must avoid flicker with TV lighting (e.g., 1/60 or 1/50 sec)

ISO: Adjust based on studio lighting or natural light.

White Balance: Set according to indoor (tungsten) or outdoor (daylight) conditions.

Aspect Ratio: Usually 16:9 for compatibility with video format.

 

6. Composition for Broadcast Photography

Follow the Rule of Thirds – aligns well with how screens display visual content.

Headroom and Lead Room – match framing conventions used in TV shots.

Symmetry and Balance – for promos, posters, and thumbnails.

 

Wide, Medium, Close-Up shots – to match standard video shot formats.

 Lighting Techniques in Broadcast Photography

Three-Point Lighting (Key, Fill, Back Light) – used for studio shoots.

Natural Lighting – used for field/photojournalistic photography.

Low-Key Lighting – creates drama, often used in crime or suspense series promos.

High-Key Lighting – clean, soft shadows; often used in newsrooms and comedy promos.

 

 Ethics in Broadcast Media Photography

Accuracy: Do not stage or misrepresent news scenes.

Consent: Always obtain permission for interviews or sensitive subjects.

Sensitivity: Avoid exploiting tragedies or vulnerable individuals.

Credit and Ownership: Respect copyright laws and give proper photo credits.

 

 Integration of Photography in TV News Production

Used as:

Cutaway visuals

 

 Editing Tools for Broadcast Photography

Adobe Photoshop – retouching, overlays, compositing

Lightroom – batch processing, color

2. PHOTOGRAPHY FOR PRINT MEDIA

CHAPTER 3 :PHOTOGRAPHY FOR PRINT MEDIA

Purpose & Context of Print Photography

Photojournalism & print media: Using images to tell stories in newspapers, magazines, brochures, books, or reports. In print, images must communicate clearly even at smaller scales or limited reproduction quality 

Early print photo practices: From staged glass-plate press photography to candid captures, image staging evolved with technology (e.g. telephoto lenses in the Ashes tour era) 

2. Composition & Visual Storytelling

Rule of Thirds: Position main elements along gridlines or intersections for dynamic layouts 

Leading lines & framing: Use roads, architecture, foliage as visual guides or frames within the shot 

Foreground/background elements: Introduce layers and depth by including contextual elements 

Perspective & scaling: Shoot from angles (low, high, eye‑level) and include recognizable objects to show scale or enhance impact 

3. Exposure, Lighting & Camera Settings

Exposure triangle: Aperture, shutter speed, ISO—balancing depth of field, motion blur, and sensitivity to light.

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Lighting styles:

Natural light (golden/blue hour, backlighting)

Side lighting for texture/depth

Diffused lighting to soften contrast

Flash techniques (fill flash, bounced flash) when natural light is insufficient .

4. Equipment & Lenses

Lens choices:

Wide-angle for environmental storytelling

Standard/prime for portraits or mid scenes

Telephoto for distant subjects or compressed perspective .

Accessories: Use tripods/monopods, external lighting, storage/transfer tools for fast field submission 

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5. Editing & Darkroom Techniques

Digital analogues of darkroom tools:

Dodging & burning to selectively lighten or darken areas, enhancing tonal range or contrast .

Color correction & white balance to ensure accurate reproduction under varied light sources. 

Sharpening & noise reduction tailored to print resolution and grain behavior 

Traditional manipulation history: Film-based techniques like dodging/burning/masking were analog precedents to today’s digital tools like Photoshop layers and local edits 

 

6. Preparing Files for Print

Color management:

Work in wide-gamut spaces .

Resolution & sharpening: Calculate required DPI relative to print size; add output sharpening for clarity after resizing 

7. Editorial Workflow & Contextual Design

Cropping for impact: Tighten images to remove distractions, emphasize subject, enable stronger “poster effect” in newsprint layouts 

Cutlines & captions:

Provide brief, present‑tense descriptions.

Identify any recognizable individuals.

8. Print History & Aesthetic Considerations

Evolution from analogue to digital: Techniques like staging, glass‑plate negatives, early long‑lens work shaped modern print conventions 

Maintaining photographic craft: Even in digital times, skills rooted in darkroom discipline—cropping instincts, tonal control—remain essential.

Checklist for  print photography

1.Composition: rule of thirds, framing, leading lines, depth

2.Exposure & lighting: natural, flash, diffusion

3.Equipment & lens choices based on context

4.Post‑processing: dodge/burn, color correction, noise control

5.File prep: color profile, bleed, resolution, export format

6.Final cropping & sharp captions/cutlines

7.Review sample proofs before final print