Due to an ever increasing amount of media I have thrown myself into, books, movies, and the like, I have a fanciful dream. I would honestly like to be a photojournalist. I wouldn't like to run around some town for some local paper, but I would love to be a freelance photojournalist, relaying pictures and stories for the likes of the New York Times out in Zimbabwe, Iraq, the Sudan, and similar. So, I've come here to basically ask if becoming an astronaut would be a more realistic goal.
I'm not even in college yet, so I am obviously unknowing of how the world around me works. I honestly do not know how saturate a field like photojournalism is. And on that topic, what are some schools that have a good photojournalism program? I'm under the impression that Syracuse and Yale have good programs, but I am not really sure of what other schools offer. I've yet to really start looking at schools, so I am pretty ignorant of what is out there.
Ultimately, what I come to ask is for some guidance. If this dream is too fanciful, I do love chemistry, so I feel as if I will always have some kind of a future in that.
I really want to travel; to experience different cultures, and their art. I want to make a difference. I want to practice something that will always be rewarding and offer new challenges to me, I could never stay sane while working a nine to five job.
I ask my questions here on APUG, and not elsewhere, because I have a real respect for my fellow posters. Some of you have amazing amounts of experience in all kinds of different fields and positions, some of you are young like me, but all of us use film.
So, I thank you all. My last thread, similar to this, was met with many great answers, and I feel encouraged to post this one, as well. APUG is an incredibly mature, supportive, and helpful community.
Remember to get a real job to pay for all these dreams.
Ohio University
University of Missouri
Syracuse University
Brooks Institute
Rochester Institute of Technology
Yale does not have a photojournalism program. Their program is in the art department.
But you don't have to go to any of these schools for photography. Some of the best photographers have liberal arts degrees from such places as Colorado College, Harvard University, Princeton, etc.
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When I grow up, I want to be a photographer.
I really don't want to go to school for photography, I want to go to school to expand my understanding of the world around me, learn about chemistry, learn more French, and so on. I'm just not really sure at all what publications look for in a photojournalist, whether I could just be a freelance starting out, or if I would have to be something along the lines of a staff photographer at first--I truly have no idea what is involved.
I do love art, but I cannot draw, or paint, or sculpt. The hobby/art/whatever of photography seems to be the only visual media that I can actually express myself through. Maybe I should take more art courses this summer.
the advice walter gave is right on
you might consider getting a degree at a university
in something you like, something that will drive you
and help you with the 2nd part of your ambition
( expanding your understanding of the world around you ).
many univeristies and colleges have a photography program
and you can take courses there to sharpen your sense of composition
and everything else photographic.
schools have a daily paper where you can take a position as a staff photographer
and yearbook too. you will learn a lot by doing ... not to say that courses don't help.
I would love to do a double major in some field of chemistry, and maybe art history. Hell, my unreachable dream would be to win the lottery, get an art history degree, and just tour around the world for the rest of my life. I don't believe that would be rewarding, though.
Looking at some photojournalists' work has really moved me, and I want to be able to do that, too. I want to give a voice to those that cannot talk, bring awareness to those that are downtrodden, and so on.
Am I being too ambitious? Probably.
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try looking at the NPPA. I joined years ago as a high school student while interning at a local paper, then spending several years working as a stringer, and a part-timer, then going to college and studying journalism, getting sidetracked into into a degree in photography, and winding up working for the gov't--shooting the kind of news events from the other side. My advice is that it's somewhat the same in terms of photography. photojournalism is a different animal in some ways from this daily assignment type work. things have changed quite a bit since I joined. Leafscanners were the closest thing to digital when I started out. Since then, as many here know, film has rapidly declined in use in terms of news work. It may still be in use in photojournalism in the way of longterm assignments, but for most work it will be digital based now, if not multimedia incorporated. I think you'll find that most school programs, rightly so (sorry), will be pushing you towards digital imaging and learning video possibly along with metadata processing.
That doesn't mean you can't pursue your love of film. It hasn't stopped me, but reality has forced me to do both film & digital for making a living. I would not hesitate to recommend the NPPA to a student though. It was/has been a great resource for me over the years. As for an education--I think probably a well rounded one will do, but if you study photography and want to work for whatever papers are left, it's going have to probably be rooted in the digital world--good thing is that skills like lighting and such as easily transfered back to film and vice-versa. Digital really isn't that different compared to film in terms of the type of photography, it's *quite different* if you came up shooting film and had to switch over. that's just my opinion, as always.
I was brought up on film and digital, I have no problem with either. I prefer film for the look and process, but I have no issues with digital.
When I was younger, I was an aspiring director (lol), so I know plenty about digital video (albeit MiniDV) and digital workflow with video.
I'm also a bit of a computer buff, so I really would be fine.
I'll look into the NPPA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kino
Go the old route, become a stringer.
Get a fast bike, police scanner, your flavor camera and get to know the local law enforcement people.
Its expensive, thankless and you'll starve to death, but you'll have fun; you won't have a life, but you'll have fun...
Modern Weegee? All I would need to complete that is a new 4x5 camera from Calumet.
I do have a bike, and I've been meaning to ride it more, to get into shape...
Oh, and I should also mention that that is now impossible as the local police have switched to a cellular system. (At the very least, that is what I've been told.)
Last edited by AutumnJazz; 06-26-2008 at 11:00 PM.
Demand for Photojournalists? 
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