Photo journalism: first job

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wsq_anakin

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Although I've toyed with photography for a little while, now, I've mostly dealt with city architectural and landscapes -- all of it from a hobbyist non-profit standpoint. I decided to get involved a little bit with photojournalism, and so I have my first job tomorrow.

The problem is the setting scares me: It's to take indoors and late at night at an election count.

Talk about out of my element!

I'm not sure how to deal with the inevitable bad lighting. Flash or no flash? What is the difference between photojournalism and the other photography I've done (more compositional, slow photography).

Any tips?

Edit: A word about the gear I'm using: limited. I'll be walking in with a Rebel XT, 17-55 f/2.8, and 420EX. I have some other stuff (70-200 f4L, 50 f/1.8), but I can't imagine using it. I don't have a monopod/tripod with me at the moment.
 
Obviously take into account the ISO setting, as long as your camera doesn't produce lots of noise at high ISO speeds. Upping the ISO will give you better shutter speeds in dim lighting.
 
with that camera I wouldn't take the iso past 400 or you will get a lot of noise.
 
RE your edit. I'd be using the 50mm as it has the aperture you will need
 
hepburn said:
with that camera I wouldn't take the iso past 400 or you will get a lot of noise.
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ISO 1600 is pretty nasty. But I think ISO 800 is not too bad (it's comparable to the 20D). Plus I can run noise reduction. Thanks for the tip, though. Hopefully ISO 400 will work.

PsiFox said:
RE your edit. I'd be using the 50mm as it has the aperture you will need
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Yeah, but the 17-55 f/2.8 has IS, which makes it a 'faster' lens than the f/1.8. Plus it has uber image quality.
 
I don't think the 70-200 will help you, but take the 50mm 1.8 along just in case that extra stop is needed. You might be allowed to use flash so take it along just in case. Try to shoot about iso400 for best results if it is a bit dark but not any higher to keep grain down, it will also help with the longer range flash shots.

If there are other PJs there you'll most likely be trampled in the melee but watch what they do and learn.
 
wsq_anakin said:
Yeah, but the 17-55 f/2.8 has IS, which makes it a 'faster' lens than the f/1.8. Plus it has uber image quality.
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Think you've answered your own question there:)
 
wsq_anakin said:
Yeah, but the 17-55 f/2.8 has IS, which makes it a 'faster' lens than the f/1.8. Plus it has uber image quality.
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Not if you take subject movement into account - any shutter speeds slower than 1/50 and you will need to be aware of how much your subject is moving if you want to avoid blur.
 
WeddingHack said:
Not if you take subject movement into account - any shutter speeds slower than 1/50 and you will need to be aware of how much your subject is moving if you want to avoid blur.
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They're old politicians. How fast, exactly, can they move? :thumbs:
 
Your profile says location U.S., so what election are you covering there?

It's our local elections plus London Mayor here tomorrow
 
What do you mean by first 'job'? Is this a paid gig? If it is then you should know how to go about it and have the equipment before you accept! There are plenty pros around who could do this without blinking an eye.
 
awp said:
What do you mean by first 'job'? Is this a paid gig? If it is then you should know how to go about it and have the equipment before you accept! There are plenty pros around who could do this without blinking an eye.
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:thumbsdown:

Every Pro was at one time a beginer........

:nono:
 
awp said:
What do you mean by first 'job'? Is this a paid gig? If it is then you should know how to go about it and have the equipment before you accept! There are plenty pros around who could do this without blinking an eye.
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It's for a local nonprofit paper. A student-run university paper. But yeah, thanks.
 
I'd maybe consider using some sorta diffuser on your flash too.

I've got that lens too, it's pretty awesome for low light so I recon you'll be ok.
 
If you're shooting to 'document' something then it's the show, not the ISO that'll be important. Bump it up to 800 to alow you to limit the amount of flash yu use, and if you do sue flash, keep it to minimum. I shoot with the flash set to manual indoors so I can just pump in the tiniest amount of light and keep things pretty natural.

These are some I took at a show on the weekend to use in my magazine:

DSC_01191.jpg


DSC_0050.jpg
 
awp said:
Glad we cleared that up.
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So when will I be able to charge money for my photos? Let me know, since it would be nice to start one day. But if I can't apply for paying gigs until I'm a pro, how do I get to be a pro? Is there some "Professional Photographer" certificate I'll need?
 
Specialman hit the nail on the head news is much more important about what you show rather than technical brilliance. Just browse worldpressphoto and that will become clear.
One of the first pieces of advice received in the field was start wide and work in. Though your close-ups may look great the paper may want something different. So take a range of shots, portrait, landscape close-up wide angle. Good luck!
 
be prepared to use flash if the lighting is rubbish, but ry to bounce it off a ceiling or something to cut down on majar shadows, if possible.
our old 350(the uk version of the rebel i believe) produces reasonable quality shots at 800 iso, in reasonable light conditions.
be aware of your white balance setting if theres a lot of tungsten or flourescent lighting. colour casts on your shots may be a prob otherwise.as russbates says. take lots of varied shots.
and IS is worth using.
 
Many concerns will evaporate if the size and quality possible for the printed images aren't too high or they're just for the Web. If they don't print in colour, then white balance isn't a problem. If they want B&W, then high-ISO noise could be a selling point.
 
deffo shoot RAW if you aim to use colour and use flash - JPEGs are so much harder to extract info from highlights
 
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