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Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

poynter.org

1–10 of 46 posts

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#2
Will they teach their journalists how to take shallow depth-of-field shots and long telephoto shots with their iPhones? Probably not, since you can't.

Given the 'yes and' style of derivative news reporting commonplace today, the Sun-Times might be more effective firing the writers, keeping the photographers, and teaching them actual journalism.

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#3
They're just going to have really bad photos, with bad composition etc.

Will it hurt their sales at all? Maybe not, so maybe they don't care?

It will hurt their journalists self-respect, and, I'd suggest, in the long term, hurt the credibility and respectability of their newspaper. To have unprofessional looking photos.

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#5
It's not quality of photo that will be lost, it will be the ability to focus on reporting. Even if taking a photo is easy as Instagram, you still have to take time to edit the photo and prep it for print/production.

More problematic is the awkwardness of trying to photograph and interview at the same time. "I'm so sorry for the lost off your children, Mrs. Smith. Now can you look at my iPhone?"

That kind of breaks the rhythm.

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#6
post #2

Will they teach their journalists how to take shallow depth-of-field shots and long telephoto shots with their iPhones? Probably not, since you can't. Given the 'yes and' style of derivative news reporting commonplace today, the Sun-Times might be more effective firing the writers, keeping the photographers, and teaching them actual journalism.

I wonder how you can even train someone for this... Tap to focus, now tap the shutter button, AND done.

Oh, and turn on HDR and wait 5s for it to process.

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#7
To abandon skilled photographers with quality equipment because of a few great photos by unskilled people using poor equipment is to miss a salient point: We notice great photos taken with poor cameras by unskilled photographers because sheer volume will produce a few worth noting; what isn't noticed is the many great photos which don't exist because equipment and/or user was unable to make the picture happen.

Re: Chicago Sun-Times will train reporters on ‘iPhone photography basics’

#10
post #7

To abandon skilled photographers with quality equipment because of a few great photos by unskilled people using poor equipment is to miss a salient point: We notice great photos taken with poor cameras by unskilled photographers because sheer volume will produce a few worth noting; what isn't noticed is the many great photos which don't exist because equipment and/or user was unable to make the picture happen.

This is known as the survivorship bias. More about that here: http://youarenotsosmart.com/2013/05/23/survivorship-bias/
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