Photographing Life's Images

This week marked the New Year of 2003. For many people, the turning of the calendar incites a deep reflection of what happened during the previous year. Such reflection often rekindles emotion -- from sadness to laughter -- and often opens the doorway to a better understanding of people and how the world works.

One way the news media often reflect on the new year is by compiling photo essays that highlight significant events or issues. In line with the proverb, "A picture is worth a thousand words," these photographs are works of art that can sometimes say more, and evoke more emotion, than what a writer can describe in a news article. Sometimes, photography just simply yet artistically captures moments of daily life.

To celebrate the New Year, you'll take a photographic journey through 2002. As you reflect on the images, you'll review news events that highlight violence, compassion, suspicion, friendship, hopelessness and triumph. You'll also focus on how the photographers captured the essence of each story with their cameras.

What Do You Remember?

What events do you remember when you think about 2002? Do you think about certain issues or certain people? What images come to mind?

Begin your 2002 overview at CNN's A Year in Pictures. Click on 1. Crisis in Iraq in the list of 10 stories, and a pop-up window will display the photo gallery. As you browse through the images -- from Saddam Hussein to Olympic skater Sarah Hughes -- think about how the photograph reflects the news story. For fun, you can also take the NEWS JUNKIE quiz on the right-hand side of the Year in Pictures main page.

Which people do you recognize instantly? How does each person's facial expression show his or her emotions? Which urban or rural landscape shots represent the "bigger picture" of an event?

The Art of Photography

But photography, even for newsrooms, is not just about snapping pictures of the central news subject. Photography is also about art and design.

To further explore this idea, stop over at MSNBC's special section, The Year in Pictures. Hit Launch Slideshow to open the gallery window. As you browse the exhibit, think about what exactly makes one photograph more or less interesting compared to another. Which images keep your attention the longest? Can you identify the focal point of each photograph? Is the subject something commonly seen or is it especially unique in some way?

What are some of the other elements or subjects in each photo? How do they compare or contrast with the central focus? How does your eye shift from one part of the photo to another? How would the captured image look if the photographer had been standing in a different spot or angle?

Next visit Time magazine's site, The Best Pictures of the Year. Enter the site, and you will begin at the Human Conflict gallery. Click on Next or on thumbnail images to browse. Do the same for exploring the other galleries, called The Natural World, People and the Human Spirit.

How does the brightness or angle of the light source contribute to the special quality of some of the photos? Think about where exactly the photographer needed to be positioned to snap some of these images -- crouching on the ground or leaning over a skyscraper's roof, perhaps? How do some photographers seem to contrast a subject with the surrounding landscape, and how does this affect the visual or emotional impact of those images?

A Photographer's Eye

After reflecting on the image galleries, you may have gotten the picture that professional photography takes a lot of work. Not only do good news photographers have to be at the "right place at the right time," but they also need to consider the lighting and composition of each shot.

You can start learning a few tricks of the trade too, by visiting Kodak's Guide to Better Pictures site. Begin by reading the Top 10 Techniques, from Keep Your Camera Ready to Place The Subject Off-Center to Choose The Right Film (keeping in mind that other companies make films of similar speeds).

Also read through the Lighting, Close-ups, Composition, Special Situations & Subjects sections. Whether you have a simple point-and-shoot camera or a more complicated camera with a manual shutter speed control, you'll find some good tips on how to take better photos of your own. Even if you don't own a camera, reading through the guide will help you better understand what photographers have to consider when trying to capture images to sell professionally as an artist or as a newsroom staff photographer.

What do you think would be the most difficult aspect of being a professional news photographer? What types of situations would provide interesting photos compared to other, perhaps more routine assignments? As you look around you right now and throughout the day, how might you use your personal creativity to capture life's imagery in an interesting or surprising way? In what ways would a particular subject, the surroundings, the lighting, or shot angle contribute to the artistic quality of the photograph?

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