SchoolJournalism.org.

SchoolJournalism.org
SchoolJournalism.org.

SchoolJournalism.org
SchoolJournalism.org.

SchoolJournalism.org

Photography and Cutlines Lesson Plans

ASNE Lesson Plans for Photography and Cutlines

Day One
Photography and Cutlines Lesson – Day One
Photography and Cutlines PowerPoint – Day One
Story in a Sentence
1000 Words Mini-Research Project

Day Two
Photography and Cutlines Lesson – Day Two
Photography and Cutlines PowerPoint – Day Two
Snap To It
Me In A Nutshell
Picture It This Way

Day Three
Photography and Cutlines Lesson – Day Three
Photography and Cutlines PowerPoint – Day Three
Cutline Writing
Portfolio Evaluation Sheet

Other Lessons

Photography and Cutlines

Basics

  • About Digital Cameras
    Learn about the standard settings on a SLR camera and why exposure is important.
  • Effective Photojournalism
    After having students examine work of professional photographers in newspapers and magazines, basic photographic concepts are explained. Then students are asked to shoot, develop, edit and caption the photos for a portfolio.
  • Getting the Picture: Composing and Building, Frame by Frame, Pixel by Pixel
    Introducing photography by asking these questions and more: How do we build upon a visual foundation with verbal imagery and accurate voices? Are there special techniques that enhance the photo?
  • Introduction to Photography
    An introduction to photography climaxing in a photo contest. Allows instructor to bring in newspaper or other photographers to share their skills.
  • Looking at Photographs from the Other End of the Lens
    A lesson that aims at answering this: What makes a good photograph and cutline for journalism? Teaches basic critiques of photos for news purposes and what belongs in a good photo caption.
  • Photographing High School Sports
    Photographs are crucial to an interesting newspaper, but interesting photos — or photos that come out at all — can be difficult in a sports situation.
  • Photography: Beyond the snapshot
    A plan to take student photography to the next level by examining examples of good photos and learning what a good photo is and how to recognize it, and finally, looking at what a student can do to take more interesting photos.
  • Photography: Where journalism meets art
    Looking at photo opportunities as a unified whole that combines subject, background, foreground, action and mood.
  • Photojournalism and Composition
    A beginning photography lesson that delves into the rules of thirds, framing, etc. They should be able to recognize composition principles and their impact on photography.
  • Recognizing Four Major Photojournalism Techniques to Improve Quality and Interest in Pictures
    A lesson that, after introducing students to various standard photographic techniques, asks them to assess professional photographers work AND shoot photos of their own that fit the models they’re taught.
  • The Basics of Photography
    A lesson that asks students to look beyond the content of a photo and examine it for its quality. Photos shouldn’t be seen as space-filler in the paper. Also looks at daily newspapers that do photography well to see the power of photography.
  • The Challenge of Egg Photography
    Create a composition in which a white chicken egg is distinguishable from a white background by creating and using shadows.
  • The Rule of Thirds
    This lesson introduces the rule of thirds in photography to students and gives them resources to explore it further. They are then assigned to take photos that they think adhere to this rule.
  • Through the Viewfinder
    A two-three class period lesson that asks students to think about photography: What makes a good photo, the difference between chemical and digital photography and more.
  • Through the Viewfinder: Learning to think like a professional news photographer
    A look at why some photos are good and others aren’t, with an exploration of terms that help describe these aesthetics. Related photo grading sheet will help assess student work.

Cutlines and captions

  • Caption Writing Activity
    Good caption writing does more than repeat the story; it adds depth. Students will learn that it takes creativity and is more difficult than it looks.
  • Captions: A picture is worth a thousand words
    A lesson about what makes a great caption from the ground up. This lesson could be taught concurrent to a layout and design lesson using pictures and other artwork as points of interest on a newspaper page.
  • Writing Captions
    By writing captions (or cutlines) for three embedded photographs, students will learn what is appropriate information to put in a caption so readers/viewers are satisfied with their understanding of a picture.
  • Writing Captivating Caption
    Students will learn to recognize traits of good photo captions, improve mediocre captions and to write their own captivating photo captions.
  • Curiosity Created the Caption; Curiosity Created the Caption Checklist
    Every photo needs a well-written caption. This lesson taps into students’ natural curiosity as they generate questions about photos, interview, and gather information for writing captions to answer their questions.
  • Writing the Perfect Cutline
    A single-day lesson that instructs students how to writing photo cutlines (captions).
  • Looking at Photographs from the Other End of the Lens
    A lesson that aims at answering this: What makes a good photograph and cutline for journalism? Teaches basic critiques of photos for news purposes and what belongs in a good photo caption.
  • Effective Photojournalism
    After having students examine work of professional photographers in newspapers and magazines, basic photographic concepts are explained. Then students are asked to shoot, develop, edit and caption the photos for a portfolio.

Legal and ethical

  • Photojournalism and Diversity
    A photography unit on learning to use the camera by using diversity as a subject. Explores the kinds of diversity, what a photo story is, etc. Has gifted and talented as well as special education components.
  • Case Studies in Journalistic Ethics No. 3
    A one- or two-day lesson (part of a five part unit). This one focuses on the ethical decisions involved in publishing controversial/sensitive photos.
  • News “Framing” through Photographs and Videotapes
    “A picture is worth a thousand words,” but do the media exploit the power of photographs and videotapes to influence public opinion?
  • Photo Editing and Photo Ethics
    This lesson teaches students that just because they CAN do something to a photo in Photoshop doesn’t mean it’s RIGHT to do it.

Storytelling

  • Making Photo Essays Easy
    A lesson that asks students to look at photos as a storytelling medium by forcing them to lay out or create photo essays. What are they missing? What do they wish they had? These are the questions they remember the next time they shoot.
  • Making Photo Slideshows
    This lesson leads students through the process of posting their slideshows online.
  • Moving Beyond the Mug Shot
    A short, two-day lesson that asks students to look beyond basic “grip and grins” in their photos. Gives them disposable cameras and demands that they be creative.
  • Using Photography to Enhance a Story
    By reading a text and studying examples of good newspaper photography, students will learn to crop photos for maximum storytelling effect.
  • Photojournalism and Creating a Layout
    This unit explores photography and design, asking students why photos are important, what makes a good photo story and how one approaches it, and looks at examples of award-winning designs and photos. Has gifted and special education components.

Photojournalism Ethics Codes and Privacy Regulations

Fair use and free images on the internet

  • There are free and legal ways to obtain images on the internet when you don’t have any. This primer explores a few options.

Photojournalism Techniques

Equipment Tips

Photojournalism in Action