How to prepare for photography career in High School?

Question

I'm a senior in High School and I'm following a career in photography or photojournalism. unfortunately there is no way I can take the photography class I've been trying for the last 2 years to get into (conflicts with schedule) so i wanted to know any other ways I can gain photography experience and possible make a portfolio.

Thank you.

Answer 1

I had a similar experience in high school.  To get experience and exposure I first started shooting for my school paper.  I took my best shots down to the local newspaper, and showed them to the Photo Editor, who was impressed and had me do small gigs for them when I had time.

In today's world I would not suggest a film SLR.  When I was doing that stuff in high school, film was the standard, not anymore.  *Every* photo (nearly) in the newspaper now days is shot digitally.  Film will just slow you down if you want to shoot semi-professionally.  Many newspapers are dumping all of their darkroom equipment.  With film, you have to physically deliver the rolls, negatives, or prints.  Digital files can be instantly sent via email, already "developed".  Journalistic photography is all about speed.  How fast the image can get from the camera into the layout room.  In a newspaper or web setting there is absolutely zero benefit to film.  Remember, most of your images are going to be around 4x5inches at the most.  Basic small JPEGS are fine (unless you're aggressively cropping, and even then they are usually acceptable.)  

I would get a Cannon or Nikon, as that thats what *any* newspaper photo department uses . They have 'pools' of lenses and sometimes cameras you may be able to use depending on your position, lenses which are worthless if you have a Sony, Pentax, Minolta, etc.  

Don't expect to be shooting the Superbowl or local NFL football your first week...start small and impress your editor. Nothing will bother him more than you missing deadline.  If your paper has a high school sports section that can be another good way to get your foot in the door.  

Good luck!

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Edit:

I should also point out what a fundamental difference there is between journalistic and non journalistic photography.  In journalistic photography, a photographer has to be reactive, whereas in other forms, a photographer can choose to be much more proactive.  What I mean by this is a journalist has to react to a situation.  The biggest thing you can control in the situation is your location, and even that is dictated by where you *think* your subject will be.  In fashion, landscape, etc photography you can control lighting, you can move around and experiment with angles, you can look at your results and adjust accordingly.  You need to work on your reflexes and your sense of what will happen five minutes or five seconds from the present.

Answer 2

Buy a nice used Nikon or Canon 35 mm SLR with a standard zoom (24-85 mm if it is in your budget).  Good used cameras can be purchased on craigslist in a city near you.

Since you are already taking journalism, see if you can get an intern position with your local newspaper and go from there.  

Find out what text book is being used in your schools photo classes and buy it .. then start reading and learning.

Answer 3

I too would suggest you go digital. Film is great, and cheap if you only factor in the cost of the camera, but the cost of the film and processing will quickly eat up the difference in cost had you bought a digital camera. (100 rolls of film - processed will cost you more to process then the cost of your digital camera if you go with a starter Canon or Nikon)

I suggest that once you have a digital SLR (NOT point and shoot) you go out and SHOOT as much as you can.  Be critical of your images, just because you shot it does not make it good. Look at each image look at the composition, the lighting, the style make it better the next time you shoot. Give yourself assignments to shoot.  Try to shoot the equivalent of a roll of film a day. Set your lens to just one focal length and shoot everything from there.  Set to one f/stop and see what that makes you have to do to get "good" images.  Shoot manual not auto, learn to control your camera, not let the camera control you.  

Try a hand at still life's, fashion, landscape, and night/low light images.  The more you shoot and evaluate your images the more likely you will improve and find your own style.

Lastly look into photography clubs in your area and perhaps the local college or Community centers for classes to take.

Good luck and good shooting.