BSJ Photojournalism and Visual Storytelling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'decisive moment' in photojournalism, as described by Henri Cartier-Bresson?
- The moment when a photographer adjusts camera settings
- The instant when visual elements align to tell the story most powerfully (Correct answer)
- The moment an editor selects the best photo
- The split second before the shutter is pressed
Correct answer: The instant when visual elements align to tell the story most powerfully
Cartier-Bresson's 'decisive moment' is when all visual and narrative elements peak simultaneously, creating the perfect photographic composition.
Question 2: What does ISO measure in digital photography?
- The focal length of a lens
- The sensor's sensitivity to light (Correct answer)
- The shutter speed range
- The aperture opening
Correct answer: The sensor's sensitivity to light
ISO measures the camera sensor's sensitivity to light; higher ISO allows shooting in low light but introduces digital noise.
Question 3: When is digital manipulation of a news photograph considered acceptable by most U.S. journalism standards?
- When it improves the aesthetic quality of the image
- Only for basic tonal corrections that do not alter content (Correct answer)
- When approved by the photo editor
- When the subject gives permission
Correct answer: Only for basic tonal corrections that do not alter content
Most U.S. news organizations permit only minor tonal adjustments (brightness, contrast) but prohibit altering content, removing elements, or misleading the viewer.
Question 4: What is a wide-angle lens best suited for in photojournalism?
- Isolating distant subjects from backgrounds
- Capturing environmental context and sweeping scenes (Correct answer)
- Compressing perspective between foreground and background
- Shooting wildlife from a safe distance
Correct answer: Capturing environmental context and sweeping scenes
Wide-angle lenses have a short focal length that captures a broad field of view, ideal for environmental portraits and crowd scenes.
Question 5: What is the role of a photo editor at a U.S. news organization?
- To take photos at breaking news events
- To select, crop, and caption images for publication (Correct answer)
- To negotiate licensing fees with wire services
- To write cutlines for the print department
Correct answer: To select, crop, and caption images for publication
Photo editors curate images from photographers, make selection and cropping decisions, and oversee captions and ethical compliance.
Question 6: What does 'depth of field' mean in photography?
- The physical distance from camera to subject
- The range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp (Correct answer)
- The number of pixels in an image
- The focal length of the lens used
Correct answer: The range of distance in a photo that appears acceptably sharp
Depth of field describes how much of a scene, from near to far, appears in sharp focus in a given photograph.
BSJ Photojournalism and Visual Storytelling 2
What is a 'decisive moment' in photojournalism, as described by Henri Cartier-Bresson?