How to write good articles and take good photos?

Question

Hi, right now I've got practical working experience for two weeks, as a journalist and photographer. I'm going to do a report about a motorcykle club tomorrow, are there any good things to write about, and what pictures should I take? I want to know how to write good articles and how to do good reports. What questions should I ask, how should I write, what to think about, how to make my article good and attractive. how to plan my work. Any advice?

I also want to know how to take good pictures. What is important, and what makes a good picture?

And how can I be good at pictures? How can I make my pictures look special? I'm REALLY grateful if someone who's good at this can give me great advices. :D

Answer 1

Your question suggests only people who think they are good at this should answer and although I have had a couple of magazine pieces published I can't claim to be good at it.
But I'll give you my best ideas.

If the club has a building or meeting place try and get on the roof and photograph all the bikes from above. That should make an interesting photo. Also perhaps lie on your back and take a picture from below of a man mounted on his bike. Same unusual angle to create interest. Also get a group picture of the individuals on or near their bikes.

Questions: You are a club so how would you compare yourselves to say, the Lions club or the Elks etc? Do you do things within the community that are beneficial? Do you feel some people give bikers a bad rap? Does the law treat you fairly in your opinion? Is there any better motorcycle than a Harley in your opinion and why? What would you like the public to know about bikers in general and your club. What would you like motorists to know about dealing with bikers on the road. Do you all wear helmets and why or why not? What thing have you done together as a club that you are proudest of? What is the most memorable trip or ride you have taken as a group?

I am not a motorcyclist and these are questions I would be interested in the answers to. The club will want to be put in a good light since so many people gangsterize motorcycle groups, so give them the opportunity to show their best side. Take the angle of "Bikers are people too." approach.

These are just suggestions and the answers to some of these questions may give you a theme to work the story around. Good Luck!

Answer 2

For the article part, start with the fundamentals (who, what, where) and the traditional journalism triangle structure -- then come up with your own ideas from there. Look for something unique and special about the people in the motorcycle club, and then get more details about that thing. It takes experience to learn what other people will find interesting and what they won't care about, and that will only come with time, but the only way you'll get that experience is to get out and interview and write...so get to it! :)

As for the photography...hmm, well, you do realize that even people that take four-year college photography courses still have a lot to learn, right? It's a deep subject that you can spend your life getting good at (I know!). Like writing, the best way to get better at it is to do it, have experts critique your work, and learn from your mistakes and successes. But here are a few things that might help you get started to make better pictures:

Don't just stand in front of a group, person, or building and take a picture -- look for unique angles (get down low, get up high), different alignments of foreground & backgrounds, etc.

Pay attention to EVERYTHING in the viewfinder. Notice a table sticking partway into the frame, and move to get rid of it (or move the table). Notice the ugly poster on the wall behind your subject. Notice glaring light reflecting off someone's glasses. LOOK hard before you shoot the image, and make sure everything in it is contributing to the story you want to tell, nothing extraneous.

Learn the "rule of thirds" composition guidelines, and use them unless you think the picture would be better by breaking the rules :)

Pay attention to lighting -- use harsh light to highlight certain things in the scene, use soft light to even out shadows, be aware of color casts from flourescent or mixed lighting, etc. Learn to use the light that's there already, or control light with your own equipment to get the look you want.

Above all, be relaxed and make your subjects feel relaxed. TALK to them, don't seperate yourself as "the photographer," rather be a part of the group.

Hope that helps, good luck.