This document discusses the language of photography and how to evaluate photo quality. It provides four categories of photo quality - informational, graphically appealing, emotionally appealing, and intimate. Informational photos are the lowest standard while intimate photos represent the highest. Examples are given of photos that fit each category. The document also discusses developing words to describe photo energy and quality, such as those that "reach the emotional truth" or "take your breath away."

1. The Language of Photography:
Communication for Editors
Journ 313
Warren Watson
Cronkite School
March 21, 2011

9. Thinking Pictures
A good photo should move, excite, entertain,
inform or help the reader
* Does it communicate better than a sentence?
* Does it have visual content?
* Does it go beyond the obvious?
* Does it have impact, move the reader?
* Is it mindless documentation?
* Does it communicate effectively?

10. ‘Worst Experience in My Life’
“Moving from photographer to editor was
the worst experience of my life. I was
confronted by ‘word people’ wanting to
know why I was recommending a certain
picture. Most photographers intuitively
work through photo requests and don’t think
about how the picture is made -- let alone
articulate the process.”
-- Joe Elbert, assistant managing editor/photo
for the Washington Post

11. Portland’s Photo Energy Index
• Develop words that describe quality photos
• “A photo with energy …”
…Fans the heart
…Tells the full story
…Can make you laugh
…Can make you cry
… Reaches the emotional truth

14. Photo Energy Index (more)
… Shows human emotion
… Stimulates action
… Takes your breath away
… Sticks to your memory
… Captures the moment

15. The Washington Post Approach:
Categories of Quality
• Informational photos (lowest form)
• Graphically appealing photos
• Emotionally appealing photos
• Intimate photos (highest form)

16. Informational photos
* Informational photos
• Lowest standard
• Overall views of events
• Often static in nature
• Group shots, mug shots
• “Real estate photos”

19. Graphically Appealing Photos
* Graphically appealing photos
• Second standard
• Intellectually of aesthically appealing
• Composition carries the day
• Photos with attractive lines and angles,
dramatic dimension and depth

26. Emotionally Appealing Photos
* Emotionally appealing photos
• Third standard
• They bare the soul, capture the right moment
• Examples:
--- Fire survivor looking back at scene
--- Teacher beaming at a child’s accomplishment

30. Intimate Photos
• Intimate photos represent the highest standard
• They create deep emotional connections
• They become an icon for a particular event

31. Some Intimate Photos
Oklahoma City bombing,
Santa Rosa floods (1995)

33. What category?
• Informational?
• Graphically appealing?
• Emotionally appealing?
• Intimate?

37. Category?
• Informational?
• Graphically
appealing?
• Emotionally
appealing?
• Intimate?

38. A Photo with
Energy?

39. Energy?
What words
describe the
photo from
Columbine?

41. Would You Run
This Photo?