Hunting for a feature photograph to capture a slice of life

What makes a photo worthy of being considered feature photography?

           The most important aspect of feature photography is the hunt. This drive to seek out the perfect shot of an unplanned moment has become so ingrained within photojournalism. A perfect feature photo can never be planned, but must be found when the chance presents itself. This kind of photograph can stand alone and doesn’t need any further explanation, there is no need for words. Any person can look at this photo and appreciate it for the single image being presented alone.

           Feature photography can be a difficult thing for many photographers to master. The reasoning behind it is searching for feature shots requires photojournalists to be on their toes at all times, and always ready for a shot when an opportunity present itself. Trying to capture a gripping scene in order to encapsulate a moment in time can put the photographer in uncomfortable situations; sometimes endangering the photojournalist by placing them in the midst of chaos and tragedy. 

           For obvious reasons, the best feature photography captures a dramatic or pivotal moment within time to seize a brief moment in time for future recollection. These kinds of photographs should always invoke a reaction from the viewer and cause them to experience an emotion relating to that event. This is why there is little use for words with feature photography. The single photo or sometimes a handful of photographs can tell an entire story to audience capturing the essence of the moment.                                    

           Many photographs that are considered feature photojournalism pertain to an important event in history. These kinds of photographs usually end up being displayed in magazines or books; if they’re extremely noteworthy, such as the photo of U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor raising an American flag over Iwo Jima during WWII, end up in museums persevered for future generations to see.

      Recap: The most important aspects of feature photojournalism

1.      NEVER plan a feature photo—It destroy the purpose of capturing a moment

2.      Don’t force it—The best feature photos are a result of a trained photographer anticipating a moment and being ready to capture the results

3.      Feature photojournalist requires a great deal of patience and awareness of the surroundings

4.      Photojournalists seeking a feature photo must understand that one photograph can be enough to capture an specific moment in time

A little something about my event coverage experience

        I attended the Digital Panel hosted by Wayne State's PRSSA on Thursday, March 10th, 2016. My communication and social marketing class was attending the event instead of having the usual lecture for the night (it was a win-win for me). I figured that it would easy event coverage for the portion of the feature assignment, but I did run into some minor hiccups as the event proceeded. All of the speakers at this event are respected in PR field and each individual offered helpful tips and recommendations to the future PR professionals in the audience. 

            I wanted to capture the two women, Alexandria Fulbright and Nancy Hanus, in the picture to the right with the list of tips presented on the screen above their heads. After I took the shot, I reviewed the picture and realized that I didn't photograph the screen properly. I tried to adjusting the manual settings on my camera to capture the images on the projected screen, but I failed miserably again.            
          Instead, I accepted that I didn't know how to properly  photograph both the speaker and the presentation on the screen. I focused on photos of the audience and the PR professional speakers for the rest of the evening.

Featured below are Wayne State University's PRSSA's Digital Panel event coverage and an enterprise photo from this year's St. Patrick's Day

Alexandra Thompson, Alexandria Fulbright, Yaqob Nagi, Nancy Thomas and David Lingholm at Wayne State University's student center in Detroit, Michigan on Thursday, Mar. 10, 2016. Wayne State student Yaqob Nagi, an audio-visual major, fixed a computer issue during the digital panel for Fulbright before her presentation. Photos by Aigneis Reid

Crain's Detroit Business digital content strategy manager, Nancy Hanus, answering an audience member's question at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan on Mar. 10, 2016. "Tell me something you started and followed through with", said Hanus in response to an audience member's question about what she would ask during an interview.

Alexandria Fulbright, Alexandra Thompson, and David Lingholm at the Digital Panel presentation in Wayne State University's student center in Detroit, Michigan on Mar. 10, 2016. "Audiences shape how brand engage", said Thompson in a response to a question from Wayne State professor Jane E. Fitzgibbon.

Vice President of social strategy and content marketing at Finn Partners, Alexander Thompson, at Wayne State University's student center in Detroit, Michigan on Mar. 10, 2016. Thompson flew to Detroit from New York City to present for the Digital Panel.

Local leprechaun enjoying the perfect pint at O'Connor's Public House in Rochester Hills, Michigan on Thursday, Mar. 17, 2016. O'connor's Public House was a popular spot to attend this year's St. Patrick's Day. The man pictured was not the only one dressed in the festive attire.