5 Levels of Photography

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON A SINGLE SPREAD:
1.  The Big Picture (Zoom out to include the entire scene)
  • Pair with infographics with broader research to provide a more expansive view
2.  Large Group (Get a shot of just the crowd or just the players on the field)
  • Pair with polls from the larger student body or Q&A with teams
3.  Small Group (Capture the action and emotions while zooming in on a few individuals)
  • Pair with a round table discussion or multiple viewpoints expressed on social media
4.  One Person (Get the individual's expression and movement)
  • Pair with an interview to grasp a single perspective
5.  Detail (Get incredibly close to a specific person or object that tells a unique part of the story)
  • Pair with an in-depth description of very specific moments ​

Using the Tally-ho! Archive, find one photograph that fits into each category on Joe Elbert’s hierarchy of photography. Mark the page with a sticky note and include the year, page number, and description of the photo in answer A, then explain how it fits in the category for answer B. 

Level 1: Informational
A.  What photo did you choose for this level?
B.  Explain why this photo fits the Informational category:

Level 2: Graphically Appealing
A.  What photo did you choose for this level?
B.  Explain why this photo fits the Graphically Appealing category:

Level 3: Emotionally Appealing
A.  What photo did you choose for this level?
B.  Explain why this photo fits the Emotionally Appealing category:

Level 4: Intimate
A.  What photo did you choose for this level?
B.  Explain why this photo fits the Intimate category:

Rules & Constraints
  1. Time Limit: 45 minutes
  2. The Golden Rule: No posed photos allowed. Everything must be a genuine, candid moment unless explicitly marked as a portrait.
  3. Caption Requirement: For every photo submitted, log the subject's full name, grade, and a 1-sentence description of what was happening.
Category 1: Composition Techniques
  • Rule of Thirds: A shot where the main subject sits on an intersection line, not dead center.
  • Leading Lines: Use architectural features (hallway lockers, bleachers, stairwells) to draw the eye toward a person.
  • Framing: Shoot through an object (a doorway, classroom window, or tree branches) to frame the subject.
  • Worm’s-Eye View: Get low to the ground and shoot upward to make an everyday action look dramatic.
  • Bird’s-Eye View: Shoot from an elevated angle looking down (e.g., from a second-floor balcony into the courtyard).
Category 2: Storytelling & Emotion
  • Peak Emotion: Capture genuine laughter, surprise, or intense focus (e.g., a student working in art class or a teacher mid-lecture).
  • Action in Motion: Someone moving fast (running in PE, walking briskly down the hall) where the main subject remains sharp.
  • The "Detail" Shot: A close-up shot that tells a story without showing a face (paint-stained hands, sneakers, instrument keys).
  • Group Interaction: Three or more people actively collaborating or hanging out, showing dynamic body language.

Camera Controls

Sports Photography

Advice from Foxcroft's Abby Pheiffer:
  • Zoom out or use a telephoto lens
  • Manual or Shutter Priority Mode
  • Set Shutter speed for fast motion
  • Open to a wide aperture
  • Set your ISO to give a proper exposure
  • Set to matrix metering
  • Use continuous focus if possible
  • White balance probably auto
  • Use burst mode if your camera has it
  • Compose to keep action in the center of the frame or allow action to move into frame
  • Position yourself to avoid clutter in the background
  • Take a few insurance shots
Additional Resources:
Helpful Guide
​​​Seeking the Decisive Moment in Sports Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY CRITERIA:
  • Sharply focused on center of interest
  • Proper tonal range, including consistent lighting, color and contrast throughout
  • Image fills the frame, eliminating distracting elements and empty space
  • Photographs creatively tell the story, with a variety of angles and perspectives
  • Emotion and action are compelling within each image
  • Edges are perfectly aligned within each page and across the entire spread
  • Student photographers represented
  • No dpi warnings (low resolution)
 CAPTION WRITING CRITERIA:
  • Descriptive and informative
  • Present tense used
  • People identified correctly with first and last name
  • Team photos begin with front row and end with back row
  • Grammatically correct
  • Design styles are consistent, attractive, and legible
  • All photographers given credit 

PHOTO CREDITS:  All images are required to have a photo credit immediately following the capture.  You should state the full name of the photographer or the person who provided the photo, whether that person is a student or an adult. 
​Format:  (Photo by _______) OR (Photo provided by____________)
Any unidentified images should be given this credit: (Photo Courtesy of Foxcroft School)

Photo Workflow

ORGANIZATION: On Google Drive, you have a My Photos folder inside of the main Photojournalism folder.  You will create a new folder here for each event you photograph using the naming system below.  Drag and drop all of your images from the memory card onto your personal folder on the desktop, and then delete all of the originals.  Create a BEST OF folder and move 5-10 of your most amazing shots there to be edited and then renamed.  These are the only files you will need to upload on Vidigami and eDesign with the appropriate tags.  Images that you receive from outside sources should be renamed and uploaded onto Vidigrami and eDesign as well.
​
FOLDER NAMING: YYYY_MM_DD Event Description_Photographer Name
EDITED FILE NAMING: YYYY_MM_DD Event Description_Photographer Name_IMG#