LEARNIN'

I spent part of the day at university: NewsU.

NewsU is a Poynter initiative to offer on-line training for journalists. A smallish number of courses are so far available, some to anyone interested, others for participants in special training courses offered through Poynter or various partners.

I took the Language of the Image course, which is described this way:

Everyone in the newsroom should be able to speak the language of the image! Learn how to discuss the elements that make a photograph a good story-telling image. Begin to use the visual language in order to better communicate with your colleagues, be they photographers, reporters, or editors.

It took about an hour to work my way through the various sections, which provided a lot of information in short takes, with all points and terms amply illustrated by some great photojournalism. I had the chance to test my understanding at the end (the program didn't keep score, but I hardly aced the thing. Scraped through, perhaps).

The course was a great refresher in the elements that go into great photography. I know most of you are hardly in the mood (yet) for study, but you might want to check it out.

10:41:04 PM