Assignment One (Due Nov. 3, 2025)

AssignmeNt #1

Free Online Photojournalism Course

Due: November 3, 2025

HALLOWEEN! (Or Dia de los Muertos if you prefer)

Post ONE photo our Google classroom with a two sentence caption, following guardrails for caption writing. Caption writing may amount to 50% of your score on this assignment. If you want full credit for the caption writing we need names of people unless it is a group larger than five. We need location and date.

To access the classroom platform for assignments, you’ll need to enroll in the free online photojournalism course. Just sign up for my mailing list for new assignments and course updates.

READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE BEFORE SUBMITTING . THIS IS PART OF THIS ASSIGNMENT!

If the “grade” is below a top level score, it will not get a score and instead, I’ll identify areas for improvement. Most participants will not receive grades and we will keep this fun but educational.

If you miss the deadline, too bad.

Your photo must be made between Oct. 22-Nov. 1, 2025.

Your assignment is for a front page, above the fold, lead feature image. That means you’ve got one photo to tell a story.

Part of being a photojournalist is about finding visually interesting stories. Halloween is one of the easiest times of the year to find things to photograph.

We’re not looking for a photo of Halloween decorations, we’re looking for a photo of the homeowner putting up their Halloween decorations. We’re not looking for a photo of candy, we’re looking for a photo of trick-or-treaters or homeowners passing out candy.

And we’re definitely NOT looking for a photo of a group of people who have paused and posed for the photographer.

There’s many public events where folks are conditioned to photographers being around. Use this to your advantage, but talk to someone and get their story. It doesnt have to be their life story. Ask them anything appropriate for casual conversation relating to the holiday.Talking to people is how you make folks at ease. Let them know about this assignment. One of the biggest challenges for documentary photographers is explaining why they are making photos.

Be honest.

Bonus points go to anyone who gets a quote from someone in the photo. Use this basic formula:

Sentence 1: SUBJECT, VERB, LOCATION, DATE.

Sentence 2: CONTEXT.

BONUS Sentence 3: QUOTE.

To access the classroom platform for assignments, you’ll need to enroll in the free online photojournalism course. Just sign up for my mailing list for new assignments and course updates.

Here are some resources for this assignment:

Video: EASY CAPTION WRITING FOR PHOTOJOURNALISTS

From the Associated Press: Feature photography: The elevation of the everyday

Random Inspiration Time’s Best Photojournalism of 2022