Ruma Saha, Author at Adamas University

Make your passion a profession: Detailed guidelines of scope in the field of photography

Super-cyclone “Amphan” has hit districts of West Bengal with the center of devastation in Kolkata. This news gets more validity with a single photograph of destruction. Photography is a passion of many students aspiring to join the professional world. In this digital era, though citizen journalist has flourished yet, professional photojournalists are much in demand. In this segment, the Pulitzer Award is also given. Photography has various scopes in respect to the profession.

The digitalization of camera technology has created a diverse scope in the field of photography. With different types of cameras available to suit the different purposes of taking photographs, the field of photography has flourished many folds. Let us explore various career options available for photographers in this digital age.

Photojournalism and their scopes

Photography is the most preferred section in any print and online media. The popularity of photojournalists remains there for centuries. Camera technology has evolved many folds, and digitalization has made it user friendly in many ways. Nowadays, journalists need not carry a camera but a smartphone with good camera capacity to capture any spot photography. If any newspaper house or digital publication cannot afford to have photojournalists, they prefer to buy the copyrighted image from agencies like shutter stock, PTI. Any freelance photojournalist can engage in a contract with these agencies which stock photographs and buy the copyright from them.

i) Sports photography

Photojournalism is sub-divided into several categories like sports photojournalism, spot-news photojournalism, event, or lifestyle photographers. Sports photojournalists are high in demand in a news agency, newspaper, online photo stock agency. The sports market is increasing in India and the world, which means more events to take place in short frequency, which requires efficient sports photojournalists to cover the event. It’s not only cricket, but other outdoor sports are gaining popularity in India. In the near future, there is likely to have more scope in this field.

ii) Spot news photography

Spot news photography can be done by photojournalists working for a news organization as well as by citizen journalists. It is an instant photo taken on the spot of the event by the photographer. If it is an accident, then the photojournalist covers it on the spot reaching the spot, and if it is the inaccessible area, then the media houses depend on agency photojournalist or photograph send by citizen journalists. But there is a process of verification of the veracity of such pictures taken from citizen journalists.

iii) Event photography

Event photography is about capturing people and their connections. Corporate event photography is a trendy and highly paid option. Apart from this event, photographers do cover various events like Trade shows, concert, stage and theatre show, business Christmas party, charity event, new product launch, appreciation events, wedding, birthday, festivals, etc. iv) Documentary photography

It is creating photography of accurate real-life of the subject. Just like any photojournalist documentary photographer wants to unfold the real story about the issue. Documentary photography is real life reportage and is different from street photography and abstract photography.

Fashion photography

Fashion photography is the way of showing apparel, accessories more eye-catching to the viewers or customers. The purpose is to entice them towards products. Fashion photographers work behind the lens to capture photographs and use post-production high-end software to produce an enticing image of the product with models. It is also key to a successful portfolio of models. Fashion photography infuses life in any static product photoshoot. There are various types and styles in the genre of Fashion photography, like high fashion, catalogue and editorial, and street fashion photography.

i) Street Fashion Photography

Street Fashion photography is a new type which aimed at showing simplicity and is connected to commoners. Editorial and high fashion photography types are very similar in style.

ii) Editorial Fashion photography

Editorial fashion photography appears in fashion magazines, both online and print edition, posters, books, etc. During the photoshoot, the model is given the idea and the story to be enacted during the photo shoot. These photographs are done with a plain background or white background.

iii) High Fashion Photography

High fashion photography often big brand or designers prefers to go to an exotic location for a photo shoot with a model wearing their brand of clothing or accessories. The designer uses a model to showcase their creativity to the client. This is purely glamour, fashion photography away from reality.

iv)Catalogue Photography

In catalogue photography, the model is showcased with a specific background to compliment the product that she is wearing to flaunt and is featured in print media as a catalogue of products of the brand. Photoshoot for this kind of photography is done in the studio. This type of photography is common in portfolio photography of models by professional photographers.

v) Alternate Fashion Photography

Alternate fashion photography is a genre where independent photographers and models who still love trends and styles of retro 80s and 90s can get the spotlight. This type is the mixing of past trends with present trends to create new trends of fashion.

Advertising/ Product photography

It is often seen that value of the product and its trustworthiness perceived through the visual representation. It means that a high-quality photograph can create a longer impression. If any small business owner cannot afford high-end professional photographers, then they can simply turn to use DIY (do-it-yourself) product photography as an alternative. For that, one needs to learn this technique from professional courses available. With simple techniques like window light and some accessories, one can create a professional set-up for DIY product photography as well as post-production editing can be done. Product photographers are high in demand and can run as an individual establishment for doing this type of photography. As the digital surge of e-commerce has increased so more and more small business owner is coming online with their product, so they require to set product photography of their stock in website or e-commerce site.

Wedding photography

Wedding photography is the most popular genre of photography. One can set individual businesses with knowledge of taking portrait photography. It is also a part of event photography where one needs to study the event set up before the event to position themselves while the case is on to take the best photograph of people in action and connection.

Scientific / Specialty photography

Scientific photography is taking images for the record of scientific or medical data. Scientific photographers usually use thermal rays, ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays to capture images. The photographers need to know biology, chemistry, engineering, or medicine. They often work with a scientific research team in universities, government organizations, or any research organization/ facilities.

Stock photography

Like many other services and product stock photos also comes at a different level of quality. Most photo stock agency suppliers provide proper resolution and commercially valuable images for professional usage. Still, there is a demand for an above-average photo with high-quality resolution. This is categorized as premium stock photography. All big agencies who offer premium stock photo category provide curated content which is legally clean. Stock photographers work on shooting stocks instead of working on any given assignment. With the proliferation of online consumerism and marketing, the stock photo business has become a million-dollar business at present. Also, it has been a competitive market. Stock photographers are paid in terms of residual income, i.e., royalties, and sometimes copyright of the photo is purchased by the company.

Travel Photography

A career in travel photography is as varied as the destination. The photographers can have freedom in designing their path. They can start as an independent photographer and then sell their works to stock agencies and host workshops in cities and towns wherever they travel. There are opportunities like getting your travel sponsored by the tourism industry and selling your photo rights to a particular travel agency. Even one can have travel photographs for an online magazine as well as a website. Travel photographers can focus on portrait photography, wildlife photography, street photography, architectural photography, nature photography, macro photography to get the best view to capture.

Source:

https://orlandosydney.com/event-photography/

https://www.creativelive.com/blog/documentary-photography/ https://fashionphotographersmumbai.com/blog/2019/06/07/types-fashion-photography/

https://study.com/articles/Scientific_Photography_Career_Summary_and_Job_Description_of_a_Scientific_Photographer.html

https://www.stockphotosecrets.com/buyers-guide/top-5-premium-stock-photos-agencies.html

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/339819

https://fstoppers.com/business/heres-what-it-takes-become-professional-travel-photographer-72114

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photojournalist.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Photojournalist_with_Tibaten_Girl_-%601.jpg

https://adamasuniversity.ac.in/the-ultimate-guide-to-career-prospect-in-entertainment-media-studies/?fbclid=IwAR0y1y6It-GZtQUNALvn6HVhJtT0s39bu1FyPkM2dV_k7h6q1pVm6fIesh8

The Ultimate Guide To Career Prospect In Entertainment Media Studies

World of entertainment is ever-changing with technological innovation. It is likely to see new career avenues opening up with ushering of the new digital era. So, it is essential to know the market and also the carrier opportunities available in this market.

Computing to be 64 times faster after ten years: AI is the ultimate solution

Entertainment Media can be called an exclusive part of mass media studies. It specializes not only in film making, cinematography, video editing, but also in Immersive media technologies, which have introduced a new era in the entertainment industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are such technological innovation which has made entertainment media more immersive in real sense. Experience enrichment is the ultimate purpose of the utilization of this technology in entertainment content.

Reality Check:

Now to any students, the obvious question that hits their mind is, where is the job market for this industry? Let me tell you the job market is vast and is ever-increasing in the coming years, even if the world economy is affected by the corona crisis. The post-Covid pandemic world will be more open to the digital sphere, and therefore, jobs will change their nature. More online media-oriented jobs are to rule the market than offline jobs. Over-the-top (OTT) services, for example, Netflix, youtube, Amazon Prime, Hoichoi, Hotstar, are expanding their service market in India. In one recent report of KPMG on India Analysis 2019, they have mentioned that the digital industry has a growth rate of 43% in FY19 (the financial year 2019). It means more jobs are to generate in this market.

Post Pandemic Trends of Entertainment Media:

i) OTT

With this new development in the digital sphere turning up movie viewing experience is also changing. The movie viewing experience has varied from 4hours long feature film to small originals produced in OTT platforms. People like this new original content of the OTT service platform, which they can consume at their flexible time. It becomes their regular day to day habit. Moreover, the cost of production of a short film is far less than full-length feature films. Many upcoming directors are getting the ready stage to showcase their talent. Original creative content often bought by giant banners OTT service providers.

ii) Future of Cinema: Consumer demands meeting technological innovation

Change in cinema viewing experience means creative video technology innovation. Virtual Reality (VR) and 360-degree production are becoming popular, and its effect is at

the production level of film making in respect to set designing and post-production.

VR requires a different type of camera (small form factors camera) that can capture high-quality images. It should have the ability to shoot in a production-ready format with a low rate of compression. In the post-production stage, VR requires independent workflow, which allows smoother footage. HDR (high dynamic range) is a technology to improve quality related to color. It creates a good contrast ratio and brightness. This technology is highly demanding in on-set production. Technological innovation has created a system which requires different peoples working in a different system for the same project done at the same time is essential.

In future affordable technology will encourage more and more filmmakers opting for it. Affordability is for both audience and filmmakers. To date, it is evident that high budget films only opting for this high-end technology due to the cost factor. Technology is slowly getting democratized, which encouraged more and more filmmakers to embrace this for film making. In the future, with more affordable technological access, filmmakers can create better content meant for all types of devices. The audience wants to enjoy the same quality of experience from theatre to tab to iPhone in viewing movies.

Post-COVID, the cinema viewing pattern of the audience, will change with more shifting to online viewing of the film. Some movies which are supposed to get released in big theatre are now getting released in OTT platform like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. during the pandemic time. So it can be seen a new normal started growing new opportunities springing up from it.

iii) The convergence of Linear TV with internet video: Third big shift

The first shift was terrestrial to satellite, the second shift was analog to digital, and the third shift is from linear viewing to internet video. TV viewing not restricted to a TV screen anyone can view the TV from any device provided it has internet. Gone are the days when you switch on the TV set to view the TV at a particular time and place. Modern-day TV viewing possible even when you are traveling. This shift in television viewing over the internet has urged the television industry to change the delivery of TV content and advertisement.

Streaming television: It is the digital distribution of television content like TV shows through streaming media using the internet. New streaming TV and online video viewing have increased with the emergence of Youtube, Netflix.

Live TV: Live streaming of television programs such as Live news, live sports.

On-Demand TV: Television program webcast or streamed on request of viewers.

A creative agency will likely work for creating successful video content for a multi-channel network produced by distributors and programmers. Thereby delivering over the multi-channel network will blur the line between traditional linear TV format and internet video.

iv) The convergence of linear radio to streaming radio

Radio broadcasting has to face stiff completion from big companies like Google, Spotify, Apple music. There is a ‘generation tear-off’ happening for radio audiences who are aging, and the younger customer segment is losing importance. The new generation is more interested in new media for receiving that service. Another typical application for radio is in the car.

A new wave of development has touched radio broadcasting service too. Radio broadcasters have used the internet in two ways: firstly, in internal production, workflow purpose, secondly, as a distribution platform. Streaming is an access technology used to broadcast radio through different digital devices as well as networks. At present, radio is available in digital format as well as analog format that cater to the audience’s need to media routine.

The convergence results in synergies of media, telecommunication, and computing, thereby creating a new one by adding value to the existing one. The intersection of radio broadcasting technology with streaming medium creates a new digital sphere where content reconceptualizes for every device.

Establishing ‘New Normal’ through social media usage

Therefore with the increasing accessibility of the internet, the total active user of social media was 330 million in 2019 and is likely to increase to 448 million by 2023. ASSOCHAM has noted in its’ report that social media platform like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram has changed the medium consumption habit of the younger generation. The print media is also evolving to digital storytelling to get immediate emotion of viewers. Facebook live, newsrooms are getting more popular among newsmakers too. During the time of Covid-19, pandemic people are more dependent on social media. Social media is used by most of the media outlet to nudge people for it. In this period, people have developed a regular habit of consuming social media, so every company is trying to use it to reach its’ audience. It is more likely that the audience or users will become more ardent consumers of social media in the post-pandemic period. They will develop social media as their primary media consumption habit. Therefore establishes a new normal situation in the post-pandemic phase and media industry like any other industry is also adapting to this change.

Career Opportunity:

Keeping in mind the changes in the media market, a new set of courses is required for the students of media studies discipline to become future-ready for the media industry. There are few universities in India which have designed syllabus to tailor fit in industry necessity. Adamas University, Kolkata, is such a pioneer university that provides a master’s degree (M.A.) in entertainment media. The eligibility is any graduate, and aimed at making graduating students of any discipline (who wants to join the media industry) future-ready for the media market.

Now, these are the market thought of new entertainment media sectors. Following are the list of some interesting new career opportunity in the field of entertainment media:

Director (Film & TV Careers), Director of Photography (Film & TV Careers), Cinematographer (Film & TV Careers), Art Department Coordinator (Film & TV Careers), Art Director (Film & TV Careers), Assistant Art Director (Film & TV Careers), Assistant Dialogue Editor (Film & TV Careers), Assistant Script Supervisor (Film & TV Careers), Business Manager (Film & TV Careers), Consumer Researcher (Film & TV Careers), Copyist (Film & TV Careers), Copywriter (Film & TV Careers), Executive Producer (TV) (Film & TV Careers), Film Archivist (Film & TV Careers)

Director of Publicity (Music Careers), Assistant Studio Manager (Music Careers),

Box Office Manager (Live Event Careers), Jingle Writer (Music Careers), Director (Live Event Careers), Radio Jockey (Radio careers), Executive producer (Radio careers), Station Head (Radio Careers).

[Author’s Bio- Ms. Ruma Saha is an Assistant Professor in the department of Journalism and Mass Communication under School of Media, Communication and Fashion at Adamas University, Kolkata. Previously she used to teach in college. She has been into journalism teaching for more than five years.]

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