PW_4_2023

Article

Taking Photographs for Publication: A How – To Guide Neil Hallam , Police World Editor

Resolution / File Size KB and MB relate to individual pieces of electronic data stored. It might help to remember old fashioned newspaper photos, which were printed as lots of dots (more dots = clearer picture). Anything above 2 MB has potential for enlargement. Resolution is also affected by posting to Facebook, WhatsApp, or by some e-mail systems. So, I may ask you to re-send, even if originally taken on a good camera. Grip and Grin That is what the press call this type of photograph. We are sent a huge number of photographs showing exchange of IPA mementoes, or prize presentations. Please try to be more creative. I prefer to receive photographs showing a fun activity and / or scenic locations. If your presentations really are important to your story, please make them in a nice location.

These are an improvement.

This is an excellent photograph to illustrate an article.

• But the Horizontal / Landscape format is rendered very small if it was used on a cover. Subject Matter Please consider what the readers will find interesting. Time spent in the bar, and in dinner time conversations meant a lot to you. But they are much less interesting to someone who was not there. Please show the readers the fascinating places you visited. Grip & Grin: I make no apologies for repeating this advice. Exchange of gifts, against an interior background, does not make for an interesting picture. • Please take pictures of your group enjoying an activity. Even if the event is set inside, in bad weather, look for interesting formats. • Can you pose on some steps; to add depth? • Is there an interesting feature you could include?

• Nicer location. • Use of steps to add depth.

• Crouching for a different perspective. • Balloons in top corner add something different. • Two separated groups add depth. Covers Please change your camera to vertical or portrait format occasionally. We need these photographs both to add variety to the article layout and for potential covers. Magazines almost exclusively use the Portrait (or Vertical) format on the cover. This allows the image to fill most of the cover. On Police World, we put the magazine title in a solid block above the photo, and put teaser text into free space inside the photo. This photograph tells a story • It is an IPA Member, out doing an activity, not sat in a bar or restaurant. • He is clearly enjoying the activity. • There is depth, with the main subject in front and other members behind. • There is space around the subject for cover text.

There are several things wrong with this photograph: • It is BORING! • It could have been taken absolutely anywhere, so does not tell your story. • There is a stray head creeping into the bottom.

POLICE WORLD Vol 68 No.4, 2023

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