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July 17, 1998 At Jesuit High School in Sacramento, we didn’t have a photography class. We didn’t have a newspaper class. But it was the best high school to learn photojournalism that I know of. Four people created the atmosphere of visual exploration and education. First and foremost is Fr. John Quinn, S.J. Fr. Quinn is director of publications and moderator of the school newspaper, The Plank of which I was editor-in-chief. He also has a Master’s of Fine Arts from Brooks Institute of Photography. When I first got involved in the newspaper as a sophomore, it was he who lent me his N90s and 400mm lens to shoot a soccer game, and that kind of generosity is not uncommon with him. His expensive equipment supply has been available to me many times, including wireless remotes and strobe systems. Having a person with a photography background as moderator for the newspaper was also key. Immediately I felt as if the photographs had a place in the newspaper, rather than just filling a space. Too many times English teachers are thrust into the position of a newspaper moderator because they know the word side, but what most school administrators don’t realize is that a newspaper is (or can be) very visual, and it really helps to have someone who is familiar with that aspect. Big photo play, photo pages, and a knowledge of visual journalism will take a hit next year, as Fr. Quinn moves to the next stage of his Jesuit training.
Secondly, English teacher Mr. Ed Trafton also played a role in my education as a visual storyteller. He teaches senior-level American Literature, but much of his class is dedicated to visual communication. We studied American films and other visual art as the new form of American literature. Studying various techniques and methods of telling a story with motion pictures made me more aware of what goes into telling a story with just a single image. Trafton also approached me with an idea about doing a photo story on the spring musical, and it turned out to be a great opportunity for me to makes some very nice images. He gave me total control of the project, and we both were quite pleased with the way it turned out. Dave Bischoff is the chair of the fine arts department at Jesuit and the moderator of the yearbook. Mr. Bischoff, an amateur photographer himself and art history buff, gave me all the funding I needed for the musical project. Film, processing, paper, and total access was given to me. He also organized a display of some of my prints in the main office along with some other artists on campus. Along with Fr. Quinn, Mr. Bschoff kept our black and white darkroom stocked with all the necessary materials. He is also an incredibly nice person, always helpful and gracious.
I have never taken a photo class during the school day, yet I can’t think of a better place to have learned about photojournalism in high school. I have spent many hours after school and on the weekends working very hard on photojournalism, but some of the most valuable time I have spent learning about it I though was learning about something else. I am really going to miss Jesuit High School. July 17, 1998 Joe Jaszewski
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Joseph
Jaszewski
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Contributor
since 1998
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Behind
the Viewfinder - A Year in the Life of Photojournalism |
