What makes a good editorial photo?

Karimala · #1 (**permalink**) 01-07-2007, 04:35 PM

It took a couple of tries, but these images from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's inauguration were finally accepted at SS. They were originally rejected on technicalities...focal point, purple fringing, and limited commercial value respectively.

So what makes a good editorial image? It's not technical perfection, that's for sure! These images are far from perfect. All were shot at 1600 ISO without a flash and with a less than ideal aperature setting (4.5 on the color guard, and 5.6 on the other two). They had a ton of noise and are somewhat soft. Nevertheless, these are all sound editorial images.

It's the historical and newsworthy significance that makes a good editorial image. When I asked for a re-evaluation based on those merits instead of technical merits (and admitting to recongizing the flaws), they were all accepted. A news photo editor interested in a shot of a political gathering or inauguration or the governor and his wife isn't going to care if there is a slight imperfection. They are interested in the event and the people above all. They also recognize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime event that cannot be reshot in order to acheive technical perfection.

What do you think makes a good editorial image?

AB8ND · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2007, 11:05 AM

Hi all - newbie here.

I agree that content is much more important than technical perfection in an editoral photo, that is probably why PJ's used to say "f/8 and be there on time, just get the shot". That said, it is amazing how technically good their shots are though.

Jack

thesupe87 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2007, 04:17 PM

That's shocking to me. How RARE is an Arnold Schwartzenager photo on a micropayment website!? EXTREMELY. How dumb are these people? Have they seen how these images look in publications in the grocery store? CRAPPY. I think they should sacrifice their quality standards a little bit for the RARE, once in a lifetime images...it's not like you can call him up and ask him to re-shoot it.

Karimala · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2007, 05:01 PM

Yeh...I had a little face-to-face chat with setho from SS yesterday about odd rejections and firming up their policies when we were at the Macworld Expo. Think I scared him a little, poor guy...LOL

mswebb · #5 (**permalink**) 02-14-2007, 04:19 AM

You could try these at Citizen Image. They have a news/publishing bent with lots of candids and events. They even post requests for specific event coverage or publisher requirements.

Good luck.