Seemingly Simple: Spring Photojournalism

Artist Damian Scott sits on the sidewalk in front of Starbucks, downtown Corvallis with a set of jewelry supplies he procured that day for $10. Scott frequently appears in viral TikToks as he travels the USA with his keyboard and the clothes on his back. Though he does not recommend it, he has spent years traveling the country via hitchhiking. For the past 1 1/2 years, he has been settled in Corvallis with plans to soon open his own stand in the local farmers market. Videos of Scott playing his keyboard can be found on his personal channel "The Keyboard Kid Live in Action Music", on YouTube. Photo by Carlos Torres.

When you think of photojournalism, it can be easy to jump on the ‘oh, I can do that easily,’ train. But things are rarely as easy as they may seem, especially when it comes to capturing stories within a single photograph or face. 

One must take into account the angle, the lighting, the natural placement, the environmental sensation; And if you’re fortunate enough, hitting that magical time-stopping button at the right moment can capture a well of emotion within the eyes and face of the subject at hand. 

Journalism professor Rob Priewe rarely seems to fail at teaching his students the art and science behind photojournalism, and it, versus photography, are entirely different wild beasts. 

Priewe is like the parents many of us have had; we think we’re right, and then soon learn that in fact our parents were right all along. His resume drips with experience, like pollen accumulating in a flower waiting for a little bee to come to collect its message of hard work. 

Though he does not boast about his heap of experience, and somehow manages to remove the pressure’s we all face in education. Much like the parents many have not had, he has mastered the balance of persistence and freedom in teaching his students. 

Throughout his photojournalism classes, his students only grow; There is no regression.

Past student of Priewe and LBCC, Chrizma Hosler still remembers “overall, medium, and close up shots. It’s drilled into my head. I loved Rob!” Hosler said. 

As the term comes to a close, these students continue to learn to find and capture the complex stories hidden within the seemingly simple days of our lives.

%d bloggers like this: