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Which photo do you use?

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Illino, May 20, 2011.

  1. Illino

    Illino Member

    I don't have direct links to the exact photos, but below are descriptions. The subject matter is a senior qualifying for the state track meet in discus for the first time. He has been extremely close in the past, so this moment was a big deal for him and the coaches. Would you lead with the emotion or the action?

    Photo 1: Individual raising his arms in a V and smiling as his name is called as the winner over the loudspeaker. (Similar to this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1889/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1889R-5191.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1889R-5191&usg=__VPIkK9n9q2EQFx7psLNHJkFIcIw=&h=233&w=350&sz=83&hl=en&start=0&sig2=kX2a5yZg1jE0fnfcTgFnMQ&zoom=1&tbnid=DYo7xjdl3oneoM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=194&ei=EyHXTYLRFYW_gQfJg7BY&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsports%2Bperson%2Bcelebrating%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D583%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=748&vpy=88&dur=3155&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=101&ty=204&sqi=2&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0)

    Photo 2: Individual expressing exertion on his face moments before the discus is released from his hand on a throw. (similar to this: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.china.cn/attachement/jpg/site1021/20080916/000f1f8440b10a399b2f2a.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.chinagate.cn/archives/Paralympic/2008-09/16/content_16463853.htm&usg=__omtcL-tq-NQjqq0twCJ-GZhWm5Y=&h=549&w=400&sz=27&hl=en&start=23&sig2=XZ3ELTHQslVRFbedVBzThg&zoom=1&tbnid=h4WawNE1x1AKIM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=108&ei=tiDXTbLqEqTY0QHD1NCICg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddiscus%2Bthrow%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:eek:fficial%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D583%26tbm%3Disch0%2C515&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=284&sqi=2&page=2&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:23&tx=65&ty=53&biw=1366&bih=583)
     
  2. JJHHI

    JJHHI Member

    Emotion.
     
  3. Illino

    Illino Member

    That's what I'm thinking, but I just wanted some other opinions first.
     
  4. dirtybird

    dirtybird Well-Known Member

    Emotion. You'll have plenty of chances for action shots with all sorts of stories (maybe put it on the inside if there's room). Emotion tells the story, so it should win out.
     
  5. flexmaster33

    flexmaster33 Well-Known Member

    Emotion trumps all
     
  6. JPsT

    JPsT Member

    Add me to the throng. Emotion.
     
  7. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    Count me among the "winner" crowd. Let the readers share in a moment of joy (and tells a story to boot, the context being easily understood) rather than a random moment from a field event among several that, frankly, most people don't care about.

    I won't knock the discus photo, especially if that athlete is *the* story, but all things being equal, readers tend to have more positive reactions to a celebratory image than a grimace/grunt/groan image.
     
  8. expendable

    expendable Well-Known Member

    People will remember the emotion shot.
     
  9. murphyc

    murphyc Well-Known Member

    Emotion. The kid's been close before, plus I'm guessing you have run pics of him in action at some point during the season?
    Also: since he made state, you can get action shots of him at state. Odds are you won't have the emotion shots from state.
     
  10. BillyT

    BillyT Active Member

    I am sure you have decided already, but I think because this is such an emotional moment, you use the emotion photo. I assume you see his face better than in the exertion photo, and it better helps the reader connection with the kid.
     
  11. Den1983

    Den1983 Active Member

    Count me amongst those who would go with photo 1. But I would try damn hard to get the second photo in somewhere, be it as a smaller image or somewhere in the jump.
     
  12. Illino

    Illino Member

    That's what happened, actually.
     
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