Beyond the Lens: CASSayuran hosts technical workshop for photojournalists ahead of CASS Days

 

With CASS Days just around the corner, the CASSayuran Photojournalism team sharpened their skills through an intradepartment technical workshop on Wednesday, February 4, reaffirming the power of authentic visual narratives in an era of instant filters and AI-generated imagery.

Led by Editor-in-Chief Samuel Adrian Guerra and Photojournalism Department Head Aiyeesha Abah, the session refreshed members on pre- and post-production processes while challenging them to look past the “art for art’s sake” mindset and embrace the ethical and narrative responsibilities of the press.

“Think of photojournalism as something that carries a purpose,” Guerra reminded the team, setting the tone for a day focused on intentionality.

The workshop kicked off with a “Duck Race” icebreaker, a gamified question-and-answer activity designed by Abah to foster community within the academic setting. Abah established that even in a professional environment, photojournalists need a space to interact and grow together.

During the session, member Jahnamae Quinga shared her personal philosophy on the craft, describing a style that balances technical perfectionism with a pursuit of raw, candid emotion, particularly through landscape and candid shots that capture “pure emotions.”

Moving from philosophy to practice, Guerra’s technical lecture provided a roadmap for the team to move beyond “point-and-shoot” habits. He urged the photojournalists to view their work as more than just a visual accompaniment to text.

“Don’t think of the photo you’ll take as something that will only supplement the write-up, but rather, think of it as something that will stand alone and people will share,” Guerra noted.

While the Editor-in-Chief also stated that “Auto mode is your best friend” during high-pressure, time-sensitive situations, he urged the photojournalists to prioritize the Rule of Thirds and shooting in RAW format.

He emphasized that RAW files preserve the maximum amount of data, allowing for far greater flexibility during the post-processing phase compared to standard formats. This technical foundation was then put to the test as members explored the venue to capture subjects that stood out, later defending their choices by discussing subject positioning and the specific angles used to convey meaning.

The workshop concluded with a deep dive into the importance of post-production. The team discussed the necessity of editing not to distort reality, but to correct lighting and color to better reflect the atmosphere of the scene.

Techniques such as masking and the efficient use of presets were highlighted as essential skills for the modern journalist working under tight deadlines. By the end of the day, the message was clear: a great photojournalist does not just take a picture; they build a window into the truth.



Written by Raneshka Angela Gudes
Proofread by Andrea Ross Sedero
Photos by Charlize Carvajal