SCHOOLMAG COMPETITION:TAKING fresh photographs, carefully chosen to complement your Schoolmag articles, will make a big difference to your mag.

Frank Miller, photo editor of The Irish Times, gives the following advice to news and features photographers:

“A good news photo should make an impact and tell a story. The key is to get in tight on your subject, fill the frame with the important face, person, scene or object and don’t have a lot of extraneous material in the picture.

“Try to avoid using flash if you can – if the light is good enough. Don’t be afraid to try lots of different angles and shapes. Digital photography gives you that freedom.”

The same broad rules apply when taking a photo for a

feature article, but Miller suggests finding an extra dimension with the photo that adds to the story that the feature is trying to tell.

“Using the right background for your subject can help to support the story and give the reader more information or a different perspective,” he says.

If you have a handy photographer around, use their talents. Give them plenty of guidance on what you need for your stories, but also give them the freedom to take great shots on any subject. Pictures can often be stories by themselves, as many Irish Timesfront page shots have shown.

Next week: The front cover