Hand students a camera and they’ll show you how they see the world in their own unique way, says Ryerson journalism photography instructor Peter Bregg.
Bregg, an internationally-renowned photojournalist, gave this year’s Introductory Photojournalism – JRN 201 students several assignments designed to encourage creative perspectives on everyday situations and objects while allowing students to demonstrate lighting, shutter speed and aperture techniques learned in class.
“Today’s reality is that everyone who works at a newspaper, who writes, is expected to take pictures once in a while,” he says, explaining why it’s important for journalism graduates to be skilled photographers.
The best photos from the winter 2015 course are featured in a gallery Bregg posted at the end of the term.
“I judge pictures on news value, creativity, quality and skill,” he says. “The gallery is an opportunity for some of the finer pictures to be on display, and that’s a reward for anybody who takes pictures. You don’t take pictures to put them in a drawer.”
This year’s assignments included photographing the new Student Learning Centre as well as capturing a humourous moment. Bregg’s personal favourite photos are of a staircase bannister shot so the lighting offers a glow from behind (Mackenzie Patterson), and a profile shot of a student reading in the SLC in front of a window overlooking the street below (Larissa Kreutzberg).
Katharine is a big fan of M.A.C lipsticks and estimates that she has around 65 different colours from them. Taken March 15, 2015 in Vaughan, ON., for a photo essay.
Photo by Hania Ahmed-JRN201 Ryerson
Silhouette photo of a shark at Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto, Canada on February 4, 2015.
Photo by Chayonika Chandra
Subway passengers watch as a photojournalism student takes a photo for her project in Toronto on February 10th, 2015.
Photo by Chayonika Chandra JRN201 Photojournalism Class
Jonah Stuart sits in his wheelchair as he reads a flyer while basking in the sunshine. He glances up to see he was being photographed. This photo was taken in Toronto, Canada on March 9th, 2015.
Photo by Chayonika Chandra-
Ryerson JRN201 Photojournalism
A homeless woman smokes a cigarette and drinks a warm cup of coffee as multiple blankets surround her to keep her warm.
Photo by Chayonika Chandra
Alyana Ladha lies down on a couch with her hair spread out at Ryerson in Toronto on January 19th to pose for a photojournalism prohject for a classmate.
Photo by Chayonika Chandra
This photo is of Jessica Maxwell of Toronto
on Feb 9, 2015 framing her face with a pair of glasses.
Photo by Mallory Chate
Photo taken of the outside of Ryerson’s new Student Learning Centre in Toronto on March 12, 2015.
Photo by Mallory Chate
Ryerson JRN201 Photojournalism
Jessica Maxwell of Toronto poses on Feb 23, 2015 using a handheld light bulb to illuminate her face for a class portrait assignment.
Photo by Mallory Chate
JRN 201 Ryerson Photojournalism Class
Brian Ferreira showing the latest touch technology at his office in Toronto on Feb. 26, 2015
Photo by Brittany Ferreira
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism Class
Ryerson Student Learning Centre in Toronto on March 13, 2015. Photo is for a photography assignment showcasing the centre.
Photo by Kayla Hoolwerf
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism Class
A cold homeless man begs begs people passing by on Yonge St. for help to get something to eat, on February 6, 2015. Photo by Kayla Hoolwerf
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism Class
Kendal Wilson making a funny face behind a bowl of water this evening, in his bathroom in Toronto for a class assignment.
Photo by Kayla Hoolwerf
Kendal Wilson making fish faces behind a bowl of water this evening, in his bathroom in Toronto for a class assignment. Photo by Kayla Hoolwerf
Ryan McKenna posing at Ryerson University in Toronto, on January 19, 2015, for a class assignment.
Photo by Kayla Hoolwerf
The heel and iconic red sole of the Christian Louboutin shoe frames another shoe a customer had left on the showroom floor at the Holt Renfrew shoe department in Toronto on March 13, 2015. This photo is apart of a series of pictures in a photo essay for a class assignment.
Photo by Alexia Kapralos – JRN 201 Ryerson
Alexia Kapralos poses in this self-portrait, with gum popped on her face, while in her Toronto apartment on Jan. 12, 2015. This photo is for a class assignment.
Photo by Alexia Kapralos
Alexia Kapralos is a guitarist posing for a self-portrait illustrating her love for music, on February 23, 2015 in Toronto. This photo was taken for a class assignment on portraits.
Photo by Alexia Kapralos
Ryerson JRN201 Photojournalism Class
On March 2, 2015, students work and study in Toronto inside Ryerson University’s new building on campus: The Student Learning Centre. This photo was taken for a class exhibit.
Photo by Alexia Kapralos
Ryerson JRN201 Photojournalism
The wedding was held in Milan Banquet Hall in Mississauga, Ontario. Kulsoom Kazmi looked stunning wearing her traditional Hyderabadi jewels. March 22, 2015. Photo by Fatima Kazmi-JRN 201 Ryerson
Jennifer Yoo blowing a handful of snow behind Ryerson Victoria Building in Toronto on February 24, 2015. She is posing for a class assignment.
Photo by Bella Kim
Ryerson JRN201 Photojournalism Class
A canvas lady posing for a photo at The Artist Project held at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto on February 22, 2015. This photo was taken for a class assignment. Photo by Bella Kim – JRN 201 Ryerson
A female student is reading a book on the 5th floor of the Student Learning Centre at Ryerson University Toronto.
Photo Larissa Kreutzberg
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism
The picture shows a woman wearing a helmet, standing with her bike at the demonstration in Downtown Toronto on Internationals Womens Day 2015.
Photo by Larissa Kreutzberg- JRN 201 Ryerson
Ryerson Rams guard C’airah Gabriel-Robinson charges to the basket as Barbara Inrig-Pieterse of the Guelph Gryphons defends on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto. Ryerson won the game 77-71.
Photo by Ryan McKenna
A man stands on a pole, underdressed for the temperature, on Lakeshore in Toronto, on March 7th, 2015
Photo by Leila Netz
Dexter the puppy isnÕt happy about the shampoo bubbles. Photo taken for school purposes on March 25, 2015 in Toronto.
Photo by Sidney O’Reilly-JRN201 Ryerson
A banister lights the way in the stairwell of the Ryerson Student Learning Centre in Toronto on March 13, 2015. Photo is for a photography assignment showcasing the centre.
Photo by Mackenzie Patterson
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism
Ludovica Tronci, student at Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA, outside her student accommodation. Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2015 at International Village, Northeastern University campus, Boston, MA, USA.
Photo by Claudia Romeo Ryerson
JRN201 PhotoJournalism Class
Sarah Remani poses with her tattoo in Ajax, ON on Feb. 28, 2015, for photo class assignment.
Photo by Julianne San Antonio
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism Class
Eight-year-old Elias Joaquin San Antonio blows out his birthday candles on Mar. 24, 2015 in Ajax, Ont.
Photo by Julianne San Antonio – JRN 201 Ryerson
Ryerson University’s new Student Learning Centre, Taken in Toronto, ON, March 12th, 2015.
Photo by Jake Scott
Students take advantage of the sixth floor ‘casual space’ in Ryerson University’s new Student Learning Centre. Taken in Toronto, ON, March 9th, 2015. Contrast increased, levels altered, to create silhouette.
Photo by Jon Solmundson
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism
1st Floor lobby of Ryerson University’s new Student Learning Centre, reflected in a window from the second floor. Taken in Toronto, ON, March 12th, 2015. Levels altered, hues adjusted, to fix whitebalance in combined fluro/daylight environment.
Photo by Jon Solmundson
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism
A worker cleans the windows of Ryerson University’s new Student Learning Centre, along Yonge Street. Taken in Toronto, ON, March 12th, 2015.
Photo by Jon Solmundson
Ryerson JRN 201 Photojournalism
A homeless man huddles under a sleeping bag along Yonge Street, Toronto, to avoid the cold spell.
Photo by Jon Solmundson
An Amish Family celebrates Valentine’s Day viewing the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls from an indoor mall to escape the bitter wind chill on Feb. 14, 2015. This photo was taking for a silhouette photography assignment.
Photo by Wong Zioedy
A little girl smiles at her relatives along the streets of Old Havana, Cuba on Feb. 16, 2015.
Photo by Wong Zioedy – JRN 201 Ryerson
Ryerson University’s womenÕs basketball team edged out a 77-71 win over University of Guelph on Feb. 5, 2015 at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, Toronto. Wong Zioedy Photo. This photo was taken for a sports photography assignment.
Photo by Wong Zioedy
