Making the Yearbook
Elliott Gazcon is working on editing photos to input into his Winter draft.
Photograph by Estrellita Hernandez.
What Goes into Making the Yearbook?
By Estrellita Hernandez
At the end of the school year yearbooks get distributed to those who bought one offline. Every student who receives a book has a big bright smile with excitement rushing to look through the pages quickly sharing and letting each other know who made it onto the yearbook and on what pages they are on. Even students who did not get the opportunity to buy a book get excited to see and talk about the memories that were captured throughout their school year. There are a lot of mixed emotions from students with being happy excited and even emotional if seniors.
Yearbooks in the Making
A yearbook is filled and decorated with the school year memories. It consists of photos with captions describing what is happening in the photo at the exact moment. High-quality photos must be taken by the yearbook club which are the students, thousands of pictures are taken for each sport or club at Greenfield High. About 47 students are enrolled in the class with it only being one period a day. It takes all 47 students to make the yearbook with working on different pages. When asked, G.H.S. senior Elliott Gazcon told The Bruin’s Eye that he enjoys his first semester of yearbook so far. Elliott goes on explaining how he thinks the class is “fun and creative with always something to do in or out of school” Gazcon goes on explaining on why he chose the class “I wanted a free period where I can move around and learn new things” he says. Gazcon goes on explaining how yearbook is one of the best classes. “Everyone has at least one friend in the class which makes the class better, Mr Turek is a great teacher as well and gets along with all of us”.
Veteran yearbook creator Antonio Pantoja and newcomer Karol Ispache work to complete their drafts before the bell rings. Photograph by Estrellita Hernandez.
The thousands of images that students take are transferred to an app called Lightroom, where most are edited. During the editing process, images get thrown out if blurry or if the lighting is off. Arranging photos in a visually appealing layout is part of the editing process. Every student must work on pages they are assigned to edit on a website called Tree-ring. Usually Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays in class are focused on pages where students can choose to work together or individually. The goal is to be as creative as possible when deciding layout elements such as choosing font colors and background colors. What most go for is making their pages stand out by using Bright colors and sports action images. Many students struggle with fixing the alignment of the page to make it even as possible when putting everything together. When asked, G.H.S. Senior Karol Ispache told The Bruin’s Eye she enjoys working in partners. “I like partners because we help eachother with editing and taking photos when the other person is absent”. Ispache has not taken this class before, says her friends encouraged her to take yearbook class this year. Karol mentions how creative she can get when working with a partner. “I tend to think better and get creative when I work in groups or with a partner”. Building pages is how the yearbook is put together throughout the school year, Mr. Turek, head of the yearbook, and G.H.S. graphic design teacher, assists students during the making of the yearbook journey from beginning to end and is extremely helpful when it comes to shaping any type of assignment. Students gather those pictures by attending school events like sports, classes, state conferences, and many other events funded by students who contribute to the school. All photos are taken by students once they confirm with Mr. Turek and check out a camera before the event. One drive is used to save files and most importantly pictures, it holds almost everything students use daily. Everything gets put into a one drive folder for a secure and safe place, it is easier to access their work and quick as well.
Equipment and Taking Photographs
All types of camera-related equipment are available for the yearbook students to use and check out. Flashes, tripods, batteries, mount rings, lenses, and camera bags are all provided. Students must be careful when using the equipment and return everything the same way it was received. Usually, specific lenses and cameras are recommended by Mr. Turek depending on what the student is photographing and time of the day as well as knowing if the photos are being taken inside or outside. Knowing the difference between the several types of equipment and how they are used is important, it makes photographing much easier and less stressful.
When going to a game or an event there are passes students get, those passes are for entry purposes. Home games are the best opportunities students get to capture images, most cannot attend faraway games and miss out on taking their photos. One of Mr. Turek's main rules are
having camera straps around the student's neck when holding and taking a photo. Many sporting events are held at Greenfield High throughout the school year that students have no issue with attending. And it’s not just sports that needs photo coverage: school dances, school dress up days, rallies, and food fairs are all captured and put into the yearbook.
At most times getting a good photo can be stressful, the photo either comes as to dark or to light. Getting good angels makes a difference in photos and captures mobility. Cameras have settings that help with the quality of the image. All photos are to stay in the Sd card the camera comes with and not be switched out unless told to. Lense caps are put onto the Lense to protect it, not often used only when put away. Before checking out a camera, the camera must be charged and in good condition to use. Students do not get assigned a camera and usually choose whatever is available.
No workdays?
Every week students get assigned to what are called skill builders. Mondays and Tuesdays are all based off on skill builders where Mr. Turek teaches and introduces to his class new and creative ideas. During the rest of the week students work on their pages which are their yearbook drafts, they get Wednesday Thursday and Friday to make any changes. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes for Mr. Turek to explain a new skill builder and gives the remainder of the period to work while he walks around the classroom and helps students who may need help or need suggestions. When asked, G.S.H. senior Antonio Pantoja told The Bruin’s Eye that he does not mind working on skill builders every week. “I think the skill builders keep us actively learning and we get to learn how to use apps we’ve never used before” Pantoja goes on saying “It is a way of training us in computer science as well”. It is his second year of being in Yearbook class he says. “I find the work to be easy and can manage to get my work done in time.”
Drafts are the main and most important assignments in the yearbook class, the assignment that gets every student stressed with being worth 60 percent of grade. If students do not seem to be working on their drafts Mr. Turek encourages and reminds them that it is a big part of their grade. There are no none workdays in the yearbook classroom every day an assignment is waiting to get worked on and improved on as well. It is a busy classroom that does not stop for breaks, especially with new dates coming on the calendar every other month.
If a student seems confused and does not know what to work on, Mr. Turek will simply give that student a job. Everyone in the classroom should be working on something every day with no excuse and not waste any time. Students are limited to time every day and cannot make a waste of it, assignments catch up quickly if left for the last minute. Asking questions is something Mr. Turek greatly encourages for students, so they feel confident and comfortable on their work. Every year is a great year and different students have opportunities to enter their ideas into the next year's yearbook.