Every Research, Extension, and Innovation (REI) work always starts with a story. It could be the story of a farmer who adopts a new technology introduced by an extension worker. It could be the story of a community that benefited from a university-based research project. It could be the story of a scientist who successfully overcame challenges in his/her research endeavor. All these stories need to be told. However, words are not enough. Photographs bring these stories to life. They tell us what happened and how it happened. They show us what the research is all about, making us see its significance and applications clearly.

As we move towards digital communication, photography has become more important than ever. It is a powerful tool for capturing images of our activities, events, and actions that make a difference in people’s lives. Images could show us the researcher’s efforts, participants’ excitement, and innovations introduced by an institution. Photographs are valuable knowledge assets that can keep on telling their stories long after the event has occurred.

Therefore, the VSU Knowledge Management Unit (KMU) organized the Basic Photography Training for Website Content Improvement for the R&D Nexus Unit Editors. This training is part of VSU’s effort to invest in human capital by improving the participants’ photography skills to better capture the university’s REI activities for documentation and knowledge dissemination purposes. Also, it is conducted in compliance with the KMU’s Opportunities of Improvement (OFI) during the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) internal audit last year.

The training’s objectives include introducing the participants to the basic concepts of photography, such as composition, lighting, framing, and perspective, among others. Another objective was to make the participants realize that photography is not just about taking pictures; it has a greater meaning and purpose.

The R&D Nexus, VSU’s channel in presenting the university’s REI-related activities and accomplishments needs photographs that will help “tell” the story behind the written article. Therefore, every photo published on the website should have a purpose and should be able to “speak” for the story it represents. Hence, the outputs from this training would be used for this purpose for the website to be more informative and engaging.

Another objective of the training was to instill in the participants that every photo speaks volumes . The participants learned that they could use photographs to capture the story’s most crucial aspects, including the people involved and the activity’s context, to highlight its significance. In other words, they learned that they could use photography to communicate their research, extension, and innovation activities and accomplishments better, thus contributing to the university’s overall knowledge management efforts.

The participants also had a hands-on session on photography. Using proper camera composition and lighting, everyone took pictures to showcase their acquired knowledge and skills relative to photography. The resource person, Engr. Joseph Kenneth Labastida, provided the participants with valuable insights relative to taking photographs, especially those that can be used for the website. In addition, the participants were able to discover the importance of seeing first before clicking. They learned that they have to be observant when taking pictures because even the tiniest detail could affect the photo’s overall appeal.

The participants were also given the opportunity to view each other’s work. The resource person and the facilitators gave comments and suggestions on how the participants could make the most out of their photography work, pointing out their mistakes and areas of improvement. This activity gave the participants a better insight into what they had learned about photography.

Moreover, the participants learned the basic aspects of photo selection and editing. Photo selection is crucial because it ensures that the photos chosen for publication are fit for use. Photo editing, on the other hand, involves making necessary adjustments to the chosen photos to enhance their overall appeal. Photo selection and editing are essential in producing eye-catching and high-quality pictures fit for publication. The participants were able to learn and apply what they had learned about photo selection and editing during the training.

Every captured image is valuable and can become a rich knowledge asset. Photographs, therefore, become critical in supporting the university’s documentation and knowledge management agenda. By investing in the training, KMU is helping the university ensure that all the activities conducted at the institution will always be preserved for future use, including research, teaching, learning, promotion, and other developmental activities.