By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Stan McKinney, assistant professor of journalism at Campbellsville University, has written his third textbook, “Beginning Photojournalism.”
McKinney's book covers the basics of photojournalism including different types of cameras, lenses, exposure, composition and photojournalism ethics. The book is designed for beginning photojournalism students.
“I had planned to eventually write a book on photojournalism,” McKinney said. “Necessity forced me to write the book a few years earlier than I had anticipated.”
McKinney explained that the book he had used for years in his beginning
photojournalism class was discontinued earlier this year. A search for a replacement text that covered the basics the way he preferred for them to be covered was unsuccessful.
“I began writing the book in March,” McKinney said. “The text was finished in May. By June I had most of the photos selected and the book had been edited for the first time.”
The book's design was completed by McKinney in late July. It was edited again and immediately went to the printer.
The 200-page book contains more than 75 photographs, all taken by McKinney. Most were taken by him while he was editor of the Central Kentucky News-Journal in Campbellsville. They include news, feature and sports photographs, many of which have won awards from the Kentucky Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.
The hard cover book has a dust jacket and is printed on photo quality paper.
“Because it is a photography book and contains many photos, I thought it was important that the quality be as good as possible,” McKinney said.
“I spent quite a bit of time selecting a printer that could produce a high-quality book at the lowest possible cost for students.” he said.
After completing his first book in 2005, McKinney created his own publishing company so he could work directly with printers and keep book prices as low as possible while maintaining high quality. He has also designed and laid out all of his books.
Many of the photos in “Beginning Photojournalism” are used with the permission of the Stan McKinney Central Kentucky News-Journal Digital Image Collection, A.B. Colvin Baptist Collection and Archives, Montgomery Library, Campbellsville University. The collection, a joint effort of the Central Kentucky News-Journal and the Montgomery Library, will eventually contain more than 100,000 images taken by McKinney from
1980 to 2000 while he was editor of the newspaper.
McKinney is also the author of “The World Ends at the County Line: A Guide to Writing Stories People Want and Need to Read” and “Basic Desktop Publishing.”
This summer he also published a book of flower photos, “Glory in the Flower.” All of the photos in the book were also raised in his garden at his home in Campbellsville.
His textbooks are available at the Campbellsville University Barnes & Noble Campus Booksellers. His flower book is available at Blurb.com and may be found on that site by searching for the title in the company's on-line bookstore.
This summer McKinney also launched a Web site that features many of his photographs. The Web site is www.stanmckinneyphotography.com.
McKinney, 55, has taught reporting, photojournalism, desktop publishing,
media ethics and a variety of other classes at Campbellsville University since becoming a full-time professor in 2000. Prior to that he was an adjunct professor.
He has a bachelor of science and a master of science in journalism from Murray State University. He worked for almost 25 years as a reporter, photographer and editor for three different newspapers.
In 2005, McKinney completed a two-year program in digital imaging with the New York Institute of Photography. He has also completed additional post-graduate seminars including one at the noted American Press Institute in Washington, D.C.
McKinney has presented seminars on photojournalism and digital imaging at conventions sponsored by the Kentucky Press Association and the National Newspaper Association.
Over the years, McKinney has won many awards for his photographs from various groups such as the Kentucky Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Kentucky News Photographers Association and the Kentucky State Fair. His photographs, as well as articles, have also appeared in many newspapers, magazines and books.
McKinney is a member of the board of directors of the Kentucky Press Association and has served on the board of directors of the Kentucky News Photographers Association. He is completing his third term as a member of Campbellsville City Council.
Addicted to Ford Mustangs, McKinney is a member of the Tri-County Car Club. He maintains the club's Web site, www.tri-countycarclubonline.com.
He has been in charge of the university's Homecoming car show for the last several years.
A native of Princeton, Ky., McKinney has lived in Campbellsville since 1980. His wife, Joan, is news and publications coordinator at Campbellsville University in the Office of University Communications, and his daughter, Calen, is a reporter for the Central Kentucky News-Journal newspaper in Campbellsville, Ky., and an adjunct instructor in mass communication at Campbellsville University.
He is the son of Norvell McKinney of Princeton and the late Gurtha May Sisk McKinney.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report's 2009 “America's Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.