Photojournalism
- 1. Photojournalism What is photojournalism? Photojournalism started to take shape when photographers could easily transport cameras into war zones. For the first time, ordinary citizens could see the impact of the fighting right there in their newspaper. It was a pivotal moment in photography and it became more and more real between the Civil War and World War II. Yet photojournalism is not just about war or photographers working the beat for a local newspaper. It's much more than that. Photojournalism tells a story and it often does so in a single photograph. Think of the Depression Era photos of Dorothea Lange or those famous photos of Mickey Mantle hitting home runs. They evoke a feeling, whether its astonishment, empathy, sadness, or joy. The Story in a Single Shot Put simply, photojournalism is about capturing verbs. This doesn't mean simply taking an action photo. Communicating the verb is much more than that. Stories are captured in slices while photojournalism strives to convey what is happening in one shot. Although it is great when it happens, photojournalism isn't about the best composition, or the best technical details, or a pretty subject. Photojournalism is about showing the world a story of something that really happened. "Bearing witness" is a phrase that comes to mind in regards to photojournalism. Photojournalism allows the world to see through the eyes of the photographer for just a moment. When photojournalism is done right, that one moment conveys volumes of time. Conveying the full story is part of environmental portraiture where the setting tells us as much about the subject as the subject themselves. The emotion is often raw in photojournalism. The photographer is not directing the scene as a portrait or commercial photographer would. Instead, the best of them blend into the background and become a shadow figure (unlike the paparazzi). They are there to observe and capture, not become the story or interrupt it. It is this attitude, the "I am a mere observer" approach that allows the journalist's subjects to not react to the camera, but to be themselves. The photojournalist has a different attitude than other photographers and it's necessary to capture those memorable photos. Quite often, that single photo can become a call to action for the millions of people who see it.
- 2. Ethics in Photojournalism Another vitally important part of photojournalism is accuracy. This means that what is in the frame is what happened. The photojournalist is ethically bound not to change the story (though many fall short of this ideal). Power lines should not be cloned out. More smoke must not be added to a fire scene. What was captured is how it should be. Sadly, the era of digital photography has made it easier than ever to manipulate reality. The image should be a window into the event. At most, lighten the shadows, a touch to see faces or sharpen the image a bit for clarity but do not change the essence of what you capture in the photo. If you do, you change the story. Photojournalist A photojournalist is a visual storyteller that communicates events in a way that no other media can. Whether you're a journalist, blogger, marketer, or photo enthusiast, discover how to document interesting people, places, trends, and events through photography. A photographer is someone who is skilled at taking pictures or photographs with a camera. An amateur photographer takes pictures for their own use. A professional photographer takes pictures as all or part of their job. Many people hire a photographer for their wedding or other special events. What is the difference between a photographer and a photojournalist? All photojournalist are photographers but not all photographers are photojournalist. Photojournalist capture moments in time like war, Photographers photographer what they please, in their own artistic way, whether its weddings, nature, wildlife, portraits, etc. Photographers and photojournalist both are same. They use the same photo editing tools to capture images and edit images. But one difference is that photo journalist capture images and edit images for news agencies and submit to them , whereas photographers capture images of different events such as wedding, parties, natural photography, family photography etc., and earn money. Role of photojournalist The primary role of the photojournalist is to be a visual storyteller. By photographing, editing, and presenting images, they tell a story in a way that no other media can. Some photojournalists will work for a local publication, while others will travel nationally or abroad, sometimes putting themselves in constantly changing or even dangerous situations. The subject matter can vary greatly, from local civic issues, national political races to social unrest in a foreign country. Many photojournalists are freelance photographers and sell their photos to various
- 3. organizations around the world. The photographs serve the purpose of enhancing the story for the reader or viewer. Photojournalists must be knowledgeable about the tools of the trade. They need to be able to use digital as well as print photography equipment, editing tools, and publication software. Because more than half of all photojournalists are self-employed, there is often no photo editor in the middle of the process. Therefore, a photojournalist must be able to set up the photo for top quality, edit it without changing the actual photograph or content, and upload it to the Internet for publication. Familiar with lighting, setting up for best exposure, and picture quality is critical for professional level photos. Timing is everything for a photojournalist, and they must have an eye for set up and the reflexes to grab that split-second opportunity. Photojournalist Job Duties The photojournalist is above all a story teller. Within that job description, the following duties can be expected: Take photographs or film video segments Process and print negatives or film Capture images in an authentic and ethical manner Write copy, captions or headlines to accompany photos Use image-editing software such as Photoshop to edit images Prepare audio to accompany video segments Pitch ideas and photographs to editorial staff Travel to photo shoot locations Edit photographs or video for publication specific to Interne The career of press photographer has immensescopeeven though the competition is high. Services by photojournalistare in demand in the newspaper industry, book publishing, magazines and the web. Job Description Press photographers areresponsiblefor capturing images to document and supportcurrenthappenings, news and convey messages for being published in newspapers, magazines, or web-based publications. As a freelance photographer you can proveyour clout and use your business skills to sell your work to publication houses and news agencies. Picture libraries also enable such photographers to providepictures to the library archives which act as image galleries for magazine and paper agencies. When you land up as a freelance photographer for a press agency you require working in unison with journalists and editors to arriveat a common consensus as to the story. Other tasks include
- 4. taking digital snaps and preparing them for newspaper publications within stipulated deadline, looking into administrativerequirements, getting reference of other freelance photographers for a job and the likes. You might haveto check into particular arrangements like lighting for studio photo shoots, elucidating technical photographic facts in non-technical way to non-photographers, researching on currentevents and relevant data and similar other things. Pros and cons of being a photojournalist There are many advantages of being a photojournalist but there are also disadvantages. Some disadvantages include traveling a lot and being all alone, and not having experience in any other career. Some advantages of being a photojournalist include get to see new places, connect with new people and get to try new situations all the time. In 2010 there were 136,000 people who worked in this position. There are 5,900 job openings expected in the future. A photojournalist tells a story through pictures and needs to be technologically proficient in digital media, including video and sound, as well as the Internet and social media outlets. Read the pros and cons of a photojournalist career to see if it's the right fit for you. Pros of a Photojournalist Career Could work from anywhere because newsworthy things happen around the world* This is a career field that inspires creativity** The advancement of digital technology is making it easier to become skilled as a photographer** As a photographer, you can choose to work on a freelance basis** Cons of a Photojournalist Career 36% job decline for news photographers expected from 2012-2022 as a result of a decline in the newspaper industry** Experience working with other forms of multimedia besides just still photography is becoming more necessary* May work early mornings, late nights and weekends** Expect out-of-pocket costs every 6-12 months to keep up with quickly advancing camera technology*
- 5. Five ways a photojournalist accomplishes storytelling Research- 5 W’s and H Photo assignment slips - talk with writer/editor and those involved Be Prepared- Equipment - how much, which pieces (lenses, light, card size, etc.) People Person- Make subjects feel comfortable Spend at least 15 minutes with subject Be seen with camera Be comfortable talking to new people Assertive - Get close to subjects. Gather CaptionInfo- 5W’s and H Carry notebook Purpose of photojournalism His purpose of journalism is to inform the public about the world around them. This can be done through many mediums, but nothing quite compares to a photograph that can take a moment in time and convey a message and inform the reader. Images like the photo taken by Malcolm W. Brown of a Buddhist monk using self-immolation to protest persecution by the South Vietnamese government in 1963 convey more emotion and a more clear idea of the subject than any other form of journalism. Because of what photojournalism provides for the viewer, photojournalism is a service to the public. Even though photojournalism may have many controversies and a poor job outlook, it is an important and powerful career that is worth studying. To “sell” Photos are the most viewed part of a publication and help readers connect visually to information. Provide Impact A picture really is worth a thousand words Photos help convey emotion Serve -“watchdog” role of journalism Photojournalism helps readers know about atrocities Keeps big business/government in check View of the World - Photojournalism provides the average person with a view of the world. It takes them places they cannot go or do not have access to. History- Photojournalism provides a historical record of places, people and events. Examples: opening of a new school, presidential elections, etc. Photograph From Greek: Photo = light, Graph = to draw Photography = to draw with light Photograph- Light drawing or light writing was not discovered at once or by a single person. People had always looked for a way to get pictures without the long and tedious work of an artist.
- 6. Goal of Photojournalism Selecting story telling photographs that can convey the fullest, most accurate sense of the situation photographed. Engage the heart and mind of a viewer with a compelling version of truth that results from bearing witness or a situation or event. “My goal is always to create high-impact, evocative images which not only inform, but also spark the desire to become involved… images that cause reflection upon and empathy with another human being’s struggle, all the while, respecting the dignity of those who appear in the photos. When successful, my imagery reveals a common humanity, allowing viewers to see a bit of themselves in other human beings, half a world away. Beyond just providing information… the images should motivate viewers to take action”. I read these words in Karl Grobl’s blog, who has been working as a photojournalist for NGO in many different countries all over the world. I like his words and his attitude towards photojournalism, not only provide information, but also motivate viewers to take action. Visual journalism Visual journalism is the combination of text, images and layout. The visual appearance of the paper is created with photographs, illustrations, comics, maps and other graphical solutions. Visual journalism is thus a wider concept than photojournalism. Typography, graphic design, photojournalism, movies and the development of television and information technology have all had an influence on the development and trends of visual journalism. In one sense data journalism is visual journalism when tables, maps and graphics are used to portray it. Multimedia means the combining of images, videos, text and other digital content, especially on web platforms. Visual journalism is a wider concept than photo journalism. Modern online newspapers and magazines have the technical conditions to employ multimodality in journalism. Good examples of pioneers in this field include the British newspaper the Guardian, and the US- based newspaper The New York Times. These papers have experimented with the use of text, pictures, videos and infographics in a same article offering a multimedia experience that goes beyond the possibilities of any traditional media channels. The trend of the digital age is that articles become shorter and images become larger. Also high-quality papers are nowadays highly visual. In addition to digitalization, this is explained by the popularity of television and the personification of politics and journalism.
- 7. HOW DOES PHOTOJOURNALISM AFFECT THE WORLD? Full of wisdom, happiness, sorrow and with an unforeseeable future, the world we live in makes for a terrifying place. And what better way to narrate a story than through a picture? With the help of a little exposure and the perfect timing, a picture can recreate a story. Having said that, a picture might not reveal the entire story. Smaller, lighter and more powerful cameras and equipment have made the job of photojournalists easier. However, it has also made their responsibility more difficult. With the development of digital cameras, thousands of images can be captured and then stored on a single memory card. Images can be captured, scanned and sent to their respective publications or news companies within minutes or even seconds of being taken. This is a big leap from 15 years ago and more where publications need to wait at least 30 minutes before receiving the images. The availability of such technologies to the average consumer has given each one the ability to become a photojournalist. How Photojournalism Has Made an Impact Citizen journalism has become more popular with the development and availability of more powerful cameras and equipment. This makes each individual who owns a camera or camera phone aware of their own surroundings, capturing the moment and publishing them online. Photographs are a testament to what has happened in the past and present, capable of making people aware of events and situations which are happening in other places. Photojournalists’ document events, helping communities connect with one another. Even years after the event is over, people will remember the event and the emotions involved with just seeing a single photograph.
- 8. This image was taken about one month after the earthquake in Pakistan. People were still coming down from the mountains trying to find shelter and were suffering from trauma. Winter was on the way and the need for shelter was urgent. This father with his child had been collecting food. I spent ten days in Balakot documenting the situation after the quake. People were still digging for their family members. Child labor is not a new issue in Bangladesh as children here remain one of the most vulnerable groups living under threats of hunger, illiteracy, displacement, exploitation, trafficking, physical and mental abuse. Although the issue of child labor has always been discussed, there is hardly any remarkable progress even in terms of mitigation. 17.5 percent of children aged 5-15 are engaged in economic activities. Many of these children are engaged in various hazardous occupations in factories
- 9. The Afghan girl, picture shot by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry. Sharbat Gula was one of the students in an informal school within the refugee camp; McCurry, rarely given the opportunity to photograph Afghan women, seized the opportunity and captured her image. She was approximately 12 years old at the time. She made it on the cover of National Geographic next year, and her identity was discovered in 1992. Wells felt indignant that the same publication that sat on his picture for five months without publishing it, while people were dying, entered it into a competition. He was embarrassed to win as he never entered the competition himself, and was against winning prizes with pictures of people starving to death.(World Press Photo of the Year: 1980 Mike Wells, U nited Kingdom. Karamoja district, Uganda, April 1980).
- 10. We also have some other pictures related to photojournalism which effected world: 1. This Pulitzer-winner captured the power of one. 2. Haunted by what he had seen in Sudan and severely criticized for not helping the little girl, photographer Kevin Carter committed suicide a few months after this photo was taken.
- 11. 3. The Hindenburg crash that put an end to the golden era of zeppelins 4. After this photo was published, the American government sent food and drinks to the camp.
- 12. 5. The haunting photograph of Aylan Kurdi that has become the face of the Syrian refugee crisis. 6. Marc Riboud's iconic photo captures the power of love in the face of violence. Photojournalism is a sub discipline of photography which involves of capturing images to help tell a story. In a large number of cases, these individuals are hired by newspapers or magazines. A number of famous newspapers have made a name for themselves based on the photographs that were published under their publications.