Photojournalism

What is Photojournalism?

Photojournalism is simply a way to tell a narrative or story with the use of photographs or in a sense to educate or report of an event that has happened or is happening. Photographs can not always be understood merely by looking at the image therefore it is on most occasions, essential that the photographer gives their photographs a title or even a written guidance so that the viewer fully comprehends the photographs' purpose and also appreciates what the photographer is trying to portray.

From recent lectures I believe Photojournalism is open to interpretation being that it is very similar to other sub-genres of photography such as Documentary and can cross over into specialised fields such as editorial, war, celebrity, portraiture and even fine art.

For a more detailed popular view and interpretation into exactly what photojournalism is I found this website to be very informative http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-photojournalist.htm

Historically humans have for centuries used imagery, verbal and written forms of communication to educate and inform the next generation, possibly dating as far back as 30,000BC when the first cave paintings are believed to have been drawn by primitive man. As photojournalism is a very modern way to tell a story via photographs; primative man very similarly may have used his cave drawings to also tell stories, educate and to hold a permanent history of their own exsitence.

The example of cave paintings above, which I have sourced from Google images, suggests that the primitive man was drawing an insight into their everyday life involving hunting for their food for survival.

Photojournalism has been one of the most modern forms of visual representation, documentation and story-telling since the invention of the camera in the mid to late 1800's into how civilizations of the time have lived. Unlike painting, although it is a controversial possibility that camera obscura had been used by famous painters such as 17th Centuary Dutch master Johannes Vemeer as an aid for their paintings in regards to such accuracy to detail of perspective; when the invention of the camera and successful image fixing process were offered to the world as a free gift giving the power to authentically capture images within a split second, the photographer then became the official recorder of our life and times, a role that painting had held for hundreds of years. It was Paul DeLaroche in 1839 who supposedly declared, "From today, painting is dead". http://www.webreference.com/graphics/essay/essay2/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire/_seapower/vermeer_camera_01.shtmlire/_seapower/vermeer_camera_01.shtml

Girl with a Peral Earring(1665) considered a Vemeer masterpiece

and The Astronomer(c1668)

Although photographic images hold a much more realistic version of the world as we know it thus producing an exact copy of what the human eye could see, in times such as now the idea of the 'photographic truth' holds much debate and controversy due to the ease of manipulation via darkroom or digital processes.


Photojournalism is a form of photography that is to imply that no such manipulation has been adhered to on the original image therefore showing a 'photographic truth' of realism, however as the world is obsessed with artistic flair this in sense is not always the case!


It has also been suggested within the last decade, sourced from a report on the BBC news website in 2002 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1782111.stm that cultural commentators have predicted the death of Photojournalism. Again like the statement that was predicted back in the 19th Century that 'Painting is dead' I find this very hard to to believe this about photojournalism as this may stem further artistic values to this genre of photography. Still documenting the truth although now being accepted to be tweaked a little to aid aesthetical beauty from a possible dark subject matter, or badly composed photograph.


Painting flourished ever so much more expressively and artistically after the invention of the camera so this in sense sparks the idea of photojournalism as now a story in art form?


The main substantial difference that has happened to photojournalism over the past 50 years is the means in which the subject has been delivered. Being recognised at first thought that photojournalism is delivered by means of newspapers and magazines but over the years freelance photojournalists began to deliver their photographs via books and art galleries thus giving a bypass to completely outgrowing the photojournalism origin.


"In retrospect, the point when photojournalists chose to publish their work in their own books coincides with the moment when the form began to outgrow its origins. A creation of the press, the photojournalist was beginning to claim a role beyond it" October 5th, 2010 by David Campbell http://www.david-campbell.org/2010/10/5/dead-or-alive-the-state-of-photojournalism/


Whilst browsing the web I came across a website that was advertising wedding photography with a difference, incorporating both photojournalists and wedding photographers around the world, they use photography to tell a story of a couple's wedding day, therefore not to dictate it for them. http://wpja.com/


Here are some examples of this year's competition entrants from the members of the Wedding Photojournalist Association , beautifully captured moments in time documenting the story of a couple's wedding day.

This section was titled "Getting Ready" and below are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners of this competition with judges comments

FIRST PLACE:Photo by Mark Earthy / London / England

JUDGES COMMENTS: "Excellent photojournalism is about making beautiful images of wonderful moments. This image is a wonderful moment that perfectly captures the confusion on everyone's faces as they attempt to add the final detail to their wardrobes. I think a man who has ever been part of a wedding party could relate too. The light is nice and the composition works well."

SECOND PLACE:Photo by Rene Gaviola / Manila / Philippines

JUDGES COMMENTS: " The light and layers in this photo are great. Nice expressions on the peoples faces in the background"

THIRD PLACE:Photo by Mark Davidson / Massachusettes / United States

JUDGES COMMENTS: "Nothing like last minute cleaning. I love the combined seriousness and laughter of the moment as well as the lovely dress and mop. Nicely framed"