1) What is photojournalism? Photojournalism is photography based in reality. It is not about the photographer, it is an informative and factual documentary picture. This is special category of photography because it is never staged; it is always a real slice of life. If it is a staged or set-up picture, if the photographer influenced the subjects at all, then the resulting photo is not photojournalism. In addition, photojournalism is often thought of as pictures that express something relevant about the human condition. It can be a powerful story-telling medium. Many photojournalism images have affected great change in society and had lasting impact on the entire world.
2) Where/when is photojournalism used? Photojournalism is most frequently published in daily newspapers, on news websites and in news magazines. Wire media services such as the Associated Press and Reuters also employ photojournalists. Locally, photojournalism can be seen in the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post, the Annapolis Capitol and the weekly papers of Patient Publishing. National news magazines such as Time and National Geographic showcase excellent photojournalism. Many books, stock photo agencies and annual reports for businesses are other homes for photojournalism.
3) Are photojournalists like paparazzi? No, not at all! Paparazzi chase celebrities and sell their photos for thousands and sometimes millions of dollars. Photojournalists are documentary storytellers. They do occasionally photograph celebrities, but more often a photojournalist is interested in a regular person in your community who is doing something unique. Photojournalists shoot all types of assignments including news, sports and features in addition to personality profiles and portraits.
4) What are photojournalism ethics? Ethics are a huge part of photojournalism because without ethics, there is no truth in the pictures. Photojournalism is intended to be a visual report; it should convey facts and information exactly as it happened in reality. To alter this for any reason in any way, such as asking a subject to re-enact a scenario for example, is considered unethical. It is like a news reporter making up a lie on the evening news. Photojournalists who set-up photos and engage in other unethical activities usually find themselves unemployed.
5) What about photojournalism and Photoshop? There have been several stories in the media recently about photojournalists that digitally manipulated their images in programs like Photoshop to add or subtract certain elements in the frame. This is considered highly unethical. Again, if it is not an honest representation of what happened, it is not photojournalism. The rule most newspapers have is that Photoshop cannot be used to do anything besides lighten and darken a picture a little, just like what is possible in the darkroom.
6) Is it hard to do all that at once and not set anything up at all? Sure, but a real photojournalist is a very skilled individual. They are technically proficient with their camera and have practiced enough to capture moments in time that reflect true emotion. Because at the end of the day, no staged picture can ever be as exciting as a real moment when the subject was genuinely expressing real feeling. It is always worth the effort not to set up a picture.
7) Isn’t photojournalism dangerous to the photographer sometimes? Yes, absolutely. Photojournalists are eyewitnesses to history. They document protests, famine, natural disasters and wars first-hand. They are on the front lines. Even photojournalists working in small towns come in close contact with fires, murders and other danger zones. There are photojournalists who get hurt, shot and even die on the job. Sometimes the emotional burden is considerable as well. But on a normal day, this is not the case. Photojournalists also make pictures of Girl Scouts, farmers, business owners, basketball games and carnivals.
8) Is photojournalism as glamorous as it seems in movies? Not usually, but it is extremely rewarding as a career. If you are a newspaper photojournalist, you will meet hundreds of fascinating people in your community and have the opportunity to genuinely affect people’s lives during your career. It takes a deep love of the work and a particular kind of personality to truly excel as a photojournalist. Technique is important, but it is only a fraction of this kind of photography. Photojournalism takes perceptivity, integrity, genuine interest in people, tenacity and the confidence to approach strangers with a camera. |
