In a nutshell, the essence of photojournalism is having images that tell a news story. They will have a certain timelessness, objectiveness quality but ultimately a narrative. It is only natural then that war photography, natural disasters and human suffering has been prominent over the 100 years
At a first glimpse it is hard to really distinguish how photojournalism is distinctly different, for both can document people from a very candid situations, and both show society as its most honest and raw moments. However there are some differences between the two. Photojournalism is ‘reportage’ and the editors and publishers have control over what is published. A photojournalist may not have control over his photos, he/she does not have the ultimate say. He/she may shoot things that he thinks will be more likely to be published - rather than to what he thinks should be published. So, the real difference lies in the fact that (and I quote) ‘In the end street photography becomes how you see the world...’
I direct you to this video of a photojournalist, to give you an insight into his life
The Golden Age
The introduction of the Leica camera was what I think really gave life to Photojournalism. From the 1930s Newspapers/Magazines built up readership by the dominant use of photos. These include -Life magazine and the Daily Mirror. I would thoroughly recommend visiting http://www.life.com/ because they really do have the best photos of daily news stories!
Given the intense political situations and wars that have occurred over the last 100 years, it is understandable that photos would feature so heavily in the news. They could capture the life, the death, and the emotions of so many people. This and the rising interest in celebrities, which seems to dominate modern life, has meant some of the most iconic photos have been taken in this period. What's more was the photos were printed with the photographers name and so they became household names -something nowadays fewer photographers are obtaining I think.
Ethics of photojournalism
What are the things you have to consider when you are taking these kinds of photos?
Firstly take a look at this photo
You may recognise this, and you may know something about it. If you don't then take a couple minutes to ask your self these questions
1)What is happening in this photo?
2)Should the photographer have taken this photo/is it ethical?
3)Should the photographer intervened?
4) What would you have done?
5) Is there a greater cause that would justify this photo?
This photo was taken by Kevin Carter, but for the explanation, shall direct you to this video, and you will realise that not everything is clear cut as it seems. There is no straight answer...and it doesn't always end well for all involved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDOxDRUNBBQ
So as a photojournalist you have to decide what to shoot, how to frame and how to edit your photos. You have to be sure of your role as a photographer. It is ultimately unfair to in a sense 'shoot the messenger' the photographer is there to show the world what is happening. If the world doesn't like what it see then that is not the photographer's fault. It is not the photographer's fault that there is famine in suffering the world, and even if they tried to help one person they have photographed, they cannot help them all. When Kevin Carter Committed suicide, part of his surviving suicide note, is harrowing, describing the things that would haunt him. I can't really imagine what it would be like seeing some of the things they see first hand.
However your role as a photojournalist has got to be honest, and not portraying things out of context or use manipulation. That includes digital manipulation or manipulation of the scene in front of them (something which has cause controversy, particularly with war photography) Editors can change something without your control, that it is the publication that should also take responsibility for ethics for the photos it chooses to print.
To look for photos that have made a major impact on the world then look here - but please be wary, some of these are not for the faint hearted.
http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/lm_index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/05/in_pictures_50_years_of_photojournalism/html/12.stm
For the Guardian's take on photojournalism read this article here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/nov/16/criticism-critics-photography-susie-linfield
The death or rebirth of photojournalism?
New technology has made photojournalism much more accessible and widespread. If you think how difficult it was for early photographers to not just take photos, but to travel the world, then it was pretty exclusive. With small film cameras like the Leica, and the invention of DSLR coupled with widespread travelling it is not surprising photojournalism was taken on by many. Despite this, in the modern day it is a profession that has changed, it seems like is much harder to make it as a professional Journalist. When you are working freelance, spending you're life travelling, with competition from so many other photographers, you can see why it can be very difficult to become a photojournalist. However at the same time there will always be a need for striking photos, and with that a need for professionals to report on stories in order show the world what is happening. People may have thought that with the advent of photography that paintings would die out. However this is not the case. Photojournalism is arguably the most thought-provoking, harrowing, and important form of photography the world could have. That is why I believe there is no death of photojournalism, and why I have such respect for those who do endanger their life in search for the truth.
I always enjoy it at new year when the whole year is presented in photos by boston.com. Check out last years ones, they really are amazing!
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/12/2009_in_photos_part_1_of_3.html
The big names
Henry Cartier Bresson, 1908-2004
The father of modern photojournalism, I won't say too much about him because he deserves a whole post on his own!
Robert Capa, 1913-1954,
He is the co-founder of Magnum agency (which also deserves a post on its own) with Henry Cartier-Bresson and others.
He covered 5 wars, and tended to disregarded technical aspects of photography and went for dramatic photos
Check out some of his photos here on the Magnum site
http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14YQNW&nm=Robert%20Capa
The quote that I put in at the beginning I found on James Nachtwey's website here:
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/
His is one of the top current photojournalists, and the photos which you can see on his website are fully deserving of all the awards that he has won, especially when he has survived a grenade attack while in Baghdad.
For another modern photographer check out Steve McCurry's website
http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php
There are many more, but here's the opinion of somebody else's top 10 photojournalists check out this site:
http://www.digitalphotographybasics.com/the-top-10-photojournalists-of-all-time/
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