Photojournalism

Goal of Photojournalism
Selecting story telling photographs that can convey the fullest, most accurate sense of the situation photographed

Goal of Photojournalism
Engage the heart and mind of a viewer with a compelling version of truth that results from bearing witness or a situation or event.

Age of the Visual Journalist

Visually intense society raised on millions of pictures. Average of 5000 images a day in a variety of forms. Role of the photographer and writer are changing.

The Visual Journalist

Combined role of writer, photographer, researcher, and graphics designer. Requires a new mindset and vision The meaning business Marriage of words, images, and designs to convey information

Ethical considerations

Five Ethical Concerns

Victims of Violence Right to privacy Picture manipulations Stereotyping Mixing of advertising, public relations and journalism

Victims of Violence
If it bleeds it leads Human tragedies and are often the fields of harvest for Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Are the images really needed for the story?

Right to Privacy
US courts have continually maintained that privacy right differ between public and private persons. Is the reason to rob privacy a truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account?

Picture Manipulation
Picture an subject manipulation are as old as photography. Digital imaging make it easier to accomplish and harder to detect. At stake is the reputation of the news service.

Stereotyping
Long list.. .African Americans are criminals. Latino are gang members. Native Americans alcoholics... Results of images we have seen out of context.

Advertising, Public Relations and Journalism Blurring

Advertorials and info mercials Advertising, public relations and journalism have been fused into advertorial.

Documentary Styles

Documentary Styles
Spot and General News Human Interest and pictorial features Sports action and Features Picture stories

Spot News

General News

Human Interest

Pictorial

Sports Action

Sports Action
Celebration of victory and agony of defeat

Sports Feature

Picture stories

Telling a visual story

Narrative thread
Difference in visual story telling vs photo illustrated texts is the narrative thread or sequence that tells a story. Today to most readers, images are more powerful and capture more attention, than text.

Active vs.. Passive photographs

Active Show real people engaged in real events in real time Example: James Natchways images of starving mothers and children in the Sudan. Passive Show people in in situations in which their essential purpose is to have their picture taken for the newspaper. Example: Rick Sammons travel images

Context of the Photograph

Photographers and photo editors must strive to give an accurate image of an event or person rather than something taken out of context that makes a good image.

Time and Speed

Printed news services and especially the web require almost instantaneous news from around the world. Photo editing decisions must now be done in minutes and seconds instead of hours and days

Photo editing
Current decision making constraints require a strong background in news, ethical judgement and philosophical base.

Photo Captions
Photos engage the eye, captions should engage the mind A way to go beyond what the viewer can already see It all starts with the photographer who was there and captures the moment

Tips for good captions

Point out subtleties not apparent to the viewer Point out ambiguities and prevent viewer misunderstanding Use quotes that add depth to the storytelling image Explain technical information Relate to the four non visual senses

Transferring Files in the Field

Modes of Field Transfer

FTP (file transfer protocol)
Cleanest, not constrained to JPEG compression, PDF pages can be sent with text and images

Cellular Phone Transmission

Dependent on quality of photo lines and service areas

Satellite Transmission
New trend

BBS (bulletin board system)

Becoming obsolete

E-mail
Convenient but the most unreliable

References
Visual Journalism Harris and Lester, Allyn and Bacon 2002
Digital Journalism Zavoina and Davidson, Ally and Bacon 2002