From A to Z of photojournalism
A for “Art?”
Photojournalism clearly contains an aesthetic element of art. But some observers object to the idea of photojournalism as art. Journalism in general is about reporting facts. Does art connote something artificial? Or is it just putting style before content? If photojournalism is art, does it necessarily become more of a commodity, more “entertainment” and less “truth”? – In other words, is it appropriate to look at photos of human suffering while drinking champagne in an art gallery or lattes over a photo book? There are no short, definitive answers to these questions, so let the discussion continue!
B for “Black and White”
This was pretty much all there was for the first hundred years of photojournalism. When color photojournalism began to appear more regularly in print, from the 1960s onwards, it was initially met with some resentment, including accusations of vulgarity. During the 1980s, photojournalism was more dominated by color photography and today, interestingly, black and white is back in fashion, no longer out of inevitability, but as an accepted stylistic choice. An argument often heard is that black and white photos focus the viewer’s attention on the subject. glad of the photo, miss that photo itself.
C for “Canon vs. Nikon”
Two of the largest camera manufacturers in the world today. Photojournalists often participate in friendly mud throwing contests between canonical Y nikonians. However, both camera systems are excellent, with a large catalog of lenses and service centers located around the world.
D for “Digital Photography”
Digital cameras have had a profound impact on photojournalism. No more maneuvering in the darkroom is needed. Photos can now be delivered almost instantly from anywhere in the world. You don’t have to choose between color or black-and-white film before you shoot. And you can have 20 “rolls” of film on a memory card the size of a postage stamp. But despite all these useful improvements, has the actual quality of photojournalism improved as a result? It has undoubtedly led to a flood of the photography market, and the fear is that prices will drop to the point where it is no longer economically viable for many professionals to make a living from it. The line between professionals and amateurs begins to blur.
E for “Eddie Adams” (1933-2004)
American photojournalist who is perhaps most famous for his shocking photo of the Vietnamese police chief executing a captured Viet Cong suspect on the streets of Saigon at close range (1968). The photo earned Adams a World Press Photo Award and a Pulitzer Prize, but Adams later apologized to the police chief for the damage he had done to his honor by taking the photo.
F for “flickr”
Pioneer website that allows free storage of images online. With around 30 million users and almost 4 billion images (figures not confirmed), it is probably the largest collection of images in the world today. He is loved and hated at the same time. Many of its users like their work to be seen and praised by others. But it becomes problematic for more professional users, as the copyright and licensing options are not very well implemented or respected, to say the least.
G for “Google Images”
An even bigger collection of images than Flickr. Except it’s not really a collection per se, but rather an index of images on the web. Its potential to influence stock photography is huge, but it currently sees little professional use: search quality is poor, most of the images are awful, and you’re not necessarily allowed to use them anyway. Over time, that could change, of course, and perhaps we’ll see it the same way we see daguerreotypes as the forerunners of photography today.
H for “Henri Cartier-Bresson” (1908-2004)
Hugely influential French photojournalist whose trademark was capturing candid, iconic, black-and-white photographs at what he called “the defining moment.”
Me for “iPhone®”
The iPhone (and many other cell phones now) have a decent miniature camera built in. So suddenly, anyone with a cell phone is a potential news photographer! “Citizen journalists” are increasingly filming news with their cell phone cameras. But for professional photojournalists, its main feats remain the clever and convenient ways to check email, calendar, maps, record audio, and more. – not to mention talking to people on the phone!
J for “Jacob Riis”
A pioneer of Danish-American photography (1849-1914) whose images of New York slums, titled “How the Other Half Lives”, led to some political improvements. Although many of his photos were staged, they became an inspiration for many later photojournalists.
K for “Kodachrome”
The film that allowed us to see the world in color! Kodachrome, introduced in 1935, was the first mass-produced color film. In the wake of the digital revolution, Kodachrome film was discontinued in mid-2009.
L for “Leica”
Legendary German camera maker whose small, high-quality cameras made it possible for photojournalism to leap forward in the 1920s and 1930s. Leica cameras were household items for professional photojournalists for half a century and are still adored today by handling, image quality, brand history, etc.
M for “Magnum”
A cooperative of photographers founded in 1947. It remains home to a variety of top international photojournalists, both living and dead. It can probably be said that Magnum emphasizes the purely visual aspect of photography over the more narrative aspect.
N for “National Geographic Magazine”
One of the oldest magazines in existence, it began in the late 19th century and is still published today, in the 21st century. Famous for many things, but perhaps most of all for the quality of his photos and stories. During its heyday, the magazine became a worldwide collector’s item, featuring stories and photographs of exotic people and places. Its status as one of the “gold standards” of photojournalism has suffered somewhat since the brand restructured itself to be multilingual and encompass travel, adventure, television, children’s toys and more. But the characteristic yellow border of its cover remains as always.
Or from “On Photography”
An innovative book by Susan Sontag, which analyzes the changes that photographs have produced in the way we see the world. In a nutshell, she argues that photography has made us superficial and overly concerned with appearance to the point where images have subconsciously replaced reality as reality.
P for “paparazzi”
A special breed of photojournalists, often scorned for chasing and taking candid photos of celebrities when they least expect it. Respect for privacy is a human right (Article 12 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights). On the other hand, celebrities need media exposure to remain celebrities and a large number of magazine readers are drawn to pictures of famous people.
Q for “Quadruple Face”
Strangely, all lens openings are round and all photos have four (4) sides! Have you ever wondered why? (Sorry ‘Q’ was hard!)
R for “Royalty Free”
A method of buying/licensing photos preferred by many buyers for its simplicity. And equally despised by many photographers, since the price is calculated without taking into account the use, the location, the number of times it is used, etc. Extensive usage rights should logically result in a higher image price, but often (read: microstock) the opposite is true!
S for “SEO”
Also known as “search engine optimization,” a technique that is increasingly being used by photojournalists trying to attract new clients and opportunities through the Internet. SEO techniques can greatly improve the chances of a portfolio website appearing at the top of a Google search results page.
T for “TIME Magazine”
Weekly news magazine published since 1923. It has a history of giving prominence to pieces of photojournalism. Although it has high standards and is a global brand, like many other magazines, it is now facing a drop in the number of subscribers and advertising revenue.
U for “UV Filter”
Filter placed in front of the camera lens to protect it against ultraviolet light. At high altitudes, strong ultraviolet light can degrade the colors and exposure of a photo. However, the main use of UV filters is often simply to protect the front element of expensive lenses from being damaged.
V for “Visa for Image”
International Photojournalism Festival held every summer in the French city of Perpignan.
W for “World Press Photo”
Probably the most prestigious press photography award in the world. With few exceptions, it has been held since 1955. It has recently been criticized by some of its own juries for “reflecting a more romantic than functional form of photojournalism” (Stephen Mayes) which, I suppose, is rooted in the type of submissions they receive. Another (anonymous) jury said that “90% of the images [in the competition] They are about 10% of the world.
X for “Xpro”
Also known as cross processing. Since the days of film, when the “wrong” chemicals were used to develop a color negative. Intentionally used to give the image a certain surreal/elegant look.
And by “Yann Arthus-Bertrand” (b. 1946)
French photographer most famous for his aerial photographs of nature around the world, collected in the “Earth From Above” project. As a traveling exhibition, it has been seen by more than 100 million people. Although his work is far from classic photojournalism, he has a strong “environmental photojournalism” component.
Z for “Zoom vs. Prime”
A question that never fails to come up in photojournalist discussions: “Would you rather use a zoom or a prime lens?” There are technological and non-technological issues to consider. Zooms are generally more convenient and flexible to work with, good for general work and covering news, events, and short assignments where you only get one chance to get the shot you want. They are lighter to work with compared to carrying two bodies/multiple prime lenses, but the prime lenses themselves are typically smaller, lighter, faster, more robust, and optically superior, which is why some techies use them. they prefer. But there is also the question of their working methods. Some prefer prime numbers because they don’t have to think about trimming but can focus on time. They know exactly what the frame will hold and so they move more, perhaps with better results. And lastly, using just one primer gives some consistency, while a zoom can give more variety to a series of photos.
