From A to Z of photojournalism
A for “Art?”
Photojournalism clearly contains an aesthetic element proper to art. But some observers object to the idea of photojournalism as an 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 of “entertainment” and less of “truth”? – In other words, is it appropriate to look at photos of human suffering while drinking champagne in an art gallery or latte over a photo book? There are no short, definitive answers to these questions, so keep the discussion going!
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, even accusations of vulgarity. During the 1980s, photojournalism was more dominated by color photography and today, curiously, 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. happy of the photo, miss the 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 all over 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 postage stamp-sized memory card. But despite all these useful improvements, has the actual quality of photojournalism improved as a result? It has certainly led to a flooding of the photography market, and the fear is that prices will drop to the point where it is no longer financially 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 at point-blank range on the streets of Saigon (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
Pioneering website that allows free storage of images online. With around 30 million users and almost 4 billion images (unconfirmed figures), it is probably the largest image collection 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 more of an index of images on the web. Its potential to influence stock photography is enormous, but it currently sees little professional use: the search quality is poor, most of the images are appalling, 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 today’s photography.
H for “Henri Cartier-Bresson” (1908-2004)
Hugely influential French photojournalist whose trademark was capturing iconic, black-and-white, candid photographs at what he called “the defining moment.”
I 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 stories with their cell phone cameras. But for professional photojournalists, their main feats remain ingenious and convenient ways to check email, calendar, maps, record audio, etc. – not to mention talking on the phone with people!
J for “Jacob Riis”
A Danish-American photography pioneer (1849-1914) whose images of New York slums, titled “How the Other Half Lives,” led to some political enhancements. Although many of his photos were staged, they became an inspiration for many later photojournalists.
K for “Kodachrome”
The movie 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 manufacturer whose small, high-quality cameras gave photojournalism a leap forward in the 1920s and 1930s. Leica cameras became 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 continues to be 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 above all for the quality of his photos and stories. During its heyday, the magazine became a global collector’s item, with stories and photographs of exotic people and places. Its status as one of photojournalism’s “gold standards” has suffered a bit since the brand restructured itself to be multilingual to encompass travel, adventure, TV, kids’ 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 our way of seeing 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 form of photojournalists, often scorned for chasing down 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 photographs of famous people.
Q for “Quadruple Face”
Strangely, all the lens openings are round and all the 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. Wide 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 increasingly used by photojournalists trying to attract new clients and opportunities online. SEO techniques can greatly improve the chances of a website portfolio 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 photojournalism pieces. Although it has high standards and is a global brand, like many other magazines, it is now facing a drop in subscriber numbers 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 UV light can degrade a photo’s colors and exposure. However, the primary use for UV filters is often simply to protect the front element of expensive lenses from damage.
V of “Visa for the 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 form of photojournalism that is more romantic than functional” (Stephen Mayes) which, I suppose, is rooted in the type of submissions they receive. Another (anonymous) juror 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 you used the “wrong” chemicals 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 classical photojournalism, he has a strong “environmental photojournalism” component.
Z for “Zoom vs. Prime”
A question that never fails to come up in photojournalists’ discussions: “Would you rather use a zoom or a prime lens?” There are technological and non-technological issues to consider. Zooms are generally more handy and flexible to work with, good for general work and for covering news, events, and short assignments where you only have 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 usually smaller, lighter, faster, more robust, and optically superior, which is why some techies have them. prefer. But there is also the question of his working methods. Some prefer prime numbers because they don’t have to think about slicing 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 prime gives some consistency, while a zoom can give more variety in a series of photos.