Essays on Photojournalism

Introduction

Photographs save moments. The most efficacious and optimum images provided in the news capture the viewer. The viewer not only sees the news moment, but also feels it through the presentation of the image. These images are seen as reality by viewers. Viewers hold the news images as truths. This was the case before video and digital photographer and it still applies today with the exponential advances. Advances in technology and the image on news photography has been both advantages and disadvantages to newspapers and electronic news sources. The way in which the news captured images prior to the ...

It is a photo of Florence Owens Thompson and her children taken by one Dorothea Lange of the Farm Security Administration documentary. The migrant mother photograph as has become popularly known has been a perfect representation of the untold suffering of the average working American class that lived in the period of The Great Depression. The photo artist brings viewers of the photograph to the personal space of the subject of the picture Florence Thompson and her children. This enables the photo artist to highlight an issue of great concern in the society and one that needs immediate action. ...

In presenting the news in an ethical manner, empirical evidence becomes a vital element. The profession of photojournalism is an integral part of the field of journalism, which responds to this demand for empirical evidence through its very nature. It is not only responsible for bringing important moral issues to light but, in a time where secrecy and covert deeds have taken precedence over openness, it provides a level of perspective regarding the events that occur throughout the world. In assessing the perspectives of professionals in the field as well as various other thinkers and experts it becomes evident ...

Virtualization has obviously penetrated many levels of human activities, including the international one. A century ago we used to speculate of a state’s power in the international arena within the scope of “geopolitics”. However, widening of that informational community has now lead to the advent of “informational geopolitics” (Shin et al.). A century ago a state’s authority at the international level was determined by certain criteria, such geographical location of a state in the global map, ownership of natural resources and so forth. As for now, a group of other factors complement the list, for instance, the ...

When photography arrived about 150 years ago, it was considered as a documentary medium because of the exact replicas of the subject. The technologically advanced cameras and development of photojournalism led to the development of realistic photos. Those photographs were considered a witnesses of reality as they expose the facts of life (Mullen 6). Gradually, manipulation in photography was looked upon to necessary to display the subject accurately. This was because the event was not self-explanatory or clear in photographs at times. Thus, the photographer was compelled at times to edit those images. Documentary photography is seen to belong ...

Documentary photography is often used as a synonym for photojournalism, and the documentarians are seen as a different species of the photographer. The idea of a film with a purpose and documentary character can be traced back to France (What Is Documentary Photography 2013). Documents were seen as a form of evidence to teach something or inform. However, even the most abstract photographic images carry an image. It is when a photograph is taken with the lens cap on to create a document of worth; one reaches an entirely different platform. Alfred Stieglitz and his photograph Steerage of 1907 ...

Artistic pieces from the past and present times impact the community positively in many ways as most of the artistic products produced relays and display information and themes that happen in the society. The broad categories that constitute artistic features such as sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography, music, sketches among others have made it possible for artists to relay and convey the intended messages with ease. Each artistic feature it is noted suits well in conveying certain themes and messages to its audience even though a variety of styles and techniques available can make many artistic products display the same messages ...

The Boston Photograph’s By Nora Ephron’s Photos of Abu Ghraib

The first amendment to the constitution of the United States had enforced in the year 1791. The amendment imposes certain limitations on congressional legislators' terms of making laws about the established religion and people's right to a free exercise of religion. It, further, asserts prohibition of any laws that condense the freedom of speech or violate the press freedom, hinder a peaceful assembly or prohibit US citizens entering into litigation for a governmental redress of grievances. The first amendment took effect in December 15, 1791 is one of the ten amendments formulating the Bill of rights. The law reference to the ...

The world of modern photography knows a few examples of outstanding photographers who take their photojournalistic calling very seriously. Jacob Riis, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, are only some of the top names which along with documenting heartbreaking human condition dictated the standard in documentary photography. Luckily, the demand for it never ceased; therefore, the legacy continued with new names paving the way out of the 20th and into the 21 century. Such photographers as Gerd Ludwig and Ernest Cole have massively contributed to the heritage of human history through their photographs. Both photographers, Gerd Ludwig and Ernest Cole, were ...

Negative Effects of Photojournalism

Introduction Photojournalism is a distinct form of journalism that employs the use of images to present a news story. This form of journalism encompasses the collection, edition and presentation of news items I form of images for broadcast or publication. There have been numerous debates concerning photojournalism and its effectiveness in the society. These debates have been of both sides with individuals arguing for and against photojournalism in the society. The arguments and debates are an essential element in the society today because it highlights all the important issues related to journalism, especially photojournalism, hence enhancing proper understanding of the ...

Is Instagram Ethical?

Introduction In the new epoch, the world is experiencing a rapid rate of transformation from the traditional media practices to modern media practices. It is undeniable that media practices now embrace versatile, digital, computerized, and networked information technologies. Nonetheless, scholars including Eid M. and Ward S. J. claim that the penetration and use social network platforms in media practices come with significant ethical challenges. Issue such as information control, communication speed, and privacy of information continue to perplex researchers. Since its invention in 2010, Instagram has gained significant attention and wide ranging use globally. Since its acquisition by Facebook, ...

Photography and death:

Introduction: Death in photography has always been a controversial subject and this continues to elucidate comments especially when considering the ethical implications of photography itself. Nostalgia is also an important element of photography and this has been revealed in several artist’s work most notably those like Sally Mann and Luc Delahaye who have both treated the subject of death with some detail especially in their portrayal of dead and decomposing bodies. When one writes about death in photography, we also have to deal with the ‘death of the subject’. After we press the shutter the subject 'dies' at ...

Introduction

Over the last 200 years, we as a society have gone through many changes. We’ve seen two wars on our own soil, 9 monarchs and 54 prime ministers. We’ve even seen the Chanute's hang glider of 1896, and we can now compare the first steps of the invention to what is now an aeroplane. Although there aren’t many of us in London now who were present for the 1st World War or the 2nd, photographs of soldiers in their trenches are available for the worlds viewing. The subject of death in photography has also been treated with ...

Photography and death:

Introduction: Death in photography has always been a controversial subject and this continues to elucidate comments especially when considering the ethical implications of photography itself. Nostalgia is also an important element of photography and this has been revealed in several artist’s work most notably those like Sally Mann and Luc Delahaye who have both treated the subject of death with some detail especially in their portrayal of dead and decomposing bodies. When one writes about death in photography, we also have to deal with the ‘death of the subject’. After we press the shutter the subject 'dies' at ...

Erina Duganne, Photography After the Fact, pgs. 57 70, Beautiful Suffering, Williams College Mus. of Art/U. of Chicago Press, 2007

Introduction:

In this essay, the author discusses the work of Luc Delahaye in the context of his portrayal of war zones, especially those in Iraq, Afghanistan and the occasional G8 Summit in Genoa, for example. Duganne goes into considerable detail when talking about Delahaye’s work which portrays stark and very disturbing images of war and conflict violence especially when this is compared to natural still life photography. The article deals with Delahaye’s capacity to capture images which make ...

The photograph I chose was "The Genbaku dome (epicenter of the 1945 atom bomb explosion), Hiroshima, Honshu, Japan" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand for his Earth from Above photojournalism project. The photograph was taken in Hiroshima, Japan. The latitude and longitude coordinates and elevation of the photograph's location is 34 degrees N latitude, 132 degrees E longitude, with an elevation of 14 ft. In this picture, one sees the ruins of a large building that only has a few walls and the frame remaining. However, surrounding it are pedestrians and streets, with freshly-mowed grass and trees surrounding it. One tree that is directly ...