Photojournalism can be most simplistically defined as, “the combination of photos and journals used to capture verbs”. Through the use of both videos and photographs, photojournalists aim to tell a story allowing viewers to experience emotion, bring forth old memories, and create new ones. Photojournalism aims to uphold ethical standards, which demand that their work is both honest and impartial. Effective photojournalism reflects current events and works to engage the population by making their work relatable and up to date. Through photojournalism, the power of images, rather than words, is used to illustrate a piece of a story.
Photojournalism is often used in conjunction with the news or current events. The content of photojournalism can influence viewers’ feelings about both present and past events. It can be used to sway public opinion, or bring light to a perspective that was previously overlooked. Photographs displayed through photojournalism can be very powerful and may have an influence on the way that people remember events in the future as well. Photojournalism can have a unique effect on each person. Images can later be used to propel social awareness, and can be effect proponents of change socially, politically and culturally. Regardless of whether the effect of viewing photojournalism is a positive one, or a negative one, photojournalism is likely to influence each person in their own unique way.
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| original photo taken during the celebration of the capture of Osama Bin Laden in Scranton PA on May 1, 2011 |
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| photo taken from: http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/atlanta/0911iraqwar/ taken by: Louie Favorite |
Knowing
the history of photojournalism allows an individual to see how the field has
changed and adapted since its “creation” around the time of the civil war. Since
the time of its formation, photojournalism has been about displaying real life
events, and conveying things that actually happened. Going along with the
ethical code followed by each photojournalist, one can see that the aim of photojournalists is not to
display a point of view that will tick someone into believing something, but
rather allow a person to see an image, and formulate their opinion/feelings
about it.
History provides us with a window into the past. By understanding the past it becomes possible to understand the present. Historical photojournalism allows individuals learning about something for the first time to develop their own opinion, and see a “real time” image of a situation, where they may draw their own conclusions. History is what allows us to understand one another and to think outside the box. Photojournalism evokes emotion and reactions from people. Through photojournalism and history we are better able to appreciate multiple perspectives and one another’s interpretations of a given moment or situation. Knowing the history of photojournalism is the key to being a good photojournalist.
History provides us with a window into the past. By understanding the past it becomes possible to understand the present. Historical photojournalism allows individuals learning about something for the first time to develop their own opinion, and see a “real time” image of a situation, where they may draw their own conclusions. History is what allows us to understand one another and to think outside the box. Photojournalism evokes emotion and reactions from people. Through photojournalism and history we are better able to appreciate multiple perspectives and one another’s interpretations of a given moment or situation. Knowing the history of photojournalism is the key to being a good photojournalist.
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| photo from: http://latimesphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/katrina_anniversary014.jpg photo taken by: carolyn cole |
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