What is Photojournalism?
By Drew Hazzard
October 28, 2013
What is Photojournalism?
Photojournalism
According to Mirriam Webster, photojournalism is a form of journalism in which the written word is subordinate to a photographic presentation. The difference between photojournalism and other forms of photography is that photojournalism takes a snapshot of life rather than perceiving it as it occurs. It is more structured and the presentation more uniform than that of street or documentary photography. Documentary photography is less structured and photographers are free to observe and record life as it occurs. Photojournalists can get a job for a specific news affiliate or can work freelance, shopping their stories around to varies organizations.
BFP (the Bereau of Freelance Photographers) is an organization based out of London that represents photojournalists. Perks for joining this organization include the BFP market newsletter, the BFP handbook, and BFP advice and assistance services. The BFP market newsletter is a month by month market analysis of where to sell images, obtain assignments, and what buyers are looking for. The BFP handbook is distributed annually and provides insight into the requirements of over 700 companies. BFP advice and assistance services provide expert guidance in marketing, fees, copyright and other important topics. BFP requires an annual payment of 70 pounds per year.
Photo agencies provide an outlet for photographers to get their images seen. They can also match a photographer to a specific job that is best suited for their strengths. Examples of photo agencies include We Are Casey, photo-agency.com, and PF photo Agency. We Are Casey is a consortium of photographers representing a myriad of subjects such as architecture, sports, fashion, and travel. Photo-agency.com is a blog/website service that allows photographers to showcase their images. PF Photo Agency specializes in commercial photography and provide their services both nationally and internationally.
Photojournalism got its start in Germany in 1925 with the invention of the 35mm camera. Soon after the first photojournalism magazine was published. The golden age of photojournalism lasted from the 1930s to the 1970s when Life and other photo magazines ended publication. During this time, photographers such as Walter Evans, Dorthea Lang, and Gordon Parks were at the forefront of photojournalism.
Vibe.com is a website that provides contemporary photojournalists with an outlet to produce their work. Zoraih Miller is a significant contemporary photographer who specializes in war photography. His works on the conflict in Iraq and the criticisms of his images depicting wounded and dead US soldiers shed light on wartime censorship. Miller works independently, producing his photo stories on a freelance basis. His images elicit not fear or hatred for either side of a conflict, but fear and hatred for the conflict itself.
Credible Sources
The Photojournalism of Zoriah Miller. (2013, July 16). Retrieved August 25, 2013, from www.metronomegazette.com: http://www.metronomegazette.com/2013/07/the-photojournalism-of-zoriah-miller.html
Kratochvil, A. (n.d.). Photojournalism and Documentary Photography. Retrieved August 25, 2013, from www.nieman.harvard.edu: http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=101591
Stovall, G. (n.d.). Magazines and Photojournalism’s Golden Age. Retrieved August 25, 2013, from www.ablongman.com: http://www.ablongman.com/stovall1e/chap05/05goldagephotog.html
White, D. A. (2007, July 10). How to Make a Living as a Freelance Photojournalist. Retrieved August 25, 2013, from www.helium.com: http://www.helium.com/items/448636-how-to-make-a-living-as-a-freelance-journalist
www.thebfp.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 25, 2013, from Welcome to the bfp: http://www.thebfp.com/index.php?page=1
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Good stuff. You missed a couple of the major agencies like Magnum, VII, AP, Getty, Zuma, etc. On the other hand you found one I’d never heard of before.
I think the main point is that you now have a good overview.