Photojournalism

Woman at the festival of the horse, tibet, 1999 Image © Steve McCurry

What is photojournalism ? How did photojournalism began to be, was its history? How does photojournalism differs from photography, or documentary or any other branch of photography? And, how much can you earn as a photojournalist?

Photojournalism is defined as a medium in where news or stories can be shown in most of the time a single photography. This is a really intensive work and I believe that photojournalists have to be brave, timely, and also very skilled.

Accordingly, to Jessica Stewart in “The History of Photojournalism,” photojournalism grew up as it is from the war photography. War photographers during the 19th century, had to carry on heavy camera equipment since technology was not that advanced. The images taken had the purpose to be posted in the Newspapers to show the consequences of the War, but even at this time Photojournalism had not been stablished. Photojournalism became to be, when a combination of new compact and lightless equipment (of 35mm and faster development techniques) appeared over time, helping photographers to work and to travel easily; and when the editors of “photo magazines beginning in the 1920s,” (Ross Collins, A brief History of Photography and Photojournalism,) began to create stories with words and these pictures. Therefore, photojournalism became a form of photography where a single picture could tell a story.

This time is known as The Golden age of Photojournalism (1935-1975). A time when magazines such as “LIFE, The New York Daily News, and Berliner Illustrate Zeitung,” posted images of photographers who showed the “lives of the people, when struggling with the Great Depression,” (“Magazines and Photojournalism’s Golden Age,) which gave a space for Photojournalist. Every photojournalist took a unique style, for example Dorthea Lange and Gordon Parks, where the most important photojournalist of this time, (Journalism, Magazines and Photojournalism’s Golden Age.)

Photojournalist such as Donald R. Winslow’s which (an editor in the National Press Photographers Association’s News,) with 40 years of experience as a photographer says that if someone wants to become a photojournalist nowadays, is necessary to have at least one or two year’s salary, since the amount of money earned during a year as a photojournalist is $35.000.

Photojournalists are backed up by different organizations and associations such as the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), American Photographic Artists (APA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and the American Society of Media Professionals (ASMP). The benefits or being a member of them is to be included in mentoring and critique programs, to obtain discount on equipment, or for example to have the right to participate in annual, or monthly contest.

One of my favorite photojournalists is Steven McCurry. Steve McCurry is an American Photographer- photojournalist. McCurry is very famous for taking the photo of the Afghan Girl. One think that strikes me about his work is that photographs he takes are amazingly colorful. I love how color is used as an element to show not only his style but also utilized to show how different human cultures are.

References

Chattyfeet, et al. “The History of Photojournalism. How Photography Changed the Way We Receive News.” My Modern Met, 12 July 2018, mymodernmet.com/photojournalism-history/.

“History of Photography and Photojournalism.” Using Plants as Natural Dyes, NDSU NDSU News, www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~rcollins/242photojournalism/historyofphotography.ht

“Interview with Photographer Steve Mccurry.” Designboom | Architecture & Design Magazine, 13 Aug. 2015, www.designboom.com/art/steve-mccurry-interview-photographer-08-12-2015/.

“Magazines and Photojournalism’s Golden Age.” Chapter 2 – Culture of Journalism, www.ablongman.com/stovall1e/chap05/05goldagephotog.html.