Photojournalism: How does it work & who’s good?

“Photojournalism: The job or activity of using photographs to report news stories in magazines or newspapers”

-Merriam-Webster

Photojournalism is not as simple as the above definition. It is both an artistic and endeavor and multifaceted occupation that involves visual storytelling.

The lines between the various styles reportage photography are fine and often blurred. Photojournalism, documentary photography and street photography operate within the same medium, but deliver different messages and evoke different feelings.

Documentary photography captures a series of events, emotions and everyday life, often spanning across an extended period of time. By contrast, photojournalism illustrates single moments frozen in time. The passing of a split second has the capacity to shift the connotation of a photo entirely. Another distinct characteristic of photojournalism is that is it accompanied by a caption, something non-essential to street photography.

While photojournalism may not be the most lucrative of professions, many photographers are able to make a living in the field by distributing their materials to media outlets including magazines, newspapers and online publications. For example, the contemporary photojournalist I was inspired by, Kitra Cahana, has been published in National Geographic and the New York Times.

The most acclaimed photojournalist’s association is known as the NPPA. A membership for the National Press Photographer’s Association ranges from $65.00 for students to $110.00 for professionals. Among the many benefits of joining the NPPA, aspiring photojournalists will be provided with an opportunity to find work, enhance their resumes and most importantly assert themselves as a legitimate force in the field of photojournalism and perhaps gain recognition by a professional organization such as the Associated Press, Getty Images or Corbis Corporation.

Beginning in the 1920’s, photojournalism entered its “golden age” in the 1930’s and lasted through the 1950’s. During this era photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Margaret Bourke-White rose to popularity. Despite its decline, multimedia magazines such as the Digital Journalist continue to serve as sources for photojournalism.

Freelance photographer and contemporary photojournalist Kitra Cahana is whom I would like to emulate throughout my work this semester. Cahana’s work illuminates a spectrum of emotions that is found in even the simplest of moments.

Kitra Cahana | Photography. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014.

National Press Photographers Association | NPPA. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014.

Nieman Reports | Photojournalism and Documentary Photography. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014.