Behind the lens an exciting worlds opens its doors and beautiful moments, tender scenes, captivating faces, and sad situations all play on the strings of the human heart. There is the obvious thread of capturing that moment that runs between the photographer and the photojournalist. But what does it take to begin one of these careers, what types or career options are available and how long are the pro and con lists.
Anyone with a camera can take a picture but it takes more than a camera to become a photographer. Most of the information available to the aspiring photographer lists between five and ten steps to obtaining this status. Natalie Norton, who is a wedding photographer lists the following steps as her advice for beginners: “Keep a notebook, shoot frequently, shoot in different conditions, set goals, read, ask questions, and change perspective” (Norton). Reading Natalie’s lists definitely raises questions like, “Why keep a notebook?” or “Read what?” Keeping a notebook allows the photographer to learn as they go along, however she does include the fact that it is not for everyone. Reading allows the photographer to learn. While it often said that practice makes perfect, reading about equipment, techniques and styles allows the photographer to gain knowledge that when applied, turns into skill. While Natalie’s advice is great there are other suggestions for becoming an accomplished photographer. It is recommended that an aspiring photographer start by deciding what type of photographer they want to be; that is often countered by suggesting that taking a class will help one decide how passionate they are for this art. Both citytowninfo.com and ehow.com endorse obtaining a four-year college degree. “Understand that a four...
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... Careers, and College Search. Quin Street, Inc., 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .
Jacowski, Tony. "Careers In Photography." Ezine Articles. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. .
Knight, Cameron. "Understanding and Appreciating the Basics of Photojournalism." Phototuts | Photography and Post-processing Tutorials from Beginner to Advanced. 14 Jan. 2010. Web. 29 Jan. 2011. .
Norton, Natalie. "7 Steps to Becoming a Confident Photographer: a Beginner’s Guide." Digital Photography Tips: Digital Photography School. 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. .
Born of Irish immigrants in 1823 in a little place called Warren County, New York; Mathew Brady is known as “The Father of Photojournalism.” While a student of Samuel Morse and a friend of Louis Daguerre (inventor of the “Daguerreotype,” a method of photography that the image is developed straight onto a metal coated surface), in which he had met while under the study of Morse, Brady took up his interest in photography in the year of 1839, while only seventeen years of age. Brady took what he had learned from these two talented and intellectual men to America where he furthered his interest in the then-growing art of photography.
The poem “Extended Development” by Sarah Kay explores the ways in which the art of photography has changed throughout time, yet still remains a highly important and influential hobby. More specifically, how photography is an important aspect in each member of the speaker’s family. By using allusions, characterization, and imagery, Kay explores how the art of photography has changed throughout time.
5 Light, Ken. Tremain, Kerry. Witness in our Time: Working Lives of Documentary Photographers. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 2000.
PhotographyMasters. "YouTube - Masters of Photography Diane Arbus Part 1." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2011. .
In a society that is focused on visual stimuli, it isn't uncommon to see a person taking a picture with a camera or making a "movie" with their camcorder. But, in the 1840s and 1850s, life just wasn't like that. If someone said they could make a picture of a mining town or of the route to the West without a pencil or paint people would have laughed at them. Laughing would have been appropriate because photography didn't come into being until 1839. James Horan reveals in his book, Mathew Brady: Historian with a Camera, that it wasn't even called photography then, it was called the "new art" (5). There were very few people who knew what it was to take a picture, or make a picture with light. The only pictures that were around at that time were those that were drawn, painted, or printed from lithographs or etchings. Newspapers didn't have real live pictures that showed the actual things that were written about. The population of America as it was in 1800 didn't know what the "West" looked like. According to Eugene Ostroff, sketches and paintings were the only illustrations of the West before photography (9). Ostroff tells us that these weren't usually accepted if the painter had taken artistic license (9). All Americans knew were the stories of the people who returned because it was too difficult to live there or the letters from friends and family telling the horrors they saw. So, with the invention of photography, especially the ability to "fix" the image onto the paper or metal plate had a major effect on the expansion to the West because the pictures that were taken showed how the West really was beautiful. Unfortunately, it was a while before the public was able to see the pictures that were taken by the photographers of the West because 1839 was only the very beginning of photography as a profession and a hobby.
First, let us define Photojournalism and Fine Art Photography. According to the Oxford dictionary, photojournalism is the art or practice of communicating news by photographs, especially in magazines. But according to Merriam-Webster, photojournalism’s full definition is journalism in which written copy is subordinate to pictorial usually photographic presentation of news stories or in which a high proportion of pictorial presentation is used. In other words, photojournalism is news photography. Photojournalism found itself invading photography from the late 1920’s and can be defined as a spontaneous and newsworthy photographic narrative of human events. Fine Art Photography is the new kid on the block. It is usually thought to refer to the visual creation for a specific expressive or aesthetic value. This is often distingui...
My mother once told me to take pictures during a family picnic. That was the day I discovered the art of photography. I found it fascinating how an image could be capable of sharing an entire story. What started out as a hobby, ended up becoming a life-long passion that has allowed me to develop into a more capable individual. When I saved up and bought my first camera, I read vast amounts of photography books and watched countless internet tutorials, in an attempt to teach myself how to become a good photographer. I would then use what I had learned and go outside, for hours at a time, and take pictures of the world around me. I even had the opportunity to practice commercial photography and graphic designing for various public events. These experiences have made a deep impact on my character. Growing up, I was reluctant to work with others, especially in school. Maybe because I was a natural introvert, I believed that in order for something to be done right, I had to complete it on my own and asking others for help was a sign of weakness. However, when complex situations arose during photo-shoots, I realized how lucky I was to be working and collaborating with talented individuals. By sharing the responsibility and by having confidence in my team, the quality of my work drastically improved, and in turn, I thrived in such an environment. It really was a surprise to me how photography has taught me the value of placing trust in others.
Sontag, Susan. "Essay | Photography Enhances Our Understanding of the World." BookRags. BookRags. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
The instant we pick up a camera, the image has already been edited and the credibility of the photojournalist is already on the line. The ability and practice of people to be able to edit what goes into the composition of a photograph begins when they pick up a camera and even possibly when they decide to take a photograph of something. The work of a photojournalist is to relay images to the public via news sources in a way that gives people as much information about a topic as possible in the most neutral way possible. While no human being can be entirely objective about a given scenario it is the prerogative of the photojournalist to provide images that evoke the heart of a story without being manipulative to the viewer. This means that the photojournalist is responsible for the images he or she chooses and should be aware and sensitive to the effects that their image might have on those who view it. Of this issue of photographic ethics and credibility there are several key elements that should be acknowledged and considered. The first is the consideration and choice of the moment captured, another is the choice of framing and emphasis made on certain elements within the frame and the final involves the choices made in the process of editing.
Newton, Julianne H. The Burden of Visual Truth: The Role of Photojournalism in Mediating Reality. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Print.
The introduction of portable cameras has made it feasible for anyone with basic knowledge of how to use a camera to now go out and record what they see. However, what one chooses to photograph is still a reflection on them as well as well as the scenes they witness.
‘’War Photographer’’ is a thought-provoking and mind gripping poem by Carol Ann Duffy. The poem revolves around the life of the photographer as he juggles between his two personas as he try to develop his photos and reminisce about the war torn countries, all the innocent people and the horrific and gory things he has witnessed. As the poem progresses and the pictures begin to develop the memories of pain and suffering from his past starts to unravel and becomes clearer and clearer. The main message the writer is trying to convey is the fact that through modern times news about the war is being published by the media in a truthful way that people feel less sympathy towards the innocent lives of the people dying all around the world. The writer effectively raises questions about our feelings and emotions that we feel towards war and death.
Photography as a profession has developed along with the advancements of camera technology. Photographers can be seen everywhere, whether they are highly advanced or a just a mere amatuer. Many people find a living in this business by taking professional photographs for families, sports events, and even the traditional senior pictures.
Prior to this course, I knew photography was a part of my every day life. After experiencing this course, I know I knew little about photography. Photography is definitely part of my life, but as I reflect on my sixteen-week progression, I realize that everyone can take a picture but “taking a photograph” as an art. My initial thoughts were that with smart phones we are all “photographers” sharing and it has become part of our visual culture, but not all photos deserve appreciation. Although I believed I had an eye for interesting things and liked to shoot pictures from angles or interesting features, I realized that knowing more about the functions and diversity a quality camera could provide was missing. Photography has been a vital part of my personal history and now will be a bigger part of my life as I am armed with knowledge and experience with angles, lighting, settings and Photoshop so the memories I capture will have a stronger purpose. Point and shoot has transitioned into a passion for finding interest in a subject and utilizing my knowledge to create artful photos. Ordinary or standard shots will be a part of my past. Reflecting on my interest in photography as a potential path for my future, or a part of an overall career choice, I realized that if I continue on a public relations or marketing path, photography will be a critical part of my career. Photography 181 has given me invaluable information that will be carried on into my future in both business and personal arenas. My place in photography will continue to include sports action photography as I am an athlete and appreciate these, as well as in editorial or brand image photography as part of my career.
Photography has created an outlet for the masses to story tell. It has a way of speaking without words like most art forms and is a manner of expression in itself. To eradicate photography from humans would be equivalent to taking away a limb from humankind. Our society has grown an immense amount of dependency on it. Photography has become almost a daily menial task such as brushing your teeth; where we must take pictures of the things we deem important or equally unimportant, even more so with the invention of social media outlets such as Instagram and Snapchat, where photography is the main source of communication between people who use them. Susan Sontag offers the basis of what taking pictures can undertake in both our daily lives and moments that are not part of our daily lives, such as travel. Traveling to places where one is not accustomed can flare pent up anxiety. A way to subdue that anxiety could be through taking pictures, since it’s the only factor that we have total control over in a space where we don’t have much, or, any control of our surrounding environment. On the other hand, taking photos can also be a tool of power in the same sense as it allows for it to be a defense against anxiety. With the camera in our hands, we have the power to decide who, what, where, when, and why we take a picture. This in turn also gives the person who took the picture power over those who later analyze the photos, letting them decide the meaning of the photo individually, despite the intended or true meaning.