Is Photojournalism Art?

How was Paris before 1900?

Year Created:1889

Obvious Main Subject:

The main subjects in this picture are the man and woman standing on top of the building. The couple is not taking up much of the picture frame yet it is immediately where one's eyes go when you see the picture. Another reason that the couple is the main subject is the different shades in the picture. The couple, due to their dark color scheme, standing out against the light background. All of these signs make the couple in the center the main subjects. 

Use of Shadows:

If you look at the picture you notice the three characters included in the picture all have shadows. The shadows were used in this picture to show the height in which the picture was taken and that it was sunny outside when the picture was taken. While the shadows do not add much to the picture, they do add slight detail. 

Depth of Field:

I do believe that the right amount of area is in focus. The picture starts off with the two men and one woman on top of the building which is in complete focus. As the picture continues out, the scene becomes more and more out of focus. While you can still see the basic idea of the buildings in the background as it continues to go out, the image becomes less clear and more blurry the further out one looks. 

Why did I choose this image?

I chose this image because it felt like an image that could be recreated today just with a completely different background. I liked that you could not really see the faces of the subjects close up. The whole image at first glance seems simple but upon further inspection could have a much deeper meaning. 

Photo by: Arthur Leipzig

Year created: 1945

Subject's Expression:

The main subjects in the photo do not look relaxed. While the two do not look overly posed, they do look overly tense. Because of their makeup and dressed up persona, the two look as though they are not posing for pictures, but they are ready for pictures at any moment. Their body language does match their faces. Both seems unpersonal and tense. 

Quality of light:

The two man subjects in the photo look as though they are under a bright light. The picture almost looks like paparazzi is flashing lights at the couple. The lights look bold and dramatic. This is not surprising giving that the two seem to be famous and some type of celebrity. The light in the photo makes the two subjects stand out while the background of all the people seem not there. If you look hard enough you can make out plenty of people in the background, however if you look quick you can barely see it due to the contrast of lights. 

Black and White:

The picture featured is black and white. The impact of that edit is that the photo adds dramatics to the picture. It makes it also look more regal and dramatic. I believe that the photograph was taken during a time of colored photographs but this specific one was left black and white. 

Why did I choose this image?

I chose this image because I liked the regalness it portrayed. The couple is dressed up in full glam and wearing fancy clothes. I liked the way the couple is portrayed as attractive and showy despite the two just sitting there. 

Photo by: Robert Capa

Year created: 1960

Keep it Simple:

The photograph used above is the opposite of simple. Inside the photograph there is so much to see and it is very busy. Items that make the photograph look busy include JFK and Jackie Kennedy, the people in the crowd, the cameras the crowd is holding up, and the buildings in the background. While the picture is cluttered, you can still make out what is being shown. 

Background compliments:

The items in the background, specifically the crowd, complete the picture. While the large mass of people does make the picture seem cluttered, yet the background compliments the actual stars of the picture. The background does compliment the real reason behind the picture, which is JFK and hsi wife campaigning during his presidency. 

What feelings does this image create: 

For me when I look at this picture I get a twinge of anxiety. People are surrounding the car and holding up flashing cameras in the faces of JFK and Jackie as they are exposed in an open car. While the two held major public roles, the breech of privacy and personal space seems like it would be overwhelming to the common person. The couple, however, look to be embracing the crowd, both with smiles on their faces. 

Why did I choose this image:

Growing up I was mildly obsessed with Jackie Kennedy. It started with a project in 5th grade about a person in history and I had chosen her. Since then I have read many many books about her, her husband and children, and the Kennedys as a whole. I am fascinated with the history behind their family tree. Picking this picture was not something that much thought was put into, mostly something that was just done because it caught my eye. 

Photo by Kaylie Moran

Date credited: September 23, 2024

Rule of thirds:

Technically I did not avoid placing my subject, the bird, in the middle of the photograph but I had caught the picture just at a time as the bird started to fly away. I think that the uniqueness of the subject being not directly in the middle adds detail to the picture. So much of the picture is taken up by the surrounding greenness and the small space the bird takes up makes your brain think, almost like an optical illusion.

Quality of light:

The difference in the shades of light that is coming through is not completely on purpose but I think it does add some purpose to the picture. The sun shining down on certain areas adds warmth and almost joy to the picture. It also brings knowledge that this picture was taken in the early day as you can still see shadows. If this picture of the crow was taken during a dark and rainy day, it would portray a completely different variety of views and emotions.

Exposure time:

One who looks at this picture can tell that it was taken quickly just as the bird was about to fly off, by looking at the bird's wings. In the picture, the bird's wings look almost blurry since they were moving so fast as the picture was being taken on my phone. I think that it adds a level of depth to the picture since you can tell there is movement behind the screen.

Why did I choose this picture?

I had actually taken this picture for a completely different reason but when I saw this assignment I realized it would work great. My great grandmother who we inherited my current house from loved birds. She would spend hours looking out the window at birds that flew by, especially cardinals. My mom has picked up bits of those traits and now always looks at birds as they fly by. I noticed as I was in my bedroom, a huge bird fly by and land on my neighbor's gate. I decided to take the picture to send to my mom to show her just how big this bird was, but the bird flew away before I got the chance to take a good picture. 

Pre-Digital Photographic Technology

Photo by Eric Kim 

A. Film strips that capture pictures in grayscale are called black-and-white film rolls. The outermost layer of tiny crystals is light-sensitive. The crystals inside the film become modified when light hits it during photo capture. The film has to be processed in a darkroom using chemicals after the picture has been captured. The film's exposed parts become visible images due to this method of imaging. It is then simple to print the negatives on paper to show different black-and-white tones and contrasts. It makes complete sense that this would be one of the first dominant ways to capture photography and is still somewhat used today. As Professor Nordell says in this video, "Photography is derived from two Greek words meaning light foes." This makes sense since this type of photography relies heavily on light to properly show what is being captured. 

B. Roll film, in black and white, transformed photojournalism through enhanced accessibility and speed, allowing photojournalists to utilize portable cameras to quickly capture unexpected events. The emphasis on contrast and composition in this type of photography enabled an intense story that generated intense feelings while drawing attention to the subject matter in question. Black and white documentary photography strengthened photojournalists' responsibility as witnesses to history by remaining consistent with journalism's dedication to truth as talked about in the CBS news story about the Civil War. The simplicity of access in the printing process and excellent conservation characteristics of black and white prints ensured that their compelling images would remain relevant and continue influencing opinions and discussion for an extended period. In the end, black and white roll film developed as an essential element in the growth of photojournalism, providing an enduring legacy of visual photography. 

Photo by Kaylie 9/15/2024

C. The picture taken by me above was from the inside of one of the mansions in Newport, RI. My friend, Annabella, is featured in the picture as she is looking over the balcony at the chandelier and the people walking on the lower floor. It was stunning to stand on the balcony and take in all of the sights. I decided to capture a picture on my phone. I had gone to visit a friend who goes to school in Newport and decided to sightsee a bit over the weekend. The photo was taken on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Despite it being a Sunday and in the fall, the tours were still somewhat busy which caught me off guard. Since I love history, traveling, and sightseeing I wanted to capture this picture because it felt artsy. I edited the pictures to become black and white because I felt it looked elegant and elevated the picture.

D.  There are a lot of details to compare when looking at the way I took this picture to the pre-digital photographic technology I had studied.  While taking this photo above, I took out my phone, snapped the picture, and then afterward I decided I would like the picture better in black and white. I went into my editing and changed the filter so that it changed all the colors to the greyscale. This is completely different from the black and white film roll because those pictures are captured and printed onto the paper using chemicals that turn the picture into different shades, from white to black. There is no option to turn the picture back to color or a colored picture back to black and white like you do with today's technology. While at the time of invention, film roll was extremely high tech, as said by Professor Nordell in his video, it could be mass-produced and incredibly easy to use, in today's society that seems like a challenging process. 

Can Photographs Change the World?

Photo by Julian Ribinik 

 To portray the picture that has affected me personally, I chose the picture of the bride and groom above. Growing up I loved weddings and having an aunt who is a wedding planner, that is exactly what I want to do. I think that weddings are such a happy and fun time overall, no matter the size or destination. So much of what we see in the news and online is negative and overall sad. I chose this photograph because it brings a sense of happiness and joy to those who look at it. the excitement the bride and groom show can almost be felt through the picture, which I think is the whole point of photojournalism. I believe photojournalism is when you can feel emotions through a picture which I definitely believe is true for this exact picture. You can feel the excitement and the love, and with the picture being black and white it almost makes the scene more dramatic. As Jonathan Klein says in the TED talk, "Images provoke reactions in people." Most pictures in the news, or even when you search photography on Google, that pop are negative and bring about sad emotions. The picture I chose brings me happiness and reminds me of my love for weddings. In his video Professor Nordell likens photos to trees, sharing, "If a tree drops and no one hears it, does it really make a sound?" I think this correlates because weddings happen every day, in the same way, that pictures are taken every day, and no one notices. I do not believe that people stop and think about all of the photographs taken ever like they do not stop to think of all the weddings, but that does not mean that the photographs and the weddings aren't happening. That makes when you do see a special, meaningful wedding picture or a powerful photograph in the news that much more impactful. 

Photo by Matt Collamer 

While I do not believe that photographs can change the world, I do think that they can change how a lot of people feel. Using the term "change the world" is too broad and not necessarily true in every sense since there will always be an outlier, that is why I disagreed. As previously said, I do believe however that these pictures bring a sense of uplifting and can change how one views the world. The picture above does change the way I feel slightly, it makes me feel grateful for what I have, and also want to be a better person and spread kindness to others, like his sign is asking for. In my opinion, the world has become not a friendly place. Like in the photograph by Jeff Roberson, people are always looking at their phones and have lost a lot of human connection. His sign reminds people to be more human and talk to one another. I believe that people in the United States are also selfish and absorbed in themselves, their belongings, and even technology. I think this is portrayed in the different Times front pages. while all the countries can give up the cover to celebrate another country or give recognition to a tragedy happening in another country, for the most part, the United States is only about themselves and their problems. 

Definition and Explanation

 When thinking of photojournalism and its roots two questions pop into my head: 

1. When studying today's news photographs, why is it important to comprehend how photojournalism has changed over time?

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2. How can photographers today make better or more ethical choices in their work if they've developed a greater understanding of the beginnings of photojournalism?

Personally, I believe that it is incredibly important to study today's photographs. Studying past events helps us to better comprehend the look and feel of the news photographs of today. It shows how past techniques and events impacted current processes. As said in the video titled Why Study History, "those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it" Photographers could prevent the mistakes that were made by the ones before them by making more responsible and educated choices by learning about moral issues and previous challenges. A good quote that sums up my whole point is presented in the second video titled Why Study History, " And understanding the past is the key to understanding the present." 

Photo by Kaylie 9/2/2024

I took this photo as I was driving through New York City on my way to a concert. While I am in no way the type of person who is inspired by the city. I tend to not like big cities. I find them overwhelming and too fast-paced for me. I would prefer a local quiet town in the mountains or near the beach much more. While all of those things are true for me, I still find cities very beautiful. Just this one picture is so pretty and inspiring to look at. It really makes you grasp just how big the world is and how small you are in the grand scheme of things. I think this picture shows photojournalism because it really makes you think and can incite multiple different perspectives and emotions across different people. As Professor Nordell talks about in his video, photojournalism started with pictures being taken to be put inside journals. I think the photo, like the one above, could be used in a journal to discuss cities or buildings or a variety of topics. 

 

Photo by Kaylie 9/6/2024

This photo above is of my baby cousin Avery. She is currently 7 months old. While she is very cute I do not personally think that this photo would be an example of photojournalism. I think this because while the picture incites many different emotions for me since she is my cousin and I love her and babies, I do not think for all people this would cause any type of emotions or thoughts. To me, this is a personal picture that incites personal feelings. An example of this would be some random person on the street coming up to me and showing me a picture of their family. While to them they would care a lot about that picture since it's personal and sentimental, to me it is just a random family whose picture I am staring at. Jason Henske sums up my feelings for this in his video when he talks about how taking such personal pictures does not always seem like work to him necessarily and how he develops a close connection with those in the picture. while looking at this picture I do not see an artsy picture that is capturing something, rather I see a family picture or just a home picture meant to capture a quick moment. 






My current relationship with the news is complicated. I am a very type-A person so I like to stay onto of the news and current issues. Pictures and videos play a huge part in this grasp of information. Sometimes it's the first thing that draws me into an article or even an issue as a whole. In today's society which is run by quick news, TV shows, and TikTok, people need to find quick ways to draw attention and gain viewers. Pictures, videos, and quick flashy words are the way to do that today. I'd like to say I follow a bit of every type of news, but sometimes I do have to take somewhat of a step back to not get overwhelmed with the issues in today's society. But overall I like to keep up. I enjoy being able to talk to my close friends and family about current issues, whether on a neighbor basis or a worldly basis and know what I am talking about and be able to really research the situation if I am interested.