Documentary

Photography
 refers to photography used to chronicle
both significant and historical events and
everyday life.
 It is typically covered in professional
photojournalism, or real life reportage, but it
may also be an amateur, artistic, or
academic pursuit.
 The photographer attempts to produce
truthful, objective, and usually candid
photography of a particular subject, most
often pictures of people.
Lee Friedlander and Gary
Winogrand – “social” landscapes
Photojournalism:
Telling the Visual
Story
Definition
 Journalism in which a story is presented
through photographs.
What is photojournalism, anyway?

 It includes composing photographs to

catch viewer’s attention and have
meaning.
 Also includes writing captions.
Photojournalist
• An individual who uses the images taken with a
camera to tell a story.

• A person who takes pictures is a photographer.

• There is a difference
Role of a Photojournalist
 Be a storyteller
 Take photos that reflect life not art or a
product (v. art/commercial photographers)
 Work with editors, writers and designers to
complete assignments
Pros of being a Photojournalist
 Travel
 Meeting interesting people
 Access to places most people don’t have
 Share work with large audience
 Fluid work schedule
Cons of being a Photojournalist
 Unusual hours (holidays, nights and weekends)
 Short notice for assignments
 Working under deadline pressure
 Physical danger (floods, fires, accidents)
 See tragedy regularly
 Lots of equipment
 Low pay to start
Purposes of
Photojournalism
1. To “sell”
 Photos are the most viewed part of a
publication and help readers connect
visually to information.
2. Provide Impact
 A picture really is worth a thousand words
 Photos help convey emotion
3. Serve “watchdog” role of
journalism
 Photojournalism helps readers know about
atrocities
 Keeps big business/government in check
4. View of the World
 Photojournalism provides the average
person with a view of the world.
 It takes them places they cannot go or do
not have access to.
5. History
 Photojournalism provides a historical
record of places, people and events.
 Examples: opening of a new school,
presidential elections, etc.
Five ways a
photojournalist
accomplishes
storytelling
1. Research
 5 W’s and H
 Photo assignment slips - talk with
writer/editor and those involved
2. Be Prepared
 Equipment - how much, which pieces
(lenses, light, card size, etc.)
3. People Person
 Make subjects feel comfortable
 Spend at least 15 minutes with subject
 Be seen with camera
 Be comfortable talking to new people
4. Assertive
 Get close to subjects
5. Gather Caption Info
 5 W’s and H
 Carry notebook
 Laying Out Pictures : Choose the best
photos based on Technical – not blurred,
not over or under-exposed, not backlighted,
closed-up, good angle Editorial- has a story
in itself; anchored on the theme or issue
given
 Avoid tomb stoning
 Observe facing-in rule
Captions
 For group photos, identify only the
important persons, pinpoint his/ her
position. In identifying person in the picture,
write his location in relation to the other
persons inside a parenthesis.
 Match caption with the mood of pictures
Caption should supplement the picture not
repetition. Don’t begin with “Photo
shows….”
Goal of Photojournalism
 Selecting story telling
photographs that can
convey the fullest,
most accurate sense
of the situation
photographed
Goal of Photojournalism
 Engage the heart and
mind of a viewer with
a compelling version
of truth that results
from bearing witness
or a situation or
event.
Age of the Visual Journalist
 Visually intense society raised on millions
of pictures.
 Average of 5000 images a day in a variety
of forms.
 Role of the photographer and writer are
changing.
Photojournalism
• Photojournalism is distinguished from other
branches of photography by the qualities of:

1. Timeliness
2. Objectivity
3. Narrative
Photojournalism
IS…
…Universal
language,
understood
everywhere
… history. It
records events
and lasts for a
long time.
… job:
Professional
photographers:
sports,
modeling,
weddings,
nature,
advertising,
news
Modern day
documentary  http://www.dewitzphotography.com/
/photojournalists photography-product-reviews/top-
10-modern-photojournalists-and-
documentary-photographers/
 http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlin
es/2013/04/the-best-of-
photojournalism/