Types of Photography – Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a field of photography dedicated to taking accurate pictures of current events. The basic goal of a photojournalist is to take photographs to accompany a news report, whether it is broadcast or published in the tabloids. However, truly great photojournalism images should tell the story before the copy or the announcer. Photojournalism images attempt to capture the viewer’s attention and emotion to entice them to continue listening or reading about the story. Like the FrontPage covers of a newspaper with gorgeous, impactful shots of the latest current event – these images reflect the headlines of the articles and make a big impact in the news by visually communicating the commotion of the event.
One of the key viewpoints of photojournalism is giving accurate images that compromise the integrity of the edit. Therefore, altering images with computer software is prohibited among serious photojournalists and news organizations. This code of ethics is one of the important characteristics of photojournalism that identifies it from other types of photography.
A hint of photo manipulation in photojournalism can ruin one’s career. Because of this, photojournalists mostly prefer to use traditional film instead of digital cameras. Although photojournalists find digital cameras convenient by allowing them to instantly review photos in the field, digital images are more open to forgery than film negatives.
Images that inspire the emotion of the scene in the viewer are the best photojournalistic images. Good examples of photojournalism draw viewers in and make them want to read the accompanying story. Photos of natural calamities like tsunamis hitting houses on the coast or hurricanes and tornadoes hitting many properties are just a few examples of photojournalism. For many, these images remain in the memory of viewers longer than the words of newspaper articles. Such examples of photojournalism express the power and responsibilities of the professional photojournalist.
The field of photojournalism can also be interpreted as an art form. Scene subject, angle selection, and lens options specify the impact and power of the output. Photojournalism pieces have been exhibited more and more in art galleries recently, bringing more respect to it as an art form.