Photo Journal Part 3

Alterations in journalistic photography

Photojournalism has always been an art and a craft. The art is in a photographer's mental processes being translated into a visual image that is true and that can be understood by others. The craftsmanship is in the making of the image all the way through the final print (Irby).

Alterations in photojournalism of course can produce a far more dramatic result. The question is, is it ethical and acceptable? The answer would be no.

Right, Larry Downing/Reuters

President Obama on the magazine cover and in the original photograph with Charlotte Randolph, president of a Louisiana parish, and Adm. Thad W. Allen of the Coast Guard.

In this cover of the June 19 issue of The Economist, President Obama was seen standing alone on a Louisiana Beach, head down, looking desperately on the ground. This was during the oil spill that happened this year. The problem was, he was not actually alone. The image was just altered to make it look that way. Images like this can greatly mislead viewers/readers. People can make good/bad assumptions on what they see and what they read.

The ethics in photojournalism really surrounds the general function and definition of photojournalism: which is to capture the real world as it is happening. Though the concept of the real world can be debated, it is up to the photojournalist to capture the image as clearly and honesty as they see it (Burley).

 

This illustration shows the original AP photo Katie Couric taken by Jeffrey R. Staab compared to digitally altered photo used in Watch! magazine.

This photo of Katie Couric was digitally altered to make her look 20 pounds lighter. Again, it is unethical to alter images. When the public views it in a magazine or newspaper, they trust and believe that the image is real. Most people get easily perceived on what they see and react negatively. These are the things that cannot be prevented but can be minimized by following the ethics and standards in photojournalism.

Photography always has -- and should always continue to have -- its creative dimension. In the end, the best way to maintain integrity is to provide skilled and thoughtful picture editors and other newsroom staff with the time they need to do their jobs (Irby).

Works Cited:

Burley, Shane "The Definition of Photojournalism: Looking at Ethics in Photojournalism" Bright Hub. 28  Oct 2010, Web. 26 Nov 2010. <http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/93311.aspx>

Irby, Kenneth "Photojournalism in the Age of Scrutiny" Poynter Online. 15 Sept 2006, Web. 26 Nov 2010. <http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=110342>

Peters, Jeremy "On the Economist's Cover, Only a Part of the Picture." New York Times. 5 July 2010, Web. 26 Nov 2010. <http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/on-the-economists-cover-only-a-part-of-the-picture/>

Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

The Eiffel Tower, Paris by Andre Kertesz. 1929

Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson were photojournalists who both believed that they need to be invisible when taking photos. They don’t want interrupting the scene. The essence of Kertész’s style was his power to wrest poetry from a happenstance moment; to turn the quickness of that moment into "the decisive moment" (Josefsberg). This type of approach also influenced Henri Cartier-Bresson in much of his works. Cartier-Bresson was the master of candid photography and he helped develop "street photography" or the "real-life reportage" style that has influenced generations of photographers who followed.

Hyeres by Henri Cartier-Bresson. 1932

Eugene Smith was an American photojournalist. He was often regarded by editors as "troublesome" because of his steadfast refusal to allow his pictures, their layout, and often the text that accompanies them to be molded by the policy of the magazine or anything else other than his personal vision. He liked to spend hours in the darkroom enhancing his photos by altering the lighting etc. Sebastiao Salgado is a photographer who believes in interactions with the people who are in his photographs.

The Wake by W. Eugene Smith. 1950

The works of Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson clearly are the best journalistic approach. Unlike Eugene Smith who puts lighting in his photos to enhance it and Salgado's work that is staged to look presentable, Kertesz and Bresson's works are taken candidly. This is essential and acceptable in photojournalism. Capturing the truth and presenting it without alteration is what photojournalism is.
Works Cited:

 "Andre Kertesz" skjstudio.com. Web. 20 Nov 2010. <http://www.skjstudio.com/kertesz/index.html>

"Henri Cartier-Bresson" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 20 Nov 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartier_bresson>

"W.Eugene Smith" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 20 Nov 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Eugene_Smith>

"Sebastiao Salgado" UNICEF. Web. 20 Nov 2010

<http://www.unicef.org/salgado/bio.htm>

Photo Journal Part 2

"A dog walker strolls through an earthquake-damaged district of Padang, Indonesia's West Sumatra province."
Press photo by Dylan Martinez, Reuters, 7th October 2009. http://www.theppy.com/results?year=2010&name=02474-D.jpg

"A PML protester is arrested after being beaten by police in Lahore, Pakistan. Violence had erupted after PML leader Nawaz Sharif defied house arrest,calling for the people of Pakistan to stand for their rights and continue the long march to Islamabad.
Press photo by Daniel Berehulak, Getty Images, 15th March 2009. http://www.theppy.com/results?year=2010&name=00053-A.jpg

"The California Surf Project" Art photo by Chris Burkard, 2009. http://www.silberstudios.tv/blog/category/the-art-of-photography/

"AutoZone" Art photo by Yusuke Nishimura. 2010 http://www.yusukephoto.com/


Differences and Similarities of Press photography and Art photography.


Press photography usually refers to a form of photography that is used to document significant and historical events. These photographs elicit truthfulness, objectivity and are usually candid of a particular subject, most often pictures of people. Photographs should capture the true detail of what had happened to a particular event. It doesn't matter if the image is not nearly as perfect. Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated ("NPPA"). The pictures to be published by the editors are chosen and examined carefully before they are out in the public. Photojournalism distinguishes itself from other forms of professional photography by its adherence to the principles of journalism: timeliness, fair representation of the context of events and facts reported, and accountability to the public (Westbrook).
Above all else, editors demand accuracy. An altered photo is considered to be a document whose accuracy cannot be verified. It is like making up a quote and attributing it to a real person. Altered images are usually not what editors want for editorial display (Mastroianni).


Art photography is difficult to define, primarily because artistic value is very much in the eye of the beholder. It can best be described as photography purely for the sake of expressing the photographer's own vision and feelings. It is not journalistic in nature where a photograph is taken to capture or tell a visual story that coincides with a written one. (Kane).


Press and art photography are similar because they both tell a story. The difference between them is that art photography is planned or staged to tell a story. The photographer sets up the location, the subject and it's lighting whereas photojournalism is shot so candidly that it is like a one in a lifetime image. Press photographs also tell a story but it is about the events that happened or is happening right now. Press images should not be altered. It should keep its original image to be presented in the public unlike art photography which you can alter the image in any way you choose and express yourself.



 Works Cited:




Mastroianni, Ernie. "Fine Art Photography vs. Documentary Photojournalism" Naturescapes.net 10 Dec 2008. Web. 13 Nov 2010. <http://www.naturescapes.net/docs/index.php/conservation-and-ethics/40-conservation-a-ethics/345-fine-art-photography-vs-documentary-photojournalism->


 Kane, Dena. "Definition of Art Photography" eHow, Web. 13 Nov 2010. <http://www.ehow.com/about_4886292_definition-fine-art-photography.html>

Westbrook, Dillon. "A Brief History of Journalism." Photography Schools. Web. 13 Nov 2010.
<http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm>


"NPPA: Code of Ethics." National Press Photographers Association. Nppa.org, 2010. Web 13 Nov 2010.
<http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html>

Photojournalism

Photojournalism is a branch of journalism that tells a story through the form of images. It is different from its other branches in the sense that the stories from the images photojournalists offer are news related.

They are informative, and relevant to society, as well as informing us of what is happening

around the world. These images also possess the quality of being objective. The context of the

images, and its relevance are directly connected to the story it's telling.

Photojournalism is an essential part of the news media

To most people who watch the news or read newspapers, pictures are what give them a visual

representation of what the printed words are summarizing.

This makes reading the newspaper

more effective because it gives the readers an idea of what it must be like to witness these

events as they are unfolding. This is especially true of those who seldom watch the news, or

read the newspaper. These images become their key to understanding the stories that are

being reported in the news.

There are certain rules that photojournalists need to follow in order to document society and preserve its true meaning. Photographs can cause great harm if they are manipulated to exagerrate truths that may lead to false statements. These code of ethics are implemented to ensure highest quality in all forms of visual journalism and to strengthen public confidence in the profession. Here are the codes:

• Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
• Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
• Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.
• Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
• While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
• Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
• Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.
• Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
• Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.

The ethics being followed in taking journalistic photos and writing a news story are the same. They should be truthful, unbiased and accurate. These traits should be practiced in order to gain integrity and achieve reality of the news. The impact of altering photographs can alter its credibility. The only purpose of enhancing photo is to make it presentable for the viewers. They should not be edited in a way that changes the context of the photo. If they changed the context of the photo it can lead to false representation of the news. Overall, any photographs accounting society should not be edited so that it won't mislead the viewers.

Works Cited:



"NPPA: Code of Ethics." National Press Photographers Association. 07 Nov. 2010. <http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html>.

 

"Photojournalism." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 30 Oct. 2010. 07 Nov. 2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photojournalism>.