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>