What is Photojournalism?

            A photo has the ability to tell a story and allows people to see first hand an event or conflict that is happening in the world. As writer Shona Sanzgiri states, “photos that “show” the news—has the power to shape the world’s perceptions, tell stories and make history.” Photojournalism is a type of journalism where photos, instead of words, are used to convey a powerful or meaningful message to people about current events that are happening around the world. As Professor Nordell stated in his video, “Photojournalists take pictures of verbs, of things happening.” Images allow us to express what words can not. Whether it be a war or nature image, pictures used in photojournalism are unbiased and the reader must make their own conclusions about what is true. Photos are evidence that something occurred or existed, and therefore photojournalism is able to capture and record some of the world’s greatest accomplishments, as well as tragic events.  

Photojournalism acts as a visual truth, documenting and showing the reality of the world.        

Everyday, new conflicts and events are occurring, yet we may not even realize they are happening. Photojournalism gets us out of our personal bubbles that we are living in by showing us photos that portray real life issues on a deeper, more personal level. I believe that seeing a photo of something sparks a lot more emotions than reading it from a text. Photos can help create a better understanding and connection to the event that is happening, making us emotionally invested. As James Nachtwey explained in his video, that “...the strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity.” Photojournalism gives people the chance to see an event through the eyes of the people who are physically there, even if we are not.  When looking at a photo, especially of people in a crisis, we feel a variety of different emotions because as human beings, we can relate to one another. In Abd Doumany's photo, which depicts the horrific aftermath of a bombing in Syria, he is able to pull at the heart strings and stir up emotion. Even though we do not personally know this man and his daughter, we feel sympathy and pain for the father. Photos help bring to light the seriousness of a situation and can have a lasting impact on a person. Photojournalism helps us have a deeper understanding of other cultures and unveil issues that impact the world.

            Whether it be on the television, in the newspapers, or even in a blog, photojournalism has played a major role when reporting on news and current events. The use of a photo to convey a story has radically changed how people respond to certain events. As Ed Kashi, author of What is Photojournalism explains, “Photojournalism can also work as an agent of change, often outside of its role in mainstream media….[it] expands the aesthetics of visual reporting, justifies its grand intentions of enlightenment and contributes to our deeper understanding of the world.” Photojournalism is a source of quick news, where one can look at an image of something and suddenly feel a connection. It is important to know the history of photojournalism because without photos, we would not have a fast and efficient way to share the triumphs and conflicts of the world. We would not be able to look back at our history and feel some kind of connection to it. The history of photojournalism has greatly shaped the way we view news, making it a more personal experience.

             Photos are evidence of history, for they can bring us back in time without physically ever leaving. Photojournalism helps solidify events that happened in the past, therefore giving us a better understanding and connection to the past itself. In the video, Why Study History?, Joanna Hayes states, “History is the window into the past.” Without history, we would have no idea as to what happened in our past. We would have no knowledge of how our world or the people in it came about. I believe that photos are also a window into our past, for they give us insight into the past. Just like photojournalism, history, according to Hayes, “keeps us informed on current events as they unfold.” History helps us remember why and how the world was shaped and the reason why some conflicts exist. The photo, Iwo Jima, taken by Joe Rosenthal, is a prime example of how photojournalism helps us connect to the past. This image shows a key moment in history when American soldiers raised the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II. This photo allows us to remember the past and makes sure we will never forget this historic moment. While photos capture history, photojournalism helps us connect to it, and have a better understanding of other people and the world around us. Photojournalism conveys both the good and bad parts of history, allowing us the chance to remember the past, while looking forward to the future. 

Photo By Abd Doumany 

Image Source: http://www.worldpressphoto.org/collection/photo/2016/general-news/abd-doumany

Photo By Joe Rosenthal 

Image Source: http://spartacus-educational.com/USAProsenthal.htm