PART D - BASIC PHOTOJOURNALISTIC TECHNIQUES
11. Photojournalism.
Photojournalism is communication of a very special type. It is "in-depth"
reporting with photographs and words.
To do so effectively, you must
understand certain fundamentals.
a. You must know and understand your subject. You can not communicate
information about a subject with which you are not familiar.
It isn't
necessary that you like the subject, but unless you understand your subject,
how can you expect someone looking at your pictures to understand it?
b. A photographer should have a purpose for the message he is trying to
put across.
Otherwise, there is no need for it.
Your purpose might be
profound or you might simply want to share an emotion of experience, but
identify your purpose.
c. You should know to whom you are communicating. For example, is it
to a specific audience which possesses some knowledge of your subject? Is it
to adults? Or is it to a mixed group of men, women, and children? Answers to
these types of questions should determine the way you will approach and
cover your subject.
12. People are Interesting Subjects.
Approximately two and one-half million photographs are taken annually by
amateur and professional photographers alike. More then one-half of these
photographs use people as their prime subject. Photojournalism is a form of
communication that portrays people and their environment; therefore, your
choice of subject matter is relatively simple. Or is it?
"All people are different," no two alike.
To photograph people, you must
understand their individual differences and explore "in-depth" the world in
which they work, play, and live. Not the world, but their world.
a. You will have to do some research, a little exploring to gain an
understanding about your subject.
The following are some examples of the
type of questions you will have to ask of yourself and your subject.
(1) What does this person do?
(2) How do they feel about their work?
(3) Why do I want to photograph this subject?
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