Chapter One - Can Photographs Change the World?

Prior to enrolling in this class I undoubtedly appreciated words much more than images and photographs. I have always been a writer and for the most part, I never run out of things to say or write. Also with descriptive language, you can cover all sides of an issue in as much detail as you deem appropriate. With photography you are much more limited and may only have one opportunity to get “the” shot. However, the introductory photojournalism modules have definitely transformed my whole perspective, especially discovering the definition of photojournalism as opposed to photography alone. Having the opportunity to view many Pulitzer Prize winners has broadened my horizons and I now strongly believe that an iconic picture really is worth more than a thousand words. I was just ignorant to this possibility before. With the click of a button we may capture a compelling moment and consequently have the potential to change the world and leave a distinctive mark on history. A prime example of this was Alexander Zemlianichenko’s image of the Russian president Boris Yeltsin dancing away at a concert. This photograph alone was an influential factor in the president’s re-election for a subsequent term and the image will always be remembered and discussed on a global scale.

In my opinion, for a photograph to be considered historic and have the potential to influence the world as a whole, the image must be captivating, influential, unforgettable, and at times even a little controversial. It does not have to be associated with one specific notion, it can be related to an array of divergent themes. Many of the iconic photographs I have encountered thus far are plagued with pessimism: malnutrition, poverty, suffering, violence, and ultimately death. The original photograph I posted on my first blog post of the starving Sudanese child attempting desperately to reach the closest refugee camp has had a profound impact on me personally. Although the Kevin Carter photograph won a Pulitzer Prize, he faced harsh criticism as the photographer failed to help the child and instead prolonged his suffering by waiting for the vulture to enter into the frame so he could capture a prize winning shot. Similarly, Nick Ut’s image of the terrified children running from an aerial napalm attack was also very powerful for me. I was immediately drawn to the naked child and the young boy in the foreground, their expressions convey pure agony. 

On the other hand, two more positive images that I feel undoubtedly changed the world are the portrait of young Anne Frank and also the first ever human X-ray. For those who are familiar with the story of Anne Frank and her infamous diary, this particular image  finally put a face to a name. The teenager gave great historical insight into Nazi rule and Hitler’s dictatorship and also the extermination of the Jews in the Holocaust. Her work was influential worldwide and although this image is only her portrait, her eyes are tremendously compelling. Similarly, the first Human X-ray taken in 1896 by Wilhelm Roentgen was also significant and historic. This image paved the way for crucial developments within the medical field.

Overall, any successful photograph has the potential to impact millions of people. I believe the bottom line is that each photograph is unique in its own way and contributes a piece to the historical jig saw or a chapter in the story. Any image that has a profound impact on its audience, positive or negative, is worth a thousand words.  

 

 

Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko

Image Source: http://www.pulitzer.org/works/1997-Feature-Photography

 

 

 

Photo by Kevin Carter

Image Source: http://paulagortazar.blogspot.com/p/ethical-limits-in-documentary.html

 

Photo by Nick Ut

Image Source: http://photothisandthat.co.uk/2012/08/18/nick-uts-iconic-napalm-girl-photo/one-time-use-only-ap-photonick-ut/

 

Photo by: Michael J. Lewis

Image Source: http://michaeljlewis.wordpress.com/2012/02/

Photo by Wilhelm Roentgen

Image Source: http://www.worldsfamousphotos.com/2007/03/28/first-x-ray-1896/

 

The first chapter of my book

With my own personal communications background and the courses I’ve taken at AIC, at face value the term “photojournalism” communicates to me an overlapping of photography and journalism, two classes that I have taken independently. Photojournalism is a branch of journalism which in my opinion places emphasis on selling information through the use of powerful and sometimes controversial images. In other words, the key is to take pictures that match the information in a story thematically. It is inadequate and pointless to use an image with a piece of writing that does not match thematically as it can be tremendously confusing for the reader/audience.

Similarly, a photojournalist is an individual that excels as both a photographer and journalist simultaneously. I may be stating the obvious here, however, both vocations require a completely different set of specialized skills, the gift is being able to combine the two to become a successful and prominent photojournalist. In other words, an individual that can successfully tell a story by “capturing the moment” and also “be in the right place at the right time.” In addition to being able to take a photograph and think like a journalist, an individual must be aware of ethical considerations within the media, keep up to speed with current events, know the stories that will sell, be willing to conduct through research, and also have an artistic eye. Fairness, accuracy and objectivity are three other crucial components that a photojournalist must adhere to at all times. Overall, the fundamental difference between a photojournalist and a regular photographer is that “photojournalists take pictures of verbs (things happening), whereas others photograph nouns.”

While I strongly believe that working as a photojournalist has the potential to be an extremely rewarding and even life changing occupation, after watching the videos, it quickly became apparent that such individuals also face hardships conflict. The example of Jason Henske, who was working in a small market, openly discussed the difficulties of remaining objective and being able to “separate your feelings as a friend from your feelings as a photographer.” Likewise, the freelance conflict photographers featured in the documentary willingly risk their lives on a daily basis in an attempt to tell stories of conflict through image. There is no guarantee that the images will even be utilized or published and the individuals are in the midst of an ongoing violent battle.

Many individuals ponder why we study history in general, never mind the specific history of photojournalism? History is an ongoing story with endless possibilities. It cannot be summarized by one single concept, there is sporting history, political history, wars, inventions, and so on and so forth. Historical landmarks have defined our present world as we know it and without them we would not be where we are today. The bottom line is, “history is what we make of it,” we can embrace the successes and failures or we can be completely ignorant to its limitless boundaries. The notion of photojournalism dates back to the time of the civil war where exhibits were displayed for individuals to view. It is crucial that we are aware of its origin because we can then appreciate the colossal developments and technological advancements over the years. In today’s society, images are displayed through an array of different mediums: from daily newspapers to the World Wide Web. It just goes to show how times have changed dramatically and without history we would be completely oblivious to this.

 

 

Photo by Phillip Jones Griffiths
Image Source: http://www.12thpress.com/?tag=phillip-jones-griffiths

 

 

Photo by Eddie Adams
Image Source: http://vietnamiconicphotos.wordpress.com/tag/eddie-adams/

I decided to include these two horrific images because in my opinion they each tell a very unique historical story.

 

Kevin Carter's Controversial Photograph

Photo by Kevin Carter

Image Source: http://all-that-is-interesting.com/iconic-images-1990s