What motivates photojournalists?

 

Image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/371617406723909538/

Photo by: Pinterest

 

 

Photo by : Tim Hetherington

Image Source: https://pro.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53IWY0

Tim Hetherington was a British photojournalist who grew up in Liverpool, UK. and attended Patrick’s catholic primary school. Later attending stony hurt college and oxford in 1989. Shortly after graduation, his grandmother passed and he got 5,000 from her will. With the money, he spent the next two years travelling from India, to China, and Tibet. After this is when he realized he wanted to take pictures and explore for a living. later, he decided to go back to school to study photojournalism.  After this before he died he live in New York and was a photographer for vanity fair magazine. What inspired him the most to start photojournalism was his passion for travelling and learning about the world.  “His interest lies in creating diverse forms of visualcommunication.” He loved to communicate in interesting ways through photographs and that was his inspiration to become a photojournalist, and make other great works throughout his life. He died tragically while covering a civil war in Libya so you could say he died doing, and for the thing he loved most. United States Air Force combat photojournalist Stacy Pearsall has also been in the line of fire, and dangerous situations as well because of her photojournalistic career. She talks about her experiences in the veterans portrait project video about how she has sustained many injuries in her career while trying to get the shot. After one incident, the military said she couldn’t do photography anymore for them, but she continued to she says “for herself” outside of the military. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=87&v=J0yguEoqCgY Based on just two of the heroic people that go into battle field and put their life in danger just to get the picture, and to portray what is going on in the world, to the world. We see how much there want and motivation is to do this job, and how much they love this job with Hetherington, even dying for it, and Stacy who has come very close to as well.

 

Portrait:

 

Image source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/20/asia/hong-kong-photographer-maid/index.html
 

Photo by: CNN




 

 

Image source: http://petapixel.com/2015/01/23/filipino-domestic-worker-earns-prestigious-magnum-fellowship-photography/

 

Photo by: Xyza Cruz Bacani

Xyza Cruz Bacani, is a photo journalist from the phillipines. Her photojournalism journey started off with a camera bought with borrowed money. As stated by interaksyon.com, in the course content material, Xyza says her “passion for photography took off four years ago, when her employer -- whom shedescribes as a "great lady" -- lent her the money to buy her firstcamera, a Nikon D90.” she started off just enjoying to take pictures of simple things, like landscapes family members and just anything she saw really. Interakyson added, she said “When I had (the camera), I shot landscapes to flowers to (portraits of) my mom, and then I did street photography." Her motivations to become a photojournalist and take pictures seem to have sprouted just from interests in photography. It then kind of turned into a way for her to survive and make a life for herself when she decided to leave her job as a maid in Hong Kong, and make it a living. Now her motivations have changed a little, with her work becoming more and more noticed, she says she wants to do documentary photography to try to draw attention to abuses. Interakyson.com added, Xyza says “That's what I want my photography to do, to be able to help people...to me photography is a very powerful tool to change someone's perspective toward an issue." And now her hard work may be starting to pay off. "She recently has been selected as one of the seven Human rights fellows by the Magnum foundation to spend six weeks at New York’s university, Tisch School of the Arts. A very honorable fellowship," they will give her the skills to pursue documentary type photographs in her home country, as stated by CNN.

 

Steven McCurry

 

Image source: http://www.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/articles/2015/july/10/steve-mccurrys-advice-for-young-creatives-2/

Photo by Phaidon.com

 

Image source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/23/world/steve-mccurry-afghan-girl-photo/index.html

Photo by: Steven McCurry

Steven McCurry is a photojournalist who is known best for his remarkable color photography. 121clicks.com, states that Steve was born in Philadelphia, and graduated from the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University. Originally he had wanted to do documentary films, until he got a taste of still photography working for the college newspaper, and enjoyed it. So, instead when he graduated he worked at a newspaper for three years doing photography.This is when he decided to pursue this passion and travel to India to do some freelance photography. He said to national Geographic that “It was in India that helearned to watch and wait on life.” Saying that, "If you wait," herealized, "people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up intoview." “His career was launched when, disguised in native garb, he crossed the Pakistan border into rebel-controlled Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion.” National Geographic adds.  He went in with rolls of film, that later were published around the world as the first to show the conflict going on there. After this he was noticed in magazines everywhere for capturing such photos that nobody else could get. As professor Nordell states about his own motivation, “Seeing my name published next to one of my images never gets old! Giving voice to the underdog motivates me. The chance to meet new people motivates me.  Making money by selling my images motivates me.” Similar to McCurry’s motivations, like Success which motivated him to keep going, and travel more places to get photos like this. And he did, his most famous known photo now is his Photo called “Afghan girl” which is now a famous photo recognized everywhere all around the world. His successes motivated him more to keep going, Steve has said about what motivates him is his love to travel and explore the world. He's said on his website, SteveMcCurry.com “My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.”
 

 A lot of these photojournalists motivations are very similar to my motivations. I think for most people what drives them and what makes them want to accomplish something is if they have a real passion for it. I think passion and want is what drives people the most which is a motivation I put on my map, and is also the main reason these three photojournalists have gotten where they have in their careers, and done and seen the things they have. Though everyone’s wants and passions may be different, as these photojournalists are different from mine, and from eachother’s as I outlined in my map, having determination and passion for something will always help motivate people. Another thing I put in my map which I think is a big part of motivation and inspiration is positive reinforcement and self-esteem. Once I see myself do good at something I’m trying to accomplish it makes me want to keep going. If I am getting help and praise from others for what I’m doing, or start to see a positive outcome and success it always makes it that much more motivating to keep going. I think that is also true for these photojournalists. Once they saw themselves accomplish something small, or say there first photjournalistic project it makes them want to keep going. For example Xyza Cruz Bacani’s first photojournalistic pictures were just of people walking down the street or simple things like that. Once she got positive responses for those photos, it made her want to continue and keep working harder and do even more. Previous successes and love for something always motivates people more I think as it has for me, and for these three photojournalists as well.

my motivations map:

Since my map goes in a circle it may be a little difficult to read, this is what it says.

Determination

Love

Passion

A purpose/reason

Past experiences and successes

Positive reinforcement

Rewards

Confidence

Want

Self-esteem

Cause

 

 

 

Photojournalism and Bias

 

Subjects expression:

The soldier looks very emotional as do the people around him. You can tell this guy is feeling a lot of emotion and is very sad by his facial expression, and is looking up to the sky like for help. You can tell by the look on his face how deeply he is feeling whatever has happened, and from the people around him. There expression also looks very unhappy or even focused on the guy and sad.

Black and white:

This photo being in black and white makes you feel the emotion more within it. I think in color you could still feel the emotion, but the black and white makes it feel more real. I think the black and white also helps to explain the times it was taken in, and what life was like then. 

Abstraction:

This photo is representational with all the emotion and feeling it shows. Meanings emerge in this photo just based on the subject’s facial expressions. You can tell the man and the people in the background seem angry or upset so that is the meaning that emerges for me. It makes you feel how there feeling because of the strong emotion shown and makes it come to life.

 

 

 

 

 

I think this photo shows so much emotion. It looks sad like maybe he is playing his music for a sad event that had just happened. But it also looks like he is playing with so much soul. Like he is playing his music for a cause, and with a purpose. It doesn’t look relaxed and casual but like he is more into it than that. The people in the back also don’t look happy but also not quite sad either. They look a little more concerned or focused more emotionless then the man, the main subject of the photo. I think the people in the background are like this because they are very focused on him or the situation at hand it  just feels like a very emotional photo. This photos emotion is a lot Like that of the feminist photo Bettye Lane: A Feminist Photojournalist’s Arresting Images,because they both portray a meaning. Though the feminist photo is a little clearer, holding a sign and marching down a street its clear there asking for equal right for women. Though the Going Home picture isn’t clear as to what exactly there doing, at least not to me, but you can feel the emotion in the strong facial expression and body movements. This goes to show images can portray things in so many different ways, and everyone can see a picture so differently.

 

 

Image source: http://www.ecstudents.net/14springb3f/thuang/issue.html

Photo by: ecstudents

 

                                                                            Texture:

 

 This photo shows a lot of texture. It shows wetness from the water where the kids are standing. And there is texture with the kids and their bodies because there coming out of the water. It helps make the picture more detailed, and feel more real and 3D even seeing the ripples in the water adds to the texture and reality.

                                                           Feelings the Image Created:

 

 The image created a feeling of sadness sort of because it looks like kids are working. Usually children this age you see out having fun but instead they appear hard at work. Also, the two boys looking at the camera don look mad, but more serious so it gives a feeling of seriousness to the image that you usually don’t see in children. Which makes this photo kind of depressing.

                                                                 Quality of Light: 

 

I like the quality of light in this photo because it works well to compliment the kids. Since its outside, I’m assuming its natural light which makes it even more authentic. The light looks like it shines maybe coming from behind the camera towards the kids, or from up above. This makes the background darker, and where the kids are lighter bringing your attention more to them and not what’s behind them.

 

This photo represents truth because it appears to be showing African kids in their real environment. I think it hard to tell if any photo is telling the truth because anyone can stage anything. Also, everyone has a different opinion of what a “real’ photograph is.  As the video “I want to live” with Shahidulalam says, “there is an assumption that there is only one truth, or onlyone at of looking at things… a story has many truths and many levels.” I agree with this idea; one person can look at a photo and see it as untruthful and another look at it and see the truth. It’s all about perception and how someone looks at a photo which is based on their life, and their experiences. To me a real photo is one that is unedited or not photo shopped. I think a photo that has any type of photo shopping is the most fake kind of photo there is. I also think a photo is truth if the feelings or vision portrayed from it are what’s actually going on. The way these children in this photo are dressed, and where there playing is really how it usually is for them. That looks like somewhere they could possibly be around a lot and to me it portrays truth. That’s as truthful as a photo can get. And as Nordell says, in his Photojournalism and bias-part 1 video, “your Truth and bias can change over time.” I think that’s true as well, and the two really go hand in hand, truth and bias. What you see as truth can always change like he says too because as you grow and your life changes, everyone starts to see things differently. With that being said, as you grow and see, and realize more when looking at photos for truth or not truth is always changing, as are your thoughts and feelings on truth. Language and authority is what made me feel like this image is real. From learning in classes, and seeing things in life is what has made me able to realize what it is like in Africa, and what they go through. This gives me previous knowledge on children like these where I have some insight to determine if the image is real or fake. If I never had seen anything from Africa or learned about it, I wouldn’t be able to determine at all if this is how they really lived, or looked like to determine if it could be truthful.

Image source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2981273/Ultra-orthodox-Jewish-children-dress-clowns-cuddly-bears-scarecrows-celebrate-traditional-festival-Purim.html

Photo by: Dailymail.com

 

In Focus:

This photo is very much in focus. You can see the colors and details very clearly. And even though his face isn't that close, you can see his facial features in focus as well. The background is a little more out of focus then the subject, but it is still clear. and the background being less clear, brings more attention to the subject being more in focus.

Obvious Main Subject:

This image shows an obvious man subject because the boy takes up pretty much the whole shot. Also, because he is wearing a bright color compared to the background it makes him stand out more. And since he is in more focus you can easily tell right away he is the clear main subject.

Keep it Simple:

This photo is very simple because there isn't a lot going on. What makes it simple is that it is not cluttered with a lot of different things to look at. The subject is really the only thing that grabs your attention making it very simple and clear.

I think a photo being not the truth is a photo that portrays anything not real or that is fake. I think this photo is unreal because it appears to be a boy dressed up as something he is not. He is dressed up as like an old king of some sort and appears to be costume which I think makes it untruthful because it’s not portraying who he really is. Other things that make an untruthful photo are things like Photoshopping in many cases like I said, or taking a picture in a way that looks different than reality I think makes it not real. like Nordell’s post; photojournalismand bias part too shows a good example of not showing the whole picture. First he presents a photo of a crowd that shows depth of field all the way back to the tree so you can see how many people are there. Then it shows a second photo close-up of just a couple people. The close-up can in a way be “not real” because if people just saw that photo and weren’t there it would look like there wasn’t a lot of people, which wasn’t the reality. It can be little things like this that changes the viewer’s perception which then makes the photo look unreal. Another photo that shows this type of thing is in the article called The Rules of Photojournalism are Keeping us From the Truth. It talks about images not portraying the truth, even when they look like the truth. It goes on to say “Amplified technique threatens to dominate the image, and it will lead to picturesque gluttony.” This is referring to how overused technique, or photo editing can take way from the photo. Sometimes making it not present the whole truth, as it does in a couple of photos in this post. Like the photography from the Orange Revolution, shown is bad because It doesn’t portray what the revolution was actually like in the photo shown. With this being said though, I think it’s not always a photographer not trying to show realty or trying to show a fake photo but sometimes, like these cases I think the photographer may not even realize what there presenting in not the truth. It’s really how people view it weather its truth or not to them. With this image, I used logic and reason to perceive it as not true. I know that this is a young Jewish boy and using my own logic and reasoning I know he typically doesn’t dress like that because I know what they typically wear. In this photo is looks like he is dressing up as someone like a king or something from ancient times. I know this based on what I previously have learned and know that it looks like a costume. Making this photo of a boy dressing up is portraying an untruthful photo. And I would probably not know this was untrue without my logic and reasoning.

Ethics of photojournalism

One situation that caused a lot of controversy, where a photojournalist may not have been fully ethical is a situation that took place in Israel with a man named Menahem Kahana. This situation has to do with photojournalists editing or altering photos. According to Mark Hancock’s blog, In this case, “Menahem Kahana's image appeared in Yated Neeman, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper and clearly someone had messed with the image.” In the photo, someone had removed the female ministers from the photo, and replaced them with men to make it all men in the photo. The New York Times added that another newspaper posted the same picture, also getting rid of the women, but did it a little differently. "The weekly Shaa Tova simply blacked the women out" instead of replacing the women with men, they just blocked there faces. The photograph the women were cropped out of was taken at an official ceremony welcoming the nee Israeli leadership. Per the San Diego Union-Tribune, “Ultra-orthodox newspapers consider it immodest to print images of women.”  Though this was a very controversial photo altering, it is what the religion believes in making it a tough issue to resolve. “In the United States cloning over people is a “terminal offense” but in the Middle East image manipulation has recent precedents as well The Tribune stated.”

 

                       original photo vs. the photo after cropping out the women.

Photo by: Menahem Kahana

Image source: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/setbacks-for-women-in-israel-pakistan-and-afghanistan/comment-page-9/?_r=1

 

 

 

Photo oh Limor Livnat, one of the women ministers that was cropped out of the photo.

Photo by: Daily Mail

Image source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1167063/Now-you-dont-Orthodox-Israeli-newspapers-Photo-shop-female-Cabinet-ministers.html

 

In my opinion the actions of this photographer were unfair, unkind and would not follow my personal ethics. Especially for me being from the United States and living in the kind of country, and times I do that would totally not be excepted here, by anyone. People have fought for many years and still are for women’s rights. To me, the action of taking these women out of the photo is discriminatory and is hurtful which violates ethical codes in general. Though, I do understand that Israel is a very different place and being ultra- orthodox is something totally different then what I know and am used to. I’m sure to them it made sense and is even part of how they normally act so it isn’t totally out of the norm for them, which I can understand. Though I do feel like it could have been handled differently without totally changing and photo shopping a photo.

Based on my personal ethics I would have approached the situation totally differently. I think I would have just not included that photo in that newspaper to begin with. If that newspaper was unaccepting of women being photographed I would have not put the photo at all. If they wanted a photo of the cabinet in there, it still would have been even better to take a photo with just the men then to crop the women out and replace them in my opinion.

Though I think it still would have been discriminatory to leave the women out, trying to understand that religious groups personal ethics I would have at least done that. I feel like by cropping those women out and replacing them it made a fake photo, and made them look bad. I would have approached the situation in the most kind and fair way possible to all people involved. This includes the women, the ultra-orthodox Jewish people, and everyone involved. I think doing one of the two things I suggested would have been the fairest to everyone.