Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

Compare the work of Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson  versus the work of Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado.  They are photojournalist with different approaches. What are the main differences and similarities?

Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson and Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado both capture a subject that portrays a story and has a meaning. They capture the truth and express their feeling towards it. And they both deliver messages to the reader. The differences of these to approaches are Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson approach believes that if a photographer wants to be a good photojournalist, he/she needs to be invisible when taking photo, he/she also need to capture the reality and the truth without editing, altering or adding other pieces just to have a good photo. Considering that every reader needs to know every detail of the story and the truth about it (DB 10). While Smith and Salgado approach is really opposite to Kertesz and Cartier approach, they believe that in order to get a real photo, a photojournalist needs to be visible and noticeable when taking photo and he/she needs to be part of his/her story, interact with the people and involve his/her emotion on it. Also this approach believes that in order to deliver a good photo or a story to the reader, a photojournalist can ethically alter and edit his/her photo (DB 11).

What’s the better journalistic approach?

For me I believe that in order to deliver a real story, every photojournalist should adopt Kertesz and Cartier approach. According to National Press Photographers Association, here are some of the rules: “be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity”(NPPA Code of Ethics). It should stay in every mind of photojournalist, these will help them a lot to develop their communication skills and their personality especially dealing with different kinds of people. A photojournalist should follow these rules in order to deliver good and accurate news. It is his/her obligation to deliver truth and factual information, without altering or editing his/her photo. Also by this approach, he/she is maintaining the uniqueness of their photo. Every reader has the rights to know the truth.

Work Cited:

Icevska, Gordana. "Week 10 Readings." Web post. Photography Shooting the Truth. George Brown College, Web. 22 Mar. 

2012Icevska, Gordana. "Week 11 Readings." Web post. Photography Shooting the Truth. George Brown College, Web. 22 Mar. 2012

NPPA. “NPPA Code of Ethics.” NPAA.org National Press Photographs Association. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.

Presentation Week 9: Shooting the truth: Photojournalism

What's the role of photo journalism?

Photojournalism is the act of telling stories through photographs. “It is the use of photographs in conjunction with the reporting of news in media such as print newspapers, magazines, television news and Internet reporting. A photojournalist when delivering news or reports must meet the principles of journalism; timeliness, accuracy, fairness on representing details and context of events and facts gathered and the accountability to present it to the public”(Westbrook). He or she should deliver all the accurate facts without missing any important details and he or she must be good at explaining his or her purpose of the subject.

Are there rules that photojournalists should follow? Why? Why not?

There are rules a photojournalist must follow. According to National Press Photographers Association, here are some of the rules: “be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity”(NPPA Code of Ethics). It should stay in every mind of photojournalist, these will help them a lot to develop their communication skills and their personality especially dealing with different kinds of people. A photojournalist should follow these rules in order to deliver good and accurate news. 

Is the ethics of taking journalistic photos different than the ethics of writing a news story?

These Code of Ethics are same as the rules in writing a news story. A photojournalist and a journalist/newscaster must uphold the standards and ethics to deliver truthful and realistic story or article.

What's the impact of altering press photographs? Should they be edited (at all) in postproduction?

Photographs are created through the vision of the photographer. This is what makes them each unique. Photojournalist should not alter photographs because reader wants to know the truth and they want realistic news, photos and articles. “The photojournalist must be careful not to exclude important parts of the context of the event being photographed” (Westbrook). Even though technology is really booming right now, a photograph can just altered by enhancing the quality of it like contrast, exposure and saturation, etc. He or she should not edit it just to satisfy and please readers; it is their obligation to deliver truth, accurate and factual details, hence if they can’t follow the rules then their photo will result as fake, and its uniqueness will lose. 

Work cited:

Westbrook, Dillon. “A brief history of Photojournalism”. Photography-schools.com Photography Schools. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

NPPA. “NPPA Code of Ethics.” NPAA.org National Press Photographs Association. Web. 9 Mar 2012. 

ART VS. PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Press Photography or Photojournalism is an act of telling stories through photographs.  It is the use of photographs in reporting of news though newspapers, magazines, television and Internet.

Examples: 

First prize in the nature singles category was taken by 

the Chilean photographer Carlos F Gutierrez, of Patagonia Press, 

for Diario La Tercera, showing the Chaiten volcano erupting, in Chile, 2 May 2008

Photograph: Carlos F. Gutierrez/AP

World Press Photo Awards

This picture by Walter Astrada, taken on 17 January 2008, 

shows a Kenyan boy screaming as he sees a policeman 

with a baton approaching the door of his home in the Kibera slum of Nairobi. 

Astrada's series in Nairobi won first prize in the spot news singles category.

Photograph: Walter Astrada/AFP

World Press Photo Awards

Art Photography is a photograph that is created with creativity. It is contrast with photojournalism, it used for commercial and advertisement of products.

 Examples:

HWY 52 – HWY 287 Lightning Storm Image 29. 

A lightning thunderstorm cell with lightning striking 

and mean looking clouds. Lightning weather photography

This is taken by Bo Insogna.

     Take a closer look at these photos and you will find out that 

    they are all made from food.  a series of still life with edible home 

     ingredients to design these series of delicious landscapes.  

  Photographer Carl Warner painstakingly captures all forms of food.

• The main differences and similarities between art and press photography.

·      Similarities

                    Art and press photography have similarities in such a way:

o   Both artists and photojournalist’s captures an image to express their feeling and emotion.

o   And this feeling and emotion may affect or influence the view and opinion of the reader/viewer.

o   Their main objective is to capture the best images.

o   And they provide information and share it to others.

·      Differences:

                   Art and Press photographs have many differences too like:

                    Press Photograph:

o   It is an act of telling stories;

o   It is use for reporting of news through media like newspaper, magazines, and television;

o   Cannot be alter or edit; it is unethical.

                    Art Photograph:

o   It is an act of expressing one’s self.

o   It is use to advertise and to promote a product or services to public.

o   Can be alter or edit, as it is part of being creative.

•      Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs?

Photographs are created through the vision of the photographer. This is what makes them each unique. Photojournalist should not alter photographs because readers will misinterpret it, and of course they want to know the truth and realistic news, photos and articles. “The photojournalist must be careful not to exclude important parts of the context of the event being photographed” (Westbrook). Even though technology is really booming right now, a photograph can just altered by enhancing the quality of it like contrast, exposure and saturation, etc. He or she should not edit it just to satisfy and please readers, it is their obligation to deliver truth, accurate and factual details, and hence if they can’t follow the rules then their photo will result, as fake, and its uniqueness will lose. As the editor of the Toledo Blade stated “Photojournalism is an accurate representation of the truth”.

•  Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs?

Based on my opinion, altering and editing art photograph is acceptable and ethical because as what I’ve said earlier, art photography is created through creativity and it also promoted with various aesthetics approach. So in order to be creative for the sake of art, artists can edit and alter their photos. They can use other medium and tools to help them enhance and express their perception to share it with others. It is also one way for the artists to express themselves in a limitless ways!

Thank you!

References:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/item_RdCzFVlwQhGR4OeH0dhrbL

http://www.welt.de/english-news/article3220481/World-Press-Photos.html

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/hwy-52--hwy-287-lightning-storm-image-29-james-bo-insogna.html

http://www.hemmy.net/2008/03/24/food-art-photography/

http://www.fourandsix.com/photo-tampering-history/tag/photojournalism-ethics

Westbrook, Dillon. “A brief history of Photojournalism”. Photography-schools.com Photography Schools. Web. 9 Mar. 2012.

Assignment 3 - Photo Journal 2 (Week 10)