4.1. Photo Journalism: Definition and Concept Role, Importance
Concept:
The basic idea of using photograph in various channels and outlets such as news papers, periodicals, information booklets and leaflets, albums, exhibitions, display, stills on T.V. internet etc. is to attract the receiver to receive your information by visual support of your message and minimise your words for your expression.
A good photograph is equivalent to thousand words” is said rightly.
What makes a good photograph?
- Focus
- Clear subject in the photograph
- Composition
- Lighting and exposure
- Colour
- Emotion and mood?
Definition:
Photo journalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing and presenting of news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It can be used:
1. Photo support the story.
2. Photo itself become the story.
PHOTO-JOURNALISM is one of the most difficult and powerful branch of the profession, because it requires competence and specialization in two fields—Photography and Journalism. Photojournalism is not staged. It shows the subject as it happened. The public has to trust what they see is true. It’s historic.
Photojournalism is a special category itself which gives ample opportunities and scope to the photographer to show his ability and creative talent for disseminating the required information through photographic illustrations by using minimum words.
Role and Types of Photojournalism:
1. Sports photojournalism
2. War photojournalism
3. Glamour/Fashion photojournalism
4. Spot news photojournalism
5. Travel photojournalism
6. Wildlife photojournalism
1. Sports photojournalism: As sports events are a big part of news, there are photojournalists who specialise in photographing sports. This is also because sports photography requires a specialised skill as well as equipment. Nowadays there are photojournalists who specialise in photographing individual sports.
2. War photojournalism: This is the earliest form of photojournalism, where photojournalists have covered wars and sent photos from the centre of action. In India we see a lot of photographs in newspapers, of conflicts within the country such a terrorist activity or a riot where the photographer is in a dangerous situation and yet he manages to send us pictures, risking his life.
3. Glamour/Fashion photojournalism: Film stars and other famous personalities have become a major part of news coverage as most people want to peep into the lives of the rich and famous. There are photojournalists who specialise in this kind of photography only are also called paparazzi, which is an Italian word.
4. Spot news photojournalism: This means covering events that make day to day news, like political events, crime, accidents etc. This is in fact the most common type of photojournalism and is most demanding for a photojournalist.
5. Travel photojournalism: This type of photojournalism involves the documentation of an area’s landscape, people, culture. Travel photographs are taken by professionals or even amateurs. Photographs taken by amateurs are shared online with friends, relatives etc through photo sharing websites.es, customs and history .
6. Wildlife photojournalism : This is regarded as one of the more challenging forms of photojournalism. Advanced photographic equipment as well as a good knowledge of the animal’s behaviour as well as the terrain is needed to take wildlife photographs.
Role:
· For a coverage or story treatment, advance case study, establishment of locals, inclusion of concern subject matter or persons, wide-angle views, close up shots from different angles are necessary.
· Other than key-shot, few more supportive shots with variety and contrast are also necessary for maintaining continuity and development of story.
· Photographers presence is very much required on the spot and he has to be in the midst of the event without which he cannot record.
· There are certain events which has to be recorded as they are happening and photographer cannot anticipate or predict anything further than what is happening at that particular moment, viz. riots mass demonstration, war, fire, natural calamities, accidents, sport events etc.
· Journalist may not be present at the site of actual happening of event but he can built up his story from hearing it from different sources.
· Photographers has to be present on the spot and take live photographs of actual events risking his life, equipment etc.
· As camera never lies, sometimes one may get a very rare action photograph of the event which brings him name and fame.
- Photojournalist has to be very alert and news conscious.
- Some photographers are good at fast moving events because they have fast reflexes but they may not be equally good at stage managed assignments.
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