Photojournalism
Photojournalism is the art of telling stories of public interest through photography. Traditionally restricted to photos, photojournalism has come to include video documentaries shot either by a videographer or a reporter working both as a journalist and a cameraman at the same time.
Applications
Products of photojournalism can be seen in everyday life. Below are some examples.
Documentaries
Documentaries are better if there are accompanying videos that provide more context to the issue being discussed. Here is a short talk from Ted.com about photojournalism and how it connects people.
Sports Events
The works of photojournalists are indispensable in sports events as they add more excitement to sports articles that may be too technical or detail-heavy for the average reader or viewer. Here are some examples of photojournalistic works used in sports articles.
Social Issues
Aside from providing insights on day-to-day events, photojournalism has also become an important tool in addressing societal problems such as those involving democracy and humanitarian crises. An example of the impact of photojournalism and how they affect the way social issues are viewed can be seen in this article.
Notable People
Xyra Cruz Bacani is a 27-year-old Filipina who became passionate in photography while working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong. She gained international recognition after some of her works were accidentally discovered by a documentary photographer. She has recently been chosen as a scholar of Magnum Foundation, an organization that grants six-week photography seminars and training in New York. You can see some of her latest works here.
Nacho Hernandez is a Spanish freelance photojournalist currently based in Manila, Philippines. His specialization lies in humanitarian issues and his works have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Asian Geographic, and other notable publications. You can see some of his photos here.
Yuyang Liu is a 23-year old Chinese photojournalist who received the 2015 Ian Parry Scholarship. He is currently working as a freelance photojournalist with some of his works used by Getty Images and The New York Times. Check out some of his works and award-winning photos at www.yuyangliu.com.
Resources for Further Reading
- The Big Picture (online gallery of pictures taken by Boston Globe contributors)
- Social Documentary Network (online magazine that describes their features as visual stories exploring global themes)
