Andre Kertesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado are four of the greatest photojournalists. The photojournalists were all able to successfully convey real life situations through still image.

Andre Kertesz, and Henri Cartier-Bresson

Kertesz was one of the greatest photojournalists to produce black and white images. He perfected the art even though it wasn’t very popular in his time. Kertesz would rather take an image of someone who is unaware that they are being photographed.

Photo By: Andre Kertesz

Cartier-Bresson was a conventional painter, who was the master of capturing candid images. Cartier-Bresson focused on taking photos that had one or more subjects in motion without the look of a posed or staged appearance.

 Photo Shot By: Henri Cartier-Bresson

Both Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson felt as if real images were only captured when the subject is unaware that they are being photographed.

Smith and Salgado 

Smith was a photojournalist who found it more effective to interact with his subjects. Smith wants his subject to know he is there, and prefers a staged background to help uphold his presence. Just by the way his backgrounds are set, as a viewer you can tell that his subjects are aware of his presence.

Photo Shot By: Eugene Smith

Salgado believes that the more time spent with his subject determines the outcome of his work. In other words the more time he spends with his subject, the more the viewers will understand the nature of his ideas; also so he is able to further understand the nature of his subject. Through Salado’s photos you can collect many emotions that help you have a basic understanding of what is going on in the occurring event.

 Photo Shot By: Sebastio Salgado

Both Smith and Salgado want viewers to know that the subjects in their images are fully aware of their presence. They both rather prepare their backgrounds, lighting, and positioning to bring out the best in their images.

Similarities

- They are all successful photojournalists

- Both Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson believed that the photographer should be absolutely unnoticed in order to take a real photo

- They all use the black and white effect on their photos  

Differences

- Editing, and manipulation of their photographs

- Smith believed that a photographer should be highly visible and in some cases even be a part of the life of the subjects of his photographs.

 - Smith and Salgado manipulated their images by staging the scene. In many of his photos, he worked with light

- Salgado and Smith rather create a realistic looking photo than take one  

Approach?

Personally I believe Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson have a better journalistic approach. The job of a photojournalist is to capture the truth and portray it through still image. I would not consider staged events and images as truth capturing. Preparing an image for capture is similar to editing a picture. Photojournalist should not have to edit pictures to covey the truth. As photojounalist, Kertesz and Smith are more so creating their own truth for their audience. I also believe Kertesz and Cartier have a better journalistic approach because if people know you are taking a picture of them their first instinct is to pose and put their best face on. This could result in: people doing things they wouldn’t normally do, and people providing the camera with fake emotions or expressions. Things like these can give your image a noticeably arranged appearance.  

References

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://totallyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Henri-Cartier-Bresson.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/andre-kertesz-steven-huszar.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/andre-kertesz-steven-huszar.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/henri_cartier_bresson_bicycle.jpg https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PkR1d8gMQarpRcuJdiZDzsEZfKDfpM4KuNxvitki6nInaBZLQNTiHQpZBq5KOELy61syc_TvidfzOcWoJBet6RJwDdAjg7q2ExfqpaIzbwOT8YvTaFexpzRgcPQKzd4_TP9WiOVXGaY/s1600/William+Eugene+Smith+0.jpg

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://theredlist.com/media/database/photography/history/photojournalisme-reportage/sebastio-salgado/027_sebastio-salgado_theredlist.jpg 

(n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2014, from http://terakopian.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/salgado-book_signing-012.jpg