Assignment Three Module Number Nine: Shooting the Truth; Photojournalism

Introductory

For this assignment, my team Rafael Cabrera, Asia Steel and I Atekel Mclarty had come to an agreement that we would like to complete module number nine. Module number nine focuses on Photojournalism, and the roles of a photojournalist. Journalistic photos help communicate words and events through still image. Below you will find the information my team and I have gathered on photojournalism and shooting the truth.

 All photos gathered By: Atekel Mclarty

What’s the role of photojournalism? 

Written and Submitted By: Rafael E. Cabrera 

A photojournalist's job is to tell a story with pictures. But, perhaps more importantly, his goal is to convey the truth through the images he captures with his camera. A skilled photojournalist doesn't just show up to a news event and snap a few pictures. Rather, his objective is to highlight important issues. Remarkably, he can often do so with a single photograph.

Are there rules that photojournalists should follow? 

Written and Submitted By: Asia Steel 

In the world of photojournalism, the artist is striving to find truth rather than art. They are giving us images to bring us a glimpse of what the world is like, not as we see it around us. So having an ethical conscience is important as to not lie or create fiction in photographic journalism. Some companies have tried to create limits or guidelines to how much editing or framing the artist can give their audience. Some believe there should be a set number of regulations to decide what images are appropriate for journalism, others believe that the artist should have final say in what they have printed and they can regulate themselves ethically. Additionally some companies have specific regulations for photographers for security purposes, but how many regulations are too far? With journalism, the issue of having free speech comes into question when an artist is limited in what they can print. The key to photojournalism ethics is above all, avoiding misrepresentation.

 Several organizations strive to create sets of guidelines for artists, in order to create an unbiased system for photojournalism. The NPPA, National Press Photographers Association, is an organization of photojournalists that gives some regulations to their art. This company is dedicated to the advancement of photojournalism without losing their ethics. They also aid photojournalists by discussing photography regulations between journalists and private companies who have security issues with some things being photographed. An example of a ‘rule’ in the NPPA’s code of ethics is “Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.” (NPPA, 2012) As well as other ‘rules’ to simply avoid misrepresentation and biases. All seem to rely on the common sense and persona ethics of the artist, so these guidelines are rather simple to follow if the artist wants to be a reputable source of photo-journalistic images.

 
While some organizations have limits on photojournalists, their ideas do not encompass all photographers or publications. For example, a genre of publication that is not frequently ‘policed’ is the tabloid. Some of which are notorious for their inaccurate misrepresentations of the truth. “It [tabloid media] allegedly panders to the lowest common denominator of public taste… in short, tabloid journalism lowers the standards of public discourse”, (Biressi, 2007). The ethics are so vague in their representations of politicians and celebrities, as well as some examples of poorly edited journalistic photographs leaves much to be desired if given no outstanding guidelines to photojournalists. “The status of photojournalism has risen, noting the artistic values and authority that have been attached to the photographic news… In contrast, this elevation excludes the work of tabloid press where a different set of values and indeed aesthetics prevails”, (Biressi, 2007).

In conclusion, photojournalism as a form of art is in a grey area of regulations. We do not want distorted images that show us only fiction, but alternatively too many regulations can lead to limiting the idea of free speech for the artist. As a news source, the artist must be ethical and aware of any biases they might hold towards their subjects. In the long run in may be useful to have an umbrella of regulations on the artist but in our society today, we expect images to have been edited and subjects to be airbrushed. So why dictate how they choose to frame their art.

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

Written and Submitted By: Atekel Mclarty 

Photojournalism is the art of allowing news or information to be collected from a single photo. Journalistic photos tell a story from first glace. These types of photos are usually taken for news or magazine articles. News stories consist of any kind of news report. News stories are often short and concise (even though there are no limitations to how long a new story can be). News stories update readers on occurring events, along side events that have already occurred. Therefore the ethics of taking journalistic photos are different but somewhat the same as the ethics of writing a news story.

Photo-journalistic images carry journals that tell stories to the attentive audience. These images are taken to give viewers the best description of the occurring event. News stories are similar in a fact because they also tell stories to the available audience. All in all they both deliver a message. It is believed that journalistic photographers take on a bigger role than news story writers. Journalistic photographers have to allow readers/viewers to see, feel, and relate to the images they have taken. Journalistic photographers also have to ensure that the audience is able to make out a story, or take a message from the images presented. On the other hand, news story writers have to inform readers about news reports through written text. Once news stories are formally delivered and clear, readers will understand what is going on throughout the article/story. News stories consist of context only to give information to the existing audience, while journalistic photos consist of photos only to help the viewer gather information from the descriptive images. In conclusion the ethics of taking journalistic photos are different but fairly the same as the ethics of writing a news story.

Attached is the NPPA Code of Ethics, provided by Asia Steel

Code of Ethics

Visual journalists and those who manage visual news productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:

1. Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.
2. Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.
3. Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.
4. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.
5. While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.
6. Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.
7. Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.
8. Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.
9. Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.

Ideally, visual journalists should:

1. Strive to ensure that the public's business is conducted in public. Defend the rights of access for all journalists.
2. Think proactively, as a student of psychology, sociology, politics and art to develop a unique vision and presentation. Work with a voracious appetite for current events and contemporary visual media.
3. Strive for total and unrestricted access to subjects, recommend alternatives to shallow or rushed opportunities, seek a diversity of viewpoints, and work to show unpopular or unnoticed points of view.
4. Avoid political, civic and business involvements or other employment that compromise or give the appearance of compromising one's own journalistic independence.
5. Strive to be unobtrusive and humble in dealing with subjects.
6. Respect the integrity of the photographic moment.
7. Strive by example and influence to maintain the spirit and high standards expressed in this code. When confronted with situations in which the proper action is not clear, seek the counsel of those who exhibit the highest standards of the profession. Visual journalists should continuously study their craft and the ethics that guide it.

©2012
https://nppa.org/code_of_ethics

Work cited

Biressi, A. (2008). The tabloid culture reader. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.

Icevska, G. S. SHOOTING THE TRUTH: HOW PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE MEDIA BETRAY           US. Ma thesis. Retrieved October 26, 2014, from             https://drive.google.com/viewerng/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbW   FpbnxzaG9vdGluZ

NPPA Code of Ethics. (2012). National Press Photographers Association. Retrieved October 26,             

N.d. Unesco.org. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/images/Themes/investigative_journalism_home.jpg>.

N.d. Daveandcharlotte.com. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.daveandcharlotte.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/dave-trying-to-look-like-a-war-photographer-or-get-a-case-of-tetnis.jpg>.

N.d. Wordpress.com. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://garykingphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/blog-illustration.jpg>.

N.d. Blogspot.com. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q3Cmv9obdwNwkMsLaOLy3Aj7aSANPKWwccVMO6LhUnp1iCquOB6iXnFUO1fF8T9vLPnrTOglfINYWguq7fUa1q52CfKckwwxiJpyMC7GZwEcHge1eXBXEECAKgT0RpFdZh2M5kZsqobi/s1600/6a00d8341bf6cb53ef010535c02df5970b-800wi.jpg>.

N.d. Independent.co.uk. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/migration_catalog/article5316949.ece/alternates/w620/Pg-02-feature.jpeg>.

N.d. Jmg-galleries.com. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog_images/bad_photographer_MG_0801-Edit_500c.jpg>.

N.d. Collegerag.net. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.collegerag.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Photo-Journalism.jpg>.

N.d. Vladsokhin.com. Web. 28 Oct. 2014. <http://www.vladsokhin.com/assets/images/tearsheets/ts_14.jpg>.

Also all readings from lecture notes.

Photo Editing With "Picasa" Assignment Number One

The photo editing program I am using is one recommended by my Instructor. This program goes by the name of “Picasa.” The images I will be using are photos taken of myself. I already have a basic idea of what I want the end result to look like. The first photograph I will edit will be the one of me sitting down in a yellow collard shirt. For this photo I want to grasp a summer type look, giving the audience the impression that it is a bright summer day. Editing my picture this way is quit ironic because the photograph was taken mid winter inside of my house. By editing my picture this way I doubt that I would confuse my audience. Because there is no indication as to what season it is (in both the original and edited photograph) my audience would only know I took this picture in the winter if I had informed them prior to viewing my work, or if I had added a descriptive caption to it. at the same time they could be confused by the short sleeve collard shirt, or by the sun glasses. For the second photograph I sit on a chair with a white collared shirt and a dark gloomy background. The background alone makes me feel like this picture should be edited with a dark but vibrant feel. I want the background to remain dark and gloomy but I want my body and face lighter, with a glowing effect. I want my audience to feel as if a massive storm is about to pass by when they look at this picture. I want to give this picture a windy/destructive/”something is about to happen” vibe. I highly doubt this photograph would bring confusion to my audience. They may wonder where i was or what I was doing. Was it a photo shoot? school picture or something? The possibilities are endless with this one, that's the most i can say!

Photo Edit Number One

Photo Number One's Editing Process

First I add a bit of auto contrast and auto coloring from the “Commonly Needed Fixes” tab just to give my photo a bit of clarity and punch. Going over to the “Finely-Tuned Lighting and Color Fixes” tab I add some “Highlights” for better lighting, I used “Shadow” to capture the glow feel, and I adjusted the “Color Temperature” to bring out the summer out of this winter photo. Now I have selected the “Fun and Useful Image Processing” tab where I “Sharpen” my photo to the fullest to give the soft edges a more sharp edge. In the same tab I find an effect by the name of “Cross Process” I add a bit of that along with some “Boost” just to brighten up the image and enhance the glow. Last but not least I add an effect called “Duo Tone” to really top off the summer feel adding that real sunlight look.

Photo Number Two

Photo Number Two's Editing Process

I start off by adding a bit of “I’m Feeling Lucky,” “Auto Contrast,” and “Auto Coloring” from the “Commonly Needed Fixes” tab to clearly auto focus the detailing and coloring in my photo. These are just minor effects that can really help take your photo a long way. Under the “Finely-Tuned Lighting and Color Fixes” tab I adjust the “Fill Lights” to brighten the whole photo, I add some “Highlights” so I am able to see my face, I add “Shadow” to capture the dark glow feel, and I adjusted the “Color Temperature” to give it that stormy look. Shuffling over to the “Fun and Useful Image Processing” tab I “Sharpen” my photo for more enhancement, and I add the “Glow” effect to conquer my stormy vision. I also give my photo a “Vignette” style border around it to bring out the gloomy effect even more. An effect called “Orton-ish” was also added for more brightness and glow. I used the “Sharpen” tool to once again enhance the sharpness of the smooth edges. Lastly I added a “Soft Focus” for a blur kind of effect around the border of the photo.

Week 4 Discussion Board

What were Stieglitz’s main interests? What's Pictorialism and what is Naturalism? Did he stay devoted to these movements? What do you see in his photographs?

Alfred Stieglitz’s main interest was to promote photography as art. Stieglitz wasn’t the only photographer who took interest in making photography art. Many other photographers had joined side with Stieglitz forming a group called the “ Photo-Secession “. This is where Pictorialism kicks in. Pictorialism is the art of taking photographs and applying the practices of a painter to your pictures creating a work of art. Pictorialism was also a movement group led by Alfred Stieglitz. Stieglitz thought of it as using his camera as if it were a paintbrush. Naturalism however, was the form of taking pictures making them look and seem as natural as possible. Naturalism focuses on pictures of people and nature, with nature as a background and people as the main focus. Naturalism is kind of self-explanatory considering the root word “Natural”; aiming to captures pictures as if the camera was a human eye. Unfortunately Stieglitz did not stay devoted to the two movement groups. Stieglitz actually scrapped both movements in belief that his photographs just looked like photographs and no longer look like art. He also convinced himself that photography is just not art. In his photographs I see art. He was a creative photographer who I believe captured his vision of turning photographs into art. Stieglitz really went in depth when producing a photograph and the one thing I admire about his photos is that he really was able the grasp the Pictorialism concept.

What was White's impact on photography as a medium? What do you see on his photographs?

Minor White was always one to add a bit of texture to his photos. He was a textural artist. Creative and smart White wasn’t just interested in taking pictures, he also took interest in how others view and understand the photographs that they are shown. I believe Whites impact on photography was that you were able to see a small portion of yourself or a real life factor in his photographs. White was person who took mainly black and white landscape photos of people. He very rarely took colored photos. He took things like lighting background and effect very personal and you can tell through his photos. White was also a teacher in a California school who was afraid of the public due to his sexual preference.

What do you see on Man Ray's photos? Are they similar or absolutely different than Steiglitz's photos?

Man Ray took pictures that look magazine ready, or like he caught a still image of a commercial clip. Most of his pictures are of beautiful women who look like models. How ever, these women do look lifeless in almost all his photos. Man takes pictures that are appealing but simple, while Alfred takes more complex photos; things that are hard to capture. Man Ray tends to take pictures with less emotion and more eye-catching beauty while Alfred’s photos have more emotion in them. Alfred’s photos had more of an artistic effect to them while Mans photos are clear steady images.

What do you see on Moholo-Nagy's photographs?

 László Moholo-Nagy’s photos have more of an abstract feeling to them. They are quit weird but really creative. His photos have more of a shaky dizzy feel to them also. I like to call his photos question marks mainly because at first glace all u can do is wonder what is going on. I think László does this on purpose to keep the viewers guessing, which is understandable because his photos really do look like he threw a bunch of pictures together and said “ahhhh”. László is a good artist but you can tell a lot of his work was later computer generated.

Are these photographers painters? Do they all paint with their cameras or maybe only some of them?

These photographers are not considered painters. In my eyes you are only a painter when you dip a paintbrush into paint and actually PAINT a picture. The credit I can give them is that their photos can paint pictures in your head. I also believe a picture was painted in each of their heads before they took every photo. In other words I think they had an image in their head before every shoot and they would set out to capture that picture. Artists yes. Alfred Stieglitz was my favorite of all four photographers. I choose him because in his photos you can see he had an idea. Something he had to capture through his camera and it had to be perfect. I could be wrong but this is the feeling I get from his photos. All in all I believe only Alfred Stieglitz and Minor White used their cameras as paintbrushes.

Week 3 Discussion Board: Can Art Be Mechanically Reporduced ?

When something is reproduced for so many times is that art? What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society? 

I believe art can be mechanically reproduced. Recreation and innovation is frowned up on by many in belief that you were not the first creator or inventor. I believe recreation has a purpose. the first plane was made by two brothers but that plane couldn’t carry hundreds of passengers. It took years of innovation for hundreds of passenger to board a plane and have it fly safely. This is why i believe if something is reproduced many times it is still considered art. In this day and age new inventions are hardly even created. A lot of things created in today's society are innovated and are made to replace the originals in positive ways. We would call these copies, but just a minor adjustments to a mechanical figure such as a car, or even a minor adjustment to a photograph can ultimately make it your idea or innovation. Many things in today's society are digitally reproduced like photographs. Software's such as Photoshop can help us reproduce original photos or even create our own, but it is important to respect the originator of the art. The impact of mechanical reproduction on society is massive considering the fact that we see or do it every day. Mechanical reproduction can be as simple as changing a few sentences on a hand out or lecture or as complex as adding new features to a 2015 corvette from the older 2014 model. Every day, legally and illegally, art forms are mechanically reproduced.

Is photography art, or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists? 

If photography isn’t art then I don’t know what art is. Photography is art in so many different ways. Most painters paint things because they have a vivid image stuck in their heads. Most painters reproduce pictures in their paintings also, and isn’t painting art? Modeling is also a form of art and to capture a picture of a model can really show your creativity in field of a photographer. To edit a picture of a model can show your creativity in the field of an editor, both are considered artist. In the English dictionary it also tell you photography is a form of art. I don’t think photography is just a tool used by artists. One photo says a thousand words, and that is art to me.

How and why Henry Pitch Robinson created Fading Away? What was the reason? 

Henry Pitch created Fading Away by using the five negatives. In one picture Henry explains so much. A dying girl brings much sorrow to her family. A photo like this is able to control the viewer and grasp their attention. This kind of photo makes your mind wander and makes you wonder what is truly going on. Photos such as this weren’t common in the 1800’s such sorrow, and for some far to gruesome. I believe Henry wanted his audience to feel or at least understand the pain this family feels in this photograph.

Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization? 

Mechanical reproduction helps us along the path of digital reproduction. In toady’s society most edits or modifications are done on the computer. Computers are one of the biggest mechanical reproducers of art. With the right software they can help us edit a picture to our liking, make or edit figures, shapes, and models. Computers are so advanced these days we can even edit videos on them. Almost every art form at this point can be mechanically and digitally reproduced, and with the new technology digitalization of art is becoming more easy to do.

Eye of the Tiger