Photojournalism is a photographic genre that requires serious commitment. You should prepare for taking photos in difficult situations, remain calm, and maintain a neutral approach. In photojournalism, the photographer takes a step back and keeps themselves and their emotions away from the photos. Here, it’s all about capturing the world in front of the lens, keeping up with its rapid pace, and revealing the truth to your audience.
Photojournalism is the photographic genre that focuses on telling news stories by using images. The photographs appear in newspapers and magazines, on online media platforms, and sometimes even on news TV channels. Their purpose is to inform. Therefore, they have more of a journalistic approach rather than an aesthetic one. Photojournalistic photos don’t have to be beautiful. They have to be accurate, descriptive, and eloquent.
Types of Photojournalism
The main type of photojournalism refers to covering the news. The photos in this category shout out like news titles and instantly respond to the three journalistic questions: what, where, and when. They capture snapshots of ongoing events.
Newspapers and media agencies often print just a few — if not, one — photo(s) per article. So, although the photographer takes multiple photographs during an event, they are not paid for all of them. Therefore, you want to make sure each photo has the power to encompass the entire story.
Examples of iconic photographs in this category are the raising of the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima, the self-ignition of the Buddhist monk Thic Quang Duc, and the fire of the Hindenburg airship.
Features
The other type of photojournalism is called features. This refers to a series of photos that document an event or story of public interest. Features illustrate an article from beginning to end and take the viewer through the entire story. They have a strong narrative line and, often, a temporal dimension. Features have a broader range of subject matters. They may be general news but also sports events, fashion shows, parades and festivals, riots, lawsuits, etc.
Features are published in magazines and on websites that inform the public using comprehensive articles with a longer life than news. They have a slower pace than newspapers and media agencies and appear weekly, monthly, or quarterly. The event is usually over by the time the article is published. For example, Vogue UK published an article about the London premiere of the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, featuring 18 photos of celebrities attending the premiere.
Based on your type of photojournalism, your photos may target three types of composition: the cover shot, establishing shot, and detail shot.
Cover Shot
News photojournalists only go for the cover shot. It is the one shot that reveals everything there is to know about the event and captures the viewer’s attention. First, it’s striking and able to stop the viewer from browsing. Then, it’s inviting and able to make the viewer curious about the subject. At the same time, it offers enough information to connect with the viewer.
Establishing Shot
Establishing shots are photos that keep the viewer interested while reading the article. They support the text with meaningful information only a picture can capture. For example, establishing shots may add information about the location and time of the event, involved parties, and actions at a particular moment in time. An establishing shot from a riot may capture the participants’ claims written on a placard.
Detail Shot
A detail or close-up shot captures unique details that support the idea behind the article. In a fashion editorial, it may be a unique piece of embroidery or a pattern that connects an entire collection. In features dedicated to sports events, it may be a close-up of athletes showing their emotional or physical struggle. Details shots emphasize the story and make the experience much more personal for the viewer. It’s like the viewer is there and living the events by themselves.
How to Become a Photojournalist
As a photojournalist, you need to be in the middle of events, prepared to take high-quality photos at any time. You need to spot the action and be fast. You will hardly have time to adjust camera settings, find a better angle, or take the shot again. So, practice photography until it becomes second nature and you know your gear by heart.
However, technical skills and speed of reaction are not enough. The lives of news, and even of features, are short. You must prepare your photos and send them to the publisher quickly. It means working on the run, editing your photos from a hotel room or your car, and staying connected from any location. If you are in a conflict zone, it may not be easy. Furthermore, it may be dangerous.
Photojournalism requires courage, resourcefulness, and exceptional social skills. You need to build a strong network with people in the industry and get along with fellow photographers working on the same subject as you, participants in events, locals, police officers, and so on. A tip from a local coffee shop owner can get you to the right place at the right time. Work on your foreign languages if you aim for international photojournalism.
Furthermore, there is a lot of journalism in photojournalism. You don’t just take photos of an event. You create a narrative that informs the audience. Therefore, you need to extract the essentials from what happens in front of your eyes without influencing the truth and put everything in a few photos — sometimes just in one. It means being up to date with everything related to your subject, from economic reasons that put people on strike, to political reasons behind wars, to the latest trends in fashion, to the lives of famous athletes.
Sometimes, you may have to accompany your photos with data and explanatory text. Taking a few journalism courses and writing classes will come in handy. Most of the time, photojournalists are journalists with a passion for photography.
Photojournalism Gear
Before investing in gear, the new photojournalist needs to consider the type of photojournalism they want to do. For example, the workflow of a news photojournalist differs from that of a features photojournalist. Also, a photojournalist doesn’t cover all subjects — from conflict zones, to sports events, to fashion. The gear for each of them may differ.
For example, covering general news means being on the streets and taking snapshots of everything happening around you. You don’t have time to adjust camera settings or change lenses. Also, you can’t carry large, heavy equipment that requires setup, such as a tripod. All you need is a high-performance camera and lens set that is small, lightweight, and discrete. As it may be dangerous to be spotted as a photographer, you don’t want the camera to make any noise.
Therefore, a mirrorless camera with a general-purpose 50mm lens may be all you can carry with you. Make sure it features a fast and silent autofocus system and optical image stabilization. It also helps if the camera has good video recording abilities and a built-in audio recorder, as sometimes you may need to record video footage as well.
Features of more peaceful events require different equipment. Sports events and fashion shows need high-quality telephoto lenses and sturdy tripods to accurately photograph subjects in motion from a longer distance. Because you have time to set up before the event, you know where the camera will stand and can adjust camera settings in advance. You may also have two photo setups in place: one with a wide-angle lens for establishing shots and one with a super telephoto lens for close-ups. Vecause image quality is extremely important, a full-frame DSLR camera is a good choice.
Ethics of Photojournalism
Like journalism, photojournalism comes with a book of ethics. You should always remember you are there to present the reality and not to take the photo that will bring you the next paycheck or award. So, under no circumstances, do not manipulate reality to get a better picture or edit your photos to tell a different story.
Also, don’t get involved with either party and maintain a neutral and respectful attitude towards everyone. It may be hard in some situations, but it’s essential. Your feelings aren’t the subject of your photos. If you can’t be impartial, you shouldn’t become a photojournalist.
Impartiality is even harder to maintain when you use local sources. If you give people money for information, they may say anything to you just to get paid. On the contrary, some people may offer you money, gifts, or help just for you to tell their part of the story. Make sure you don’t mix money and personal gain with your work.
Photojournalism is mostly made of candid snapshots. You take staged photos only when you photograph celebrities, take portraits of winning athletes, or tell a personal story that should convey a specific feeling that the main character struggles with. And, even then, you can include candid photographs in your features. Staged photos can be difficult to work with as it only shows what people want to reveal, which is not always the truth. As a photojournalist, you have the duty to get the truth to your audience. Sometimes this can be through a staged photo involving your main character, but more often than not, it is a candid photo of the situation that reveals the most.
Conclusion
Photojournalism is a life-long passion that transforms into a job. You can’t and shouldn’t do it without the right motivation. Choose your subject matter carefully and specialize in your field of interest. Build a strong professional network. But most of all, be respectful to your subject and your audience and ensure your photographs always tell the truth regardless of how disturbing this may be for you.
