Book Introduction

 

    What is photojournalism? Based on my knowledge and researches I have come across. To me photojournalism is a type of art in which photographers use to capture and report images of real life situations or stories. It’s another way of communicating not just with one individual but thousands, even more. Similar to reporters but instead of reading words and sentences from newspapers. The images speak for themselves. Thus why I respect photojournalists so much and why I believe they play such a huge part of our society today.

     As seen on video “War Photographer” stated by James Nactchwey “If an individual assumes the risk of placing himself in the middle of a war in order to communicate to the rest of the world what is happening. He’s trying to negotiate for peace.” In other words, this clearly portrays the fact that photojournalists will do anything and even go to the extreme within their job to capture such live risky moments. Showing such care towards people who go through war on a daily or any struggle people face now a days. It’s also portraying the fact that there are a bunch of people who wish to have the chance to be able to be a part of creating peace and changing the world while taking pictures. Well now photojournalists are able to speak for others.  

    What is History? History to me is the Big Bang Theory. To simplify, it is the beginning or the start of everything that’s happening today. Like Marcus Garvey stated “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” To put it in another way, knowing where you came from and your ancestors and culture is very important. Because it helps you become who you are or what you can be an can do. Without it, feels like your lost and searching for a start a beginning.  

    It is also important to know the history of photojournalism because of such multiple bright ideas that play such an important roll today. Knowing the history of photojournalism is like finding the last couple puzzle pieces to your picture. History fills in the gap of questions we think of today. For instance in the video “Why study History?”it mentions “Understanding the past is the key to understanding the present. It trains us to gather evidence, and to find patterns and trends. Gives us an understanding of other people and cultures.” To put it simply, without us knowing history we wouldn’t understand how and why everything works as of today and why we do the things we do in a certain way. Because the past is what makes the future as well as the present. It challenges us and gives us ideas to improve or think better and become creative.

Photo Credit : Thomas Hoepker

https://www.popphoto.com/american-photo/interview-thomas-hoepker-60-years-photojournalism/

This beautiful shot of Times Square New York City taken By Thomas Hoepker is a perfect example of a story being told of how New York City used to look like back then compared to now.

Photo Credits : Robin Hammond

https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/photojournalism-now-why-we-need-professional-photojournalists/

This deep capture of this story is insane. A Refugee Camp in Kenya. This is an example of what I mean by “A picture speaks a thousand words” Such emotion you can feel just by looking at this picture.