Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone. Gracie and I are your co-hosts for this weekend in which there are likely to be many stories told as families get together. We are looking forward to your interpretation of "photo journalism".
Everyone loves a good story (and we have some great story tellers on here!) Photojournalism, in particular, is the art of communicating news through photographs in an unbiased way that maintains the integrity of the subject and issues involved.
You can think of it as a "news journalist/correspondent" or as documenting events important to you.
Outstanding Pat. I am new to photography so never heard of photo journalism. As you explain it and illustrate it, I can now look at events/places with a different perspective.
Here is a summary of 7 points to practicing good story telling with images (from the YouTube video linked below, which is primarily about foreign correspondent news photojournalism)
1) Anticipate - anticipate a story line and shoot lots and practice more before "the moment" happens; when you do, you'll be prepared to recognize "the moment" (the key part of a story)
2) Research - there is a history to the story - know it, the people and places involved
3) Reach Out - Establish networks, reach out to people, know your resources, treat people and situations with respect.
4) Prioritize - Don't try to do/shoot everything at once. Know what you want to "say". Know what YOU are good at and focus on your angle of the story.
5) Know how to use what you have - camera brand doesn't matter. Know your equipment and how to make it work for you
6) Interact - be a "people" person, network with other story tellers as well as the people in the story.
7) Be invisible - don't invade private space. Enter unobtrusively, watch, take your few planned shots (walking in with a camera around your neck can sometimes change the ambiance, reality and spontaneity of the scene or story.)
http://youtu.be/0xAcWxjolSQThe above may be helpful, but don't forget, we want to see YOUR story - family celebrations or events, Memorial Day activities and fun, whatever is important to you or your area.
To start us off, my story is about the loss of manufacturing in Maine in general and in the Lewiston/Auburn area in particular. Maine is not the only state in this situation. Lewiston/Auburn was home to many textile mills and shoe factories. Over the decades, these mills were the jobs of the working immigrants - primarily the French, Irish, and Italian immigrants. There was family, ethnic and community pride. Things have changed in the last 20-30 years.
Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone. Gracie and I... (