Studies such as the Double Degree in Journalism and International Relations from the European University will allow you to learn in greater detail about this discipline that constitutes one of the most relevant types of journalism of the 20th century.
Do you want to discover the characteristics of amazon database photojournalism and its main variants? In this article we will tell you.
Characteristics of photojournalism
These are some of the particularities of photojournalism:
Objectivity does not exist . The gaze of the person who immortalizes the moment with a camera determines what is seen through it. It is just another way of telling what is happening, and there can be as many nuances as there are angles to take the snapshot. The same event can be perceived in multiple ways depending on who is taking the picture.
The purpose determines the way of working . The different types of photojournalism, and their multiple objectives, determine the methodology to follow.
The importance of editing . Before being shown to the general public, photographs are retouched, which can influence what is going to be transmitted.
Camaraderie in the sector . Above the constant competition to get the best photograph and get it published in different media, support for colleagues comes first. You never know when you might need material from another photojournalist, so empathy is an excellent tool in this profession.
The best resource is technique . It is essential that the photojournalist knows the different framing options, knows how to optimize the use of light at all times and is able to find the best expressiveness of an image depending on the circumstance.
The news environment . To obtain the best final product, it is advisable to arrive early at the location where the events will take place. This way, you can find the best viewing angle, capture different sequences and identify possible problems in time.
Attention span . You need to be fully aware of what is going on around you in order to pick up on any small detail that could lead to new information.
What types of photojournalism exist?
The intention that is sought to be conveyed with a photograph at any given moment determines the way of working and, therefore, the type of photojournalism. These are some of the most important variants :
Informative : as its name indicates, its main objective is to inform. It can focus on very specific events , normally incidents, and usually requires a small number of photographs to cover the news in text format that they usually accompany. It can also document a longer event or occurrence , such as a political or sports session. In these cases, and taking into account the coverage for online media, a huge number of photographs is required. In addition, the information needs themselves require the continuous processing and sending of photographic material to update the information at the pace of the events.
From an opinion : in this case, the interest of the photograph comes from the photographer's own perspective . He or she portrays what is happening in a multitude of fields, from the sociological to the cultural, through a large number of images that describe what the photojournalist's eye wants to narrate. It is common for it to be based on written text in its variant of a large report, but there is also the genre of the photojournalistic essay, in which the account of the events uses only snapshots to tell a story.
Photojournalistic portrait : serves to illustrate the profile of the protagonist of the information, which is why the photojournalist usually tries to accentuate his most striking features.
Column : the informant's vision is illustrated through images , and it is important to have the necessary skills to organize ideas and express them through a selection of images and text, emphasizing the title and the description of the value that each snapshot provides.
Photojournalists work on their skills through practice, but they need a foundation of theoretical learning. Training is the quickest and easiest way to take your first steps in this profession. Would you like to give photojournalism a try? Take a look at our academic offer.
