Thursday, June 29, 2006
WHAT MAKES A PHOTOJOURNALIST?
Like myself, when you think "photojournalism" you also probably think of very serious stuff, in which a photographer sometimes might find himself or herself in real possible danger:
British soldiers engage Afghan militants near Nawzad
AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Sat 24 Jun, 11:53 AM
A handout picture from the British Ministry of Defence taken in the vicinity of Nawzad in southern Afghanistan shows British soldiers engaged in fighting with Afghan militants on June 4. The Afghan defence ministry has announced that 149 rebels had been killed in the past two weeks as part of the biggest anti-Taliban operation since the hardliners were removed from power in 2001.
Or you think of when some photographer, granted special access, gets a distinctive shot (that he or she coincidentally hopes will also pay the bills for some time to come):
The Countess of Wessex
REUTERS - Sun 25 Jun, 07:30 PM
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, talks to someone dressed as a Beatrix Potter character during a children's party at Buckingham Palace in London June 25, 2006. REUTERS/Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo/WPA Pool BRITAIN
I don't mean to digress, but notice the phrasing: "someone dressed as a Beatrix Potter character". Good thing Reuters made that clear. Like me, for a moment you also probably thought the Countess of Wessex was actually, errrrr, talking to a giant rabbit.
'Pirates of the Caribbean'
Reuters - Sun Jun 25, 4:17 AM ET
British actress Keira Knightley poses with Disney character Mickey Mouse (L) at the world premiere of the new adventure film 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' at Disneyland in Anaheim, California June 24, 2006. Knightley stars as 'Elizabeth Swann' in the film which opens July 7. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)
Hmm, again, I don't mean to digress, but unlike the former above, according to Reuters in that latter it is "Disney character Mickey Mouse (L)". Whew. Excellent that Reuters has again helped us out. So we are now straight: Mickey Mouse is evidently an, ummm, real mouse; and that's actress Keira Knightley on the right, not the left . . . just in case we weren't sure.
However, these next photos have recently caught my eye because they are, well, not only not quite as special as those above, but because they cause me to remember back a few months . . .
A woman pushes her child and groceries outside an Asda supermarket
AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Fri 23 Jun, 07:06 PM
A woman pushing her child and groceries, picture here outside an Asda supermarket in London in June 1999. Asda, the British supermarket chain owned by US retail giant Wal-Mart, said that it would take legal action to try to prevent thousands of its staff partaking in a five-day stoppage beginning next week.
The exposed wall of a reservoir at Bewl Water in south-east England
AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Wed 21 Jun, 05:43 PM
Photo dated March 2006 shows the exposed wall of a reservoir -- due to a low water level -- at Bewl Water in south-east England. Thames Water has said that it was leaking about 894 million litres of water per day from its pipes, despite the current drought gripping southeastern England.
Shoppers walk past an O2 store in October 2005
AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Wed 21 Jun, 11:07 AM
Shoppers walk past an O2 store in October 2005. Pan-European electrical retailer DSG International has said that it is in talks to sell a majority stake in mobile phone chain The Link to Telefonica's British subsidiary O2 for 30 million pounds 43.9 million euros, 55.4 million dollars.
The England flag
REUTERS - Sun 11 Jun, 08:15 AM
The England flag, the St George's Cross, flies above 10 Downing Street on the day of England's World Cup soccer game against Paraguay in Germany, in London June 10, 2006. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Football fans look out of a window in London
REUTERS - Fri 09 Jun, 12:22 PM
Football fans Mick and Charlie Collins look out of a window in a London block decorated with England flags ahead of the World Cup June 8, 2006. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Workers and tourists make the most of London's hot weather by sunbathing
AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Fri 23 Jun, 01:52 PM
Workers and tourists make the most of London's hot weather by sunbathing in St James Park in London, June 16. Feeling more happy than usual this particular Friday? You should be, according to a scholar in seasonal disorders at a British university.
A spectator shelters under an umbrella
REUTERS - Mon 26 Jun, 05:34 PM
A spectator shelters under an umbrella as replay of Cliff Richard singing at a previous Wimbledon tennis championships is shown at Wimbledon in London June 26, 2006. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
It is often said that blogging has led to a world in which anyone can be a writer and an analyst, what's sometimes labelled a "citizen journalist". What's overlooked on that score is that now just about anybody can also be a "photojournalist". For as the immediately above photos show, to be one you don't have to find yourself taking photos of British soldiers in action in Afghanistan or of royals or actors.
When I wrote "remember back a few months" what I meant is that, well, you can now just grab your camera, go somewhere and start taking pictures of . . . well, anything. Then script a caption so your photo "fits a story" . . . and then, voilà!: you're a "citizen photojournalist". ¶ by Robert, Thursday, June 29, 2006
Like myself, when you think "photojournalism" you also probably think of very serious stuff, in which a photographer sometimes might find himself or herself in real possible danger:
British soldiers engage Afghan militants near NawzadAFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Sat 24 Jun, 11:53 AM
A handout picture from the British Ministry of Defence taken in the vicinity of Nawzad in southern Afghanistan shows British soldiers engaged in fighting with Afghan militants on June 4. The Afghan defence ministry has announced that 149 rebels had been killed in the past two weeks as part of the biggest anti-Taliban operation since the hardliners were removed from power in 2001.
Or you think of when some photographer, granted special access, gets a distinctive shot (that he or she coincidentally hopes will also pay the bills for some time to come):
The Countess of WessexREUTERS - Sun 25 Jun, 07:30 PM
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, talks to someone dressed as a Beatrix Potter character during a children's party at Buckingham Palace in London June 25, 2006. REUTERS/Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo/WPA Pool BRITAIN
I don't mean to digress, but notice the phrasing: "someone dressed as a Beatrix Potter character". Good thing Reuters made that clear. Like me, for a moment you also probably thought the Countess of Wessex was actually, errrrr, talking to a giant rabbit.
'Pirates of the Caribbean'Reuters - Sun Jun 25, 4:17 AM ET
British actress Keira Knightley poses with Disney character Mickey Mouse (L) at the world premiere of the new adventure film 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest' at Disneyland in Anaheim, California June 24, 2006. Knightley stars as 'Elizabeth Swann' in the film which opens July 7. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES)
Hmm, again, I don't mean to digress, but unlike the former above, according to Reuters in that latter it is "Disney character Mickey Mouse (L)". Whew. Excellent that Reuters has again helped us out. So we are now straight: Mickey Mouse is evidently an, ummm, real mouse; and that's actress Keira Knightley on the right, not the left . . . just in case we weren't sure.
However, these next photos have recently caught my eye because they are, well, not only not quite as special as those above, but because they cause me to remember back a few months . . .
A woman pushes her child and groceries outside an Asda supermarketAFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Fri 23 Jun, 07:06 PM
A woman pushing her child and groceries, picture here outside an Asda supermarket in London in June 1999. Asda, the British supermarket chain owned by US retail giant Wal-Mart, said that it would take legal action to try to prevent thousands of its staff partaking in a five-day stoppage beginning next week.
The exposed wall of a reservoir at Bewl Water in south-east EnglandAFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Wed 21 Jun, 05:43 PM
Photo dated March 2006 shows the exposed wall of a reservoir -- due to a low water level -- at Bewl Water in south-east England. Thames Water has said that it was leaking about 894 million litres of water per day from its pipes, despite the current drought gripping southeastern England.
Shoppers walk past an O2 store in October 2005AFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Wed 21 Jun, 11:07 AM
Shoppers walk past an O2 store in October 2005. Pan-European electrical retailer DSG International has said that it is in talks to sell a majority stake in mobile phone chain The Link to Telefonica's British subsidiary O2 for 30 million pounds 43.9 million euros, 55.4 million dollars.
The England flagREUTERS - Sun 11 Jun, 08:15 AM
The England flag, the St George's Cross, flies above 10 Downing Street on the day of England's World Cup soccer game against Paraguay in Germany, in London June 10, 2006. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Football fans look out of a window in LondonREUTERS - Fri 09 Jun, 12:22 PM
Football fans Mick and Charlie Collins look out of a window in a London block decorated with England flags ahead of the World Cup June 8, 2006. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Workers and tourists make the most of London's hot weather by sunbathingAFP JOURNAL INTERNET - Fri 23 Jun, 01:52 PM
Workers and tourists make the most of London's hot weather by sunbathing in St James Park in London, June 16. Feeling more happy than usual this particular Friday? You should be, according to a scholar in seasonal disorders at a British university.
A spectator shelters under an umbrellaREUTERS - Mon 26 Jun, 05:34 PM
A spectator shelters under an umbrella as replay of Cliff Richard singing at a previous Wimbledon tennis championships is shown at Wimbledon in London June 26, 2006. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
It is often said that blogging has led to a world in which anyone can be a writer and an analyst, what's sometimes labelled a "citizen journalist". What's overlooked on that score is that now just about anybody can also be a "photojournalist". For as the immediately above photos show, to be one you don't have to find yourself taking photos of British soldiers in action in Afghanistan or of royals or actors.
When I wrote "remember back a few months" what I meant is that, well, you can now just grab your camera, go somewhere and start taking pictures of . . . well, anything. Then script a caption so your photo "fits a story" . . . and then, voilà!: you're a "citizen photojournalist". ¶ by Robert, Thursday, June 29, 2006
