SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK Photojournalism Writers and Reporters Have Helped Shape History, but So Have Photojournalists Histboy Bradleyr Wilsony
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SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK Photojournalism Writers and reporters have helped shape history, but so have photojournalists HistBoy Bradleyr Wilsony AT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-65, photography was a new process. In the mid- 1800s, the average person was not used to seeing a photographic portrait much less images from the battlefront. Photojournalism got its start when people such as Mathew Brady documented the Civil War by lugging, on horseback, cameras that weighed many pounds. A few years later, Jacob Riis made a difference in the lives of the citizens of New York City by publishing How the Other Half Lives. Soon photographic evidence became the rule for publications dealing with social problems. It was not until the 1890s, however, that the halftone process, rather than an artist’s wood etching, enabled the publication of realistic-looking photographs. That process inaugurated an era of photojournalism, and these “visual surrogates of reality” became an Aintegral aspect of campaigns for social reform. In the 100-plus years since, the ment the war. He hired other photog- technology has changed — we have raphers, set up field units in several moved from an era of chemical- states and used large-format cameras Understanding based photography into the digital and traveling darkrooms pulled by the history of photography and era — but the mission of photojour- horse teams. Brady and his assistants photojournalism nalists has not. As Robert Frank said, took at least 3,500 photographs of will increase stu- “There is one thing the photograph the war, some of the earliest exam- dents’ apprecia- must contain, the humanity of the ples, not only of documentary and tion for their abili- ty to present visu- moment. This kind of photography is war photography specifically. but al stories. The realism. But realism is not enough — also of photojournalism. summaries on there has to be vision and the two these pages can together can make a good photo- Jacob Riis be used as a basis A Danish immigrant, Jacob Riis for individualized graph.” (1849-1914) had a knack for report- research, especial- Pioneers who have led the way in ly on the Internet, photography include the following: ing. He wrote about what he saw on or to help devel- the streets in the slums of New York op a unit for pho- Mathew Brady City. His stories in How the Other Half tography classes After learning the daguerreotype Lives used 17 halftones and 19 hand or introductory Dorothea Lange’s most famous journalism classes. process, an early photographic photograph, “Migrant Mother,” drawings based on his photos. By process, Mathew Brady (1823-1896) was part of a documentary of the portraying a part of the city few Great Depression commissioned built a portrait business with gal- by the federal government . acknowledged existed, Riis opened leries in New York and Washington. people’s eyes to the deplorable living At his galleries the public could view conditions for many in the city. His photographs of famous people of the writing and photographs helped day. When the Civil War broke out, change the city for the better. Brady got official approval to docu- Published by the Journalism Education Association, ©2003 • SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK • 27 SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK rated 27 of her photographs into moment,” Cartier-Bresson is known “Executive Order 9066,” an exhibit for his ability to find these occasions about the Japanese internment. and preserve them. Each of his New York Times critic A.D. images is a complete composition Coleman called Lange’s photographs within a single frame of film, and it “documents of such a high order that cannot be cropped or altered with- they convey the feelings of the vic- out destroying the whole. In 1947, tims as well as the facts of the crime.” Lincoln Kirstein compared his Her best known work, “Migrant method to “the preoccupied intensi- Mother,” is one of her most powerful ty of a fisherman playing to land a images. It conveys a depth of emo- big catch or a boxer landing a knock- tion uncommon in most photo- out.” He was one of the founders of graphs. While working for the U.S. the Magnum group. government, she documented the lives of everyday Americans. She also Robert Capa shot powerful portraits and docu- Known for his war photography, mented the lives of everyday people Robert Capa’s (1913-1954) most in the Middle East and in the Far East. famous photos are those of the Spanish civil war. Firm in his belief Alfred Eisenstaedt Wounded Union Margaret Bourke-White that “if your pictures aren’t good “My god, it’s unbelievable,” soldiers get med- One of the world’s first and most enough, you aren’t close enough,” ical attention after declared Alfred Eisenstaedt (1989- a battle at famous photojournalists, Margaret Capa put himself in the middle of the 1995) of his life’s work. Called the Savage's Station, Bourke-White (1904-1971) created action. He documented the first father of photojournalism, Eisen- Va., during the the photo essay, which uses a series wave of D-Day invasion forces in American Civil stædt was among the first to use a War on July 3, of pictures to tell a story. She docu- France and jumped with paratroop- 35mm camera, which he used to take 1862. Gen. George mented the Great Depression and ers into Germany during World War candid photographs under available McClellan's forces World War II. During World War II II. He was killed in Vietnam by a land made a stand after light. “It’s more important to click Confederate she was the only female photogra- mine. “ He was one of the founders of with people than to click the shut- troops followed pher permitted in war zones by the the Magnum group. ter,” he said. Born in West Prussia, them in at close Army. Her first published photo- pursuit. (AP David Douglas Duncan now Poland, he was one of the origi- Photo/Mathew B. graphs, depicting campus scenes, nal four photographers for Life. Brady) appeared in the Cornell University Born in Kansas City, David “I have found that the most newspaper. In India, she photo- Douglas Duncan (1916-) first got a important element in my equipment graphed Mohandas Gandhi and taste of spot news while attending is not an expensive camera or a recorded the establishment of the the University of Arizona. He heard unique lens but patience, patience, Indian state and then the riots that on the radio that Tucson’s largest patience,” Eisenstaedt said. “If you preceded and followed the partition hotel was on fire. He rushed down- don’t know how to stand knee-deep of Pakistan from India. Bourke-White town with his 39 cent Bakelite cam- in water for hours or sit broiling in was in India interviewing Gandhi a era and snapped his first photograph the sunshine while mosquitoes buzz few hours before he was assassinated of a frantic man retrieving a suitcase around your head, remaining in 1948. She died of Parkinson’s dis- from the burning hotel. The next day absolutely motionless yet relaxed ease. he read in the newspaper that the and alert, you are finished before you man he had photographed was John start. It is a question of temperament Henri Cartier-Bresson Dillenger whose suitcase had been more than technique.” An aspiring painter and student of filled with guns and stolen money. literature, Henri Cartier-Bresson While roaming as a free-lance Dorothea Lange (1904-) realized early in his life how photographer after graduating from While best known for her work the new, small and light 35mm cam- college, Duncan photographed every documenting the Great Depression eras made it possible to capture stage of a fishing exhibition for giant for the Farm Securities Admin- motion and still have a well-com- turtles. His pictures appeared in istration (FSA), Dorothea Lange posed image. He was influenced by National Geographic magazine. He (1895-1965) was an accomplished the contemporary movement known joined the Marines and earned hon- documentary photographer of many as surrealism, which encouraged ors such as the Legion of Merit, a significant events. She documented artists and writers to explore the Purple Heart, two Distinguished Japanese internment camps during meaning that lay hidden below the Flying Crosses, six Battle Stars and World War II. The true impact of surface of everyday life. three Air Medals. Lange’s work was not felt until 1972 Using his camera to identify what After retiring from the military, he when the Whitney Museum incorpo- has come to be called the “decisive covered the conflict between the 28 • SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK • Published by the Journalism Education Association, ©2003 SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM WEEK Arabs and the Jews in Palestine. He images are gorgeous and beautiful, covered the Korean war and depict- but they often express human suffer- ed the horror and heroism of combat ing. “What I want in my pictures is TIMELINE as seen through the eyes of the not that they’ll look like art objects,” 1839 Optical and chemical principles Marines from the First Division. he said. “They are journalistic pic- combined to allow the creation of camera obscura, the first “camera” During his visit to Moscow, Duncan tures. All my pictures. No excep- (actually the result of inventions obtained permission from Premier tions.” that go back as far as the fifth cen- Nikita S. Khrushchev to photograph Salgado rose to international tury B.C.). the art treasures of the Kremlin. His fame with his photographs of famine 1871 Canadian Illustrated News prints first halftone in a magazine. work resulted in the first full-color in the Sahel (1984-85).