Photojournalism Assignment

AKA:Documentary Photography

Reportage photography

Photo Essay

Documentary Photography

• Documentary photography usually refers to a type of professional photojournalism, but it may also be an amateur or student pursuit.

• The photographer attempts to produce truthful, objective, and usually candid photography of a particular subject, most often pictures of people. The pictures usually depict a certain perspective of the photographer.

• Usually such photographs are meant for publication, but are sometimes only for exhibition in an art gallery or other public forum. Sometimes an organisation or company will commission documentary photography of its activities, but the pictures will only be for its private archives.

Candid Photography

• Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than technique, on the immersion of a camera within events rather than focusing on setting up a staged situation or on preparing a complex camera and lights setup.

Candid Photography

• Candid photography is best described

• Un-posed and Unplanned.

• Immediate and Unobtrusive.

• Candid photography's setup includes a photographer who is there with the "subjects" to be photographed, close, and not hidden. People photographed on candid shoots either ignore or accept the close presence of the photographer's camera without posing.

Candid Photography

• Some professional photographers develop candid photography into an art form. Henri Cartier-Bresson might be considered the master of the art of candid photography, capturing the "decisive moment" in everyday life over a span of several decades.

• Arthur Fellig, better known as Weegee, was one of the great photographers to document life in the streets of New York to often capture life — and death — at their rawest edges.

• Almost all successful photographers in the field of candid photography master the art of making people relax and feel at ease around the camera, they master the art of blending in at parties, of finding acceptance despite an obvious intrusive element - the camera.

Arthur FelligWeegee was the pseudonym of Arthur Fellig (June 12, 1899 – December 26, 1968), an American photographer and photojournalist, known for his stark black and white street photography.

Weegee worked in New York as a press photographer, and he developed his signature style by following the city's emergency services and documenting their activity. Much of his work depicted unflinchingly realistic scenes of urban life, crime, injury and death.

Arthur Fellig

Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004) was a French Photographer considered to be the father of modern ‘photojournalism’, an early adopter of 35mm format, and the master of candid photography. He helped develop the “street photography" or "real life reportage" style that has influenced generations of photographers that followed.

“To take a photograph is to align the head, the eye and the heart. It's a way of life."

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Your Assignment

• You have until the 12th of November to provide us with an insight into the youth of 2012.

• You will present this as a photographic story, including a title through minimum of 20 images that can be presented either as prints, on CD or uploaded to Flickr.

Suggested TitlesA day in the life….. The Teenage angle…

My Weekend….. Our Days……

My Eyes….. The View from in here….

My World…… My Family Life…..

Possible ideas• Don’t take any images of anyone’s face – keep your subjects and yourself

anonymous.

• Take a photo every hour for a full day – wherever you are whatever you are doing i.e. brushing your teeth, bus stop, at shops, getting ready to go out…….

• Only take what is above and below you not straight ahead.

• Take images of what is directly below your feet, maybe including your feet. In bed, on the carpet, in park, with your friends in a group.

• Self portraits in mirrors, water, windows and reflective surfaces.

• Only take images of the people with you not yourself. (keep their identity hidden by taking them whilst they are facing away or just their hands

Hints and Tips

• Keep your flash off unless you are shooting at night or in very low light.

• Experiment with different shutter speeds to capture blur and motion.

• Always look for a different angle, unusual and quirky angles can work well when telling a story.

• Crop compositions very tightly

Assessment Criteria

• Your project will be assessed on the following:• Concept – Is your idea innovative, quirky and

exciting. Does it clearly illustrate your weekend/day etc?

• Quality – Are the compositions, focus and lighting appropriate for the images?

• Accuracy – Do you have at least the minimum amount of images and is the submission on time?

The assignment is due by Monday 12th th November for Higher pupils and Free Standing Unit pupils and will be assessed as a NAB.

We have assigned you four weeks which includes the October Holidays to ensure you present your best work. This timescale also allows you to borrow the school cameras.

Failure to submit the assignment on time or incomplete will result in the department reassessing your suitability for this course and concern letters will be sent home. So don’t let yourself down!