Friday, February 5, 2010

Visual Storytelling: The Power of Photojournalism

Friday's class excited my interest because so much is left open to interpretation in photography. There are different avenues that the photographer can take to achieve a stellar shot but also a lot of factors to be aware of such as:

*Lighting
*Framing
*The Foreground + Background
*Empty Space
*Focus

But if the photographer captures the photo in a way that evokes emotion from the audience, the goal was fulfilled.

When searching for an Audio Slideshow online, I came across one titled Israeli Forces Attack Gaza Strip, from the Associated Press, that caught my attention. I would like to warn anyone who is squeamish or cannot handle the sight of blood that this slideshow contains a few photos that are disturbing.

Professor Hatch talked about how it is so important in photography to anticipate what is going to happen, and I believe this presentation embodies what he means by this. The shots of the explosions and of the people could not have been captured without anticipating. The photographer's timing was impeccable when it came to capturing the shot of the gun firing and the shots of the people in motion.

Each photo takes into consideration what is going on in the WHOLE scene. When the background is apparent and in focus, it is because it adds to the setting and enhances the photograph. Every decision is made for a particular reason. It is doubtful that the photographer just happened upon these shots, but rather thought them through and had an idea in mind on wither how to frame them or when to take them, to get the best possible picture. Each photo portrays something different that, when put together in such a sequence, creates this powerful story that is both thought-provoking and visually appealing.

3 comments:

  1. The syncing of the audio track with this slideshow is flawless. Many of the pictures are punctuated with a sound, and the explosion noises are seamlessly integrated with their corresponding photos. The commentary also provides a dramatic backdrop to the images.

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  2. I love the action shots in these. It is amazing how he caught some of the explosions and even the guns going off and the sparks flying. I think this shows exquisite patience and waiting for just the right moment to shoot (as well as great shutter speed)

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  3. Wonderful selection. Capturing the moments is, in part, thanks to digital photography and not having to worry about running out of film. One of the keys to anticipation isn't just pressing the shutter at the right moment, but being in the right spot to capture it.

    Especially *beautiful* is the man reaching out of the rubble, and the three white sheets on the red background.

    This also perfectly exemplifies one image leading to the next.

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