Press Photography: The purpose of a press photograph is to report current events that are going on around the world. They accompany news stories found in newspapers, magazines, on TV and on the internet, and are meant to connect the reader to the story, draw them into the story, or give them an idea of what’s going on without having to read anything. Press photographs are so common now that a news story without any visuals at all nowadays make the audience feel like the story was incomplete and they only got half of it.
+flees+with+other+children+after+South+Vietnamese+planes+mistakenly+dropped+napalm+on+South+Vietnamese+troops+and+civilians..jpg) |
| Taken in 1972 by Nick Ut Phan Thi Kim Phuc (center) flees with other children after South Vietnamese planes mistakenly dropped napalm on South Vietnamese troops and civilians. |
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| Taken in 1994 by James Nachtwey A Hutu man at a Red Cross hospital, his face mutilated by the Hutu 'Interahamwe' militia, who suspected him of sympathizing with the Tutsi rebels. |
Art Photography: The purpose of art photography is to portray a message that the photographer wants to send. Art Photographs are made from the creative vision of the photographer working as an artist. Art photos can be staged, edited, taken out of context – no rules apply to it, as the message isn’t one that people rely on for information, but one to evoke feelings and get people thinking.
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| "untitled" by Loizelle De Moisson |
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| "Fall" by Nick Mansell |
Press photography must be truthful, it needs to portray what the world is trying to tell, not what the photographer wants to tell. Press photography is distinguished from other forms because it adheres to the principles of journalism: timeliness, accuracy, fair representation of the context of events and facts reported and accountability to the public. Press photography cannot exclude important parts of the context. Always accompany a news story or have an explanation so people know exactly what is going on in the picture and don't misinterpret them.
Art photography is giving the message that the photographer wants to tell. Art photographs can be stages, taken out of context and manipulated beyond recognition, because although the message may be real, it’s not needed by the public to feel connected to world events. Art photographs have a message but are open to interpretation, and therefore usually only have a name, and no explanation.
Similarities:
The only real similarity between the two styles of
photography is that each is portraying a message. Not the same type of message,
but a message nonetheless.
Is it
ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs? Why? Why not?
I believe it is both ethical and acceptable to
alter art photographs. These types of photographs aren’t accompanying something
real, like news stories and current events. In fact, in most cases, these types
of photographs have to be altered in order for it to say what the artist is trying
to tell. Art photography is a form of art, and so the artists need to be able
to do what they want to make sure their piece comes out how they envisioned it.
Is it
ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs? Why? Why not?
There are no laws or regulations against
manipulating photos in the media. However, the NPPA (National Press
Photographers Association) has come up with a code of ethics that all press
photographers should follow. With that being said, I do not think it is ethical
or acceptable for a press photograph to be altered (apart from brightening or
any sort of editing for quality purposes). Press photographs don’t always
accompany news stories, but they always document current events. For that
reason, they must be truthful, because they are what the public rely on to know
what’s going on around the globe.
Sources:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxzaG9vdGluZ3RoZXRydXRofGd4OmIxYjJjZTkyZjQzMGVmMQ(source from week 9 readings)
http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm
(source from week 9 readings)
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