The art of Photojournalism

Photo 1.

Title: William Hampton of the London Nomades, a group of travellers who were staying on vacant land in Battersea.

Photo by: John Thompson

Image Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123212/Black-white-pictures-capture-lives-Londoners-1800s.html

Year Created: 1876-1877

Is the image black & white or color? As this picture was taken in the late 1800’s, and all of Thompson’s photographs from this period have the same color to them, it leads me to believe that this was the only color he was able to shoot in at the time. This photograph was shot in a color range similar to sepia, in which the image has an orange tint to it. The photograph could be converted to black and white, but this orange tint really shows how old the picture is, and allows you to estimate the time frame in which is was taken.

In or out of focus? – The image is sharpest in the middle and starts to lose focus very quickly as you look towards the edges of the picture. This may have been intentional in order to draw attention to the children looking out of the cabin or the centre of the image, but it seems that some of Thompson’s photographs also have the same issue, so it may be a problem with the old camera that he was using. One of the children’s faces in the cabin window is out of focus, which suggests that there may have been a long exposure and the child moved his or her face when it was being captured.

Obvious main subject, about ¼ to 2/3 of image area – The subject of this picture filled the whole frame, and this works well as it allows you to see every person and the lack of emotion in the moment. If the photograph was taken further out, it would be hard to see the children in the window, and you may be distracted by what the cabin is attached too, or the surroundings. The photographer really captured everything that was important, and would have ruined the feeling of the picture if one of the people were left out.

Why did I choose the image?:
I chose this image because I found this set of pictures by John Thompson and was really amazed by why he set out to take these photographs. These photographs were also very interesting as they were taken in London, England, so they felt very close to home for me and I was able to see some images of my homeland in the 1800’s. Another thing that drew me to this photograph was the comment that was recorded by Thompson when capturing this moment, he writes “William Hampton of the London Nomades, a group of travellers who were staying on vacant land in Battersea: 'Why what do I want with education? Any chaps of my acquaintance that knows how to write and count proper ain't much to be trusted into the bargain' “. The fact that Thompson documented who the people were and gave a quote from them is incredible and it really allows you to imagine the people saying it and how it was to live in that period.

 Thompson’s aim for taking these photographs was to “help middle class Victorians gain an insight to what life was like for those living in poverty”. This was a really thoughtful mission, and his photographs are still viewed today by the world.

 Photo 2.

  Title: Testing bulletproof vest, 9/13/23

Photo by: Unknown, but kept in The National Photo Company Collection.

Image Source: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/npco/item/npc2007009502/

Year Created: 1923

What feelings does the image create? – The image really creates a feeling of anxiety, and shows you how brave the subject is who is taking the hit. The fact that they are testing the bulletproof vest means that there is a chance that it won’t live up to its expectations. The person shooting the bullet looks like a very important person and doesn’t seem phased by the fact that he could kill the person testing the vest.

What in the image helped to create that feeling? – One thing that really helped to create the feeling of the photograph is the people looking on from the right side. They add to the intensity of the photograph as it shows that what is happening is maybe not a smart idea, and they are looking on in disbelief as it is not something that happens everyday.

Exposure time – By the looks of the photograph, the image was captured with a fast shutter speed. There is no blur in the photograph, and the gun is frozen in what looks like a recoil position, like he has just fired the bullet. What is confusing about this photograph is that it looks like he has fired the shot; due to the way the gun is pointing, and the smoke in the image. On the other hand, there is no reaction from the man who is taking the hit, and no visible impact in the vest he is wearing. It is possible that the bullet is frozen in mid air and is invisible to the human eye, or even more possible that the shot was taken maybe 10 seconds ago, and the subject’s stood still to pose for the camera.

Why did I choose the image?: 

I chose this picture because I was simply in shock when I saw it. I honestly didn’t think that this kind of testing would be allowed as it is putting a human life in danger. They could have used a test dummy or even a dead pig to show the impact behind the vest but they chose to put a mans life at risk in order to prove the quality of this bulletproof vest. 

Photo 3.

Title: An American soldier wears a hand lettered “War Is Hell” slogan on his helmet, Vietnam, 1965

Photo by: Horst Faas

Image Source: http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/soldier-war-is-hell-vietnam-1965/

Year Created: 1965

Subject’s Expression – The expression on this soldiers face is very touching. Its almost like he is trying to smile, but the situation he is in is weighing on his mind, very heavily. His eyes are glossed, showing you that he is holding back emotions, and this is clear by the message on his helmet. The expression on his face also almost wants you to feel the pain that he has gone through, but knowing the viewer will never understand.

KEEP IT SIMPLE – The image is very simple. The main focus is on the soldiers face and helmet. The way that his head takes up most of the frame causes little distraction and makes you focus on his mouth, eyes, and message on his helmet. If the photo was taken a little further out, it would cause you to try and see where he is, or the environment in which he is in, and would take focus off of the main message.

Depth of field – The image has an extremely shallow depth of field, so much so that even the subject’s shoulders are out of focus. The photograph was taken very close up, and this draws your attention to his head and helmet. This is the perfect amount of depth of field as it shows the clear focus, being the messages on the helmet, and also highlights the expression on his face, which is very important.

Why did I choose the image?:

I chose this image as it caught my attention and really caused me to think deeply about the situation this soldier is in. The expression on his face is incredibly moving, and the writing on his helmet leads you to believe that he is truly experiencing hell. I could have chosen a more recent image, but I felt that this photograph was too good to be missed out, and too moving to not write about.