Photojournalism

This book can be read online and is the digital version of the book originally published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1991.

"A photojournalist is a mixture of a cool, detached professional and a sensitive, involved citizen. The taking of pictures is much more than F-stops and shutter speeds. The printing of pictures is much more than chemical temperatures and contrast grades. The publishing of pictures is much more than cropping and size decisions. A photojournalist must always be aware that the technical aspects of the photographic process are not the primary concerns.

A mother crying over the death of her daughter is not simply an image to be focused, a print to be made, and a picture to be published. The mother's grief is a lesson in humanity.

If the photojournalist produces a picture without a thought for her tragedy, the lesson is lost. But if the photographer cares for her loss, is made more humane, and causes the readers to share in her grief, photojournalism has reached its highest potential.

Despite its frustrations and low moments, the lesson of humanity is why photojournalism is an extremely rewarding profession. For that reason, photojournalism is worthy of the best thought and actions possible by its participants."

--from chapter eight: "Juggling journalism and Humanism"

Table of Contents

• Preface and Acknowledgments
• Chapter One: Photojournalism and Ethics
• Chapter Two: Assignments and Techniques
• Chapter Three: A Philosophical Perspective
• Chapter Four: Victims of Violence
• Chapter Five: Rights to Privacy
• Chapter Six: Picture Manipulations
• Chapter Seven: Other Issues of Concern
• Chapter Eight: Juggling Journalism and Humanism
• Appendix A: NPPA Code of Ethics
• Appendix B: Toward a Philosophy of Research in Photojournalism by Rich Beckman
• References
• Index