“the art or practice of communicating news by photographs” – Google Dictionary
“journalism that presents a story primarily through the use of pictures” – Princeton University
Dan Chung is a photojournalist who works at The Guardian where he has been for the past four years. Dan is particularly acclaimed for his work in Iraq in 2003, in Indonesia following the tsunami in 2004, and in Pakistan in aftermath of the earthquake in 2006. His photography is effective in the sense that it truly captures the reality of the disasters he encountered.
I think these photographs are particularly powerful because they show both physical and emotional damage caused by the Japan earthquake and tsunami. The images open the eyes of the readers and make them emotionally attached to the story.
Japan earthquake and tsunami:
Dan Chung in Shintona
Guardian photographer captures the devastation wrought on the town of Shintona in Miyagi prefecture, one of the worst affected areas.
A grieving woman sits on the kerb as rescuers search for survivors.
A car embedded in the side of a house by the force of the tsunami.
A photograph in the rubble.
Japan earthquake and tsunami:
Dan Chung in Kesennuma
Guardian photographer Dan Chung captures life after the disaster in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
Residents are forced to queue for water after supply pipes were damaged.
Debris left behind by the tsunami.
A fishing boat washed up on the waterfront of Kesennuma.
Context: Newspapers
DOCUMENTARY
Vanley Burke was born in Jamaica in 1951 and moved to Birmingham in 1965, armed with his camera given to him by his grandmother for his 10th birthday. He began photography in earnest from around 1967 and made a conscious decision to document the black community.
The photographs capture his own experiences of being newly arrived in Britain, his encounters with the different landscape and ways of living, and the experiences of the wider African Caribbean community. It was also created to counteract Burke's perception of negative and stereotypical images of black people found in mainstream media. The photographs represent the black community back to themselves in an intimate portrayal and are taken from his perspective as a member of the community, rather than as documentary images taken from an 'outsider' perspective.
I think Burke’s photographs are inspiring because he seeks to continuously challenge, question and explore the principles of society and its problems. I find his work to be vibrant, engaging and revealing, which offers an intimate insider’s portrait of life.
"It's just about the ability to see something others may be unable to see, in terms of the value. Then show people.” – Vanley Burke
Context: Exhibitions/galleries and photobooks.
“using a photograph as a visual document of an event, place, object, or person, providing evidence of a moment in time.” – Oxford
“taking of photographs to provide a record of social and political situations with the aim of conveying information.” – www.profotos.com
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ADVERTISING
“photographs made to illustrate and usually sell a service or product.” – Google Dictionary
Jonathan Knowles is a London based photographer specialising in beautifully composed graphic still life, liquid and people photography.
His unique photographic style has earned him award winning, national and international advertising commissions working with advertising agencies worldwide.
In the past six years he has consistently featured in the ‘200 Best Advertising Photographers in the World’ books. He is now also one of the top 10 all time award winners in the Graphis Annuals, and has just had three images included in their volume ‘100 Best in Photography’, published on 1st May 2011.
I found Knowles photography to be really eye catching which enticed me to study each of his images. The vibrancy of his advertisements is visually imposing and I quite like the simplicity most of them seem to possess. They successfully make me want to buy the product.
Context: Magazines, newspapers, web pages, books.
PROMOTIONAL
“the use of photography to publicise or advertise a product, cause, institution etc.” – Google Dictionary
Kevin Cummins is a British photographer, perhaps most famous for his photographs of rock bands and musicians. He has photographed a large number of legendary musicians throughout his career, including Mick Jagger, Ian Curtis, Morrissey, Courtney Love, Patti Smith, and David Bowie.The musicians he photographs may use these shots for promotional purposes to advertise their music in the media industry.
I like the use of lighting in all of Cummins photographs because it often puts emphasis on the musician. Many of the shots show the musicians in action, which in my opinion promotes their style of music.
Context: Music magazines, CD ROMS, web pages, exhibitions, record sleeves.
FASHION/PORTRAITURE
Fashion - “photography devoted to displaying clothing, other fashion items or professional models.” – Google Dictionary
Portraiture - “photography displaying a person’s facial expression. The objective is to show the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the subject.” - Wikipedia
Bruce Weber is an American fashion photographer. He is most widely known for his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Pirelli, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revlon, and Gianni Versace, as well as his work for Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, Interview, and Rolling Stone magazines.
I think Weber’s work is very professional and his photography often captures the character and personality of the subject. I like that his shots are all in black and white, which give his photography a theme and identification.
Context: Fashion magazines e.g. Vogue, Elle..
“photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artists” – Google Dictionary
Julia Margaret Cameron was a British photographer during the 1800’s. She became known for her fine art portraits of celebrities of the time, and for photographs with Arthurian and other legendary themes.
For Julia Margaret Cameron, photography was an art form for her to master, to twist and change as she would. Because she did not need to make a living from her photos, she was not constrained to following conventional techniques put forth by those before her. This being so, Cameron wanted to produce photos in which the emotional state of the model was of highest importance. Technical aspects were set aside so that this could be done.
Cameron focused on two main things in her photography: women and allegorical lessons. Although some of her most well known photos are of famous men, most of her work centered on the women in her life. She tried to reveal her subject’s natural beauty, having them pose with their hair down and flowing free to reveal a position not usually seen.
I like the history behind Cameron’s work and how each photograph appears to be a hand painted work of art. Each seems to tell a story and share an aged, old-fashioned theme. She used subdued lighting and dark backgrounds to create a dreamy setting. It seems as though she often left the lens of her camera purposely out of focus so as to add to this dreaminess.
Context: Books, exhibitions/galleries.
FINE ART
HIGH STREET
“documentary photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions and other settings.” – Wikipedia
“any photograph made anywhere in public places involving people, in and around urban settings” – www.nonphotography.com
Garry Winogrand was a street photographer known for his portrayal of America in the mid-20th century. Many of his photographs depict the social issues of his time and in the role of media in shaping attitudes. He roamed the streets of New York with his camera rapidly taking photographs using a prefocused wide-angle lens. His pictures frequently appeared as if they were driven by the energy of the events he was witnessing. While the style has been much imitated, Winogrand's eye, his visual style, and his wit, remain unique.
I like how Winogrand’s photos truly capture the moment and a share his experiences on the streets. Winogrand must have had the tendency to be in the right place at the right time, because his photos seem to capture fairly rare observations and impulsive actions. I think some of his photography is quite powerful, and effectively give off a mixture of emotions.
Winogrand's photographs of the Bronx Zoo and the Coney Island Aquarium made up his first book The Animals. (1969) a collection of pictures that observes the connections between humans and animals.
Contexts: Books, exhibitions/galleries.
ARCHITECTURAL
“practice of photographing buildings and similar structures, both inside and out.” – Google Dictionary julius shulman
