Photojournalism

Martin Parr: Kentucky:: Derby 2015                                                             

Martin Parr, a photographer, is famously known for documenting the social classes of England and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. Parr’s interest in the Western world fully explains how he ended up at the Kentucky Derby. “Parr likes to get up close and personal with his subjects. It allows him to put his subjects, under the microscope in their own environment, giving them space to expose their lives and values in ways that often involve inadvertent humor,” according to Olivier Laurent, editor for Time Light Box. Parr’s awards list has on ongoing time span starting from 2004. A few recent awards include Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society (2005) and the International award from the Photographic Society in Japan (2008).

2015 Kentucky Derby observer.

“You get a bit tired with people with hats so it’s your job to find something a bit different,” says Parr, from an interview with Laurent. This picture represents the “something different” that Parr describes because it’s the Derby, a high class event with high class people. Women at the Derby are usually wearing high dollar dresses and very large hats. They usually aren’t, shoeless and laying their high dollar dress all over the bench like Parr’s subject here. She then proceeds to use her seat cushion to cushion her head as she falls asleep. This picture is best described by Parr in his interview with Time. Parr says, “It’s very American there’s no other place where the prices are huge. It’s American capitalism at its best and worse. Everything out there was crazy,” says Parr after his trip to Kentucky Derby where he got this shot.

 News Values: Prominence and Proximity

Prominence is relevant because the Kentucky Derby is a famous event across the world. The evidence of this prominence factor is the photographer of topic is currently stationed in Germany and yet was sent on an Kentucky Derby assignment.

Proximity is relevant in that this event is taking place in the state we all call home, or temporary home. We know about this event and are very familiar as to when it takes place, and what the event has to offer.

Massimo Sestini: Mediterranean Sea:: June 7, 2014                                      

Massimo Sestini, is an Italian photographer who is based in Florence Italy. Sestini, a daring and determined photographer, is known to go after the shots in dangerous settings; like hanging from the frame of a helicopter to capture the image below. Sestini gathered all of his photographs from different events and opened his first exhibition in 2008 to present his work. After 2015, when he captured this photo of the refugees, he was awarded 2015 World Press Photo.

500 refugees fleeing from their homelands of
 Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan due to civil wars.

Italian navy rescues refugees, who are departing from the Middle East, are traveling across the Mediterranean Sea to seek refuge in Europe. This picture displays hundreds of  individuals seeking refuge and help from war and poverty. This picture features the desperate needs and courageous nature of these refugees. Only 8 months before they set off on their journey, a previous boat preforming the same duties sank off the coast of Lampedusa killing more than 250 people. These people make desperate attempts at fleeing their civil wars, according to Noah Raymon from Time.

This picture also gives hope by representing Italy’s naval mission: “Mare Nostrum” which translates to “Our Sea.” Through their efforts 30,000 people have been relocated and helped medically and in living conditions, according to Raymon from Time.

 News Values: Conflict and Impact

            Conflict is a news value because these refugees are fleeing from civil war in Rwanda, Burundi and Sudan, according to International Affairs review. This conflict is the reason behind this photo having value. If the conflict was present then the significances wouldn’t be there and these people wouldn’t be jeopardizing comfort and personal space in this extreme way, for a better life and living conditions.

            Impact is a news value due to all the countries taking in these refugees. These countries are experience major population impact. While trying to sustain these refugees Europe is also experiencing a food shortage and property impact as these people need food and a place to go. In another sense, this picture and their story is impactful to those who have not been affected by such extremes of hardship that many can’t imagine.

Landon Nordeman: Palace Theater:: February 08, 2016                               

Landon Nordeman began his career in 1997 when he accepted the staff photographer position at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville, Virginia. Nordeman then went to study photojournalism at the school of Visual Communications at the Ohio University. There he was selected from hundreds of applicants to be the photography intern for National Geographic. According to a biography of Landon Nordeman provided by National Geographic, “Whether shooting an assignment for National Geographic or a grant project on Staten Island, Nordeman develops a personal connection with his subjects and searches for unexpected moments to tell their story.” Nordeman did just that with the photo he captured from the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

After Bernie Sander's presidential campaign, man looses
something on the floor.

                                      

In this photo is a single man on the floor of the first level of the Palace Theatre, in Manchester New Hampshire. Nordeman captured this photo while the man was trying to find something he had lost on the floor. Despite his actual intentions of lying on the floor, it appeared as if a crime had been committed at the rally for Bernie Sanders. A violent act at a presidential campaign isn’t an oddity, and that’s why this photo received the attention it did. It placed in the viewer’s mind the possibility of violence occurring at such a bias event. This photo symbolizes the ongoing and growing hatred between political parties. It questions the dramatic lengths that the supporters are willing to go to, to aid their candidate in the election.

News Values: Immediacy and Novelty

            Immediacy is a relevant news value because this photo was taken at a Presidential campaign for Bernie Sanders only three months ago. It’s also immediate in that these campaigns are still going today.

            Novelty is a justified news value in that this picture makes you look twice because of its dark and eerie appearance. Although it’s not a dark photo of a violent crime that has been committed, it appears that way. This disillusion qualifies for novelty in that it’s not what you expect.

Jeff Widener: China:: June 5, 1989.                                                              

“Tank Man” taken by Jeff Widener would become known as the greatest news photographs of all time, according to Kate Pickert from Time. While “Tank Man” is by far the most popular photo of Widener, he has also covered assignments in over 100 other countries covering civil unrest and war on social issues. According to Widener’s official webpage, “While traveling the globe Widener became the title holder of the first photojournalist to file digital images from the South Pole.” In order to kick off his career he attended Los Angeles Pierce College and Moorepark College, where he majored in photojournalism. Widener was 25 years of age when he accepted the position in Bussels, Belgium as a staff photographer working with the United Press International. After 1989 and his Tank Man popularity explosion, Widener continued to Thailand, Miami, Honolulu and is currently in Hamburg, Germany, doing freelance work. Widener has been awarded multiple awards and honors for his production of the years. According to Widener's official webpage, "A few of these awards are, Picture of the Year Internationally, NPPA Best of Photojournalist and National head-liner award."

"Tank Man" photo taken by Jeff Widener from a nearby hotel.

Widener was assigned to cover the events or actions results of the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989. These protests were by students (in Beijing) who were mourning the death of the Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang. Hu had the students’ hearts because he voiced his disagreement against inflation, limited career prospects, and corruption in the party elites. The protest reached its climax of approximately one million people all assembled at the square. It was the day after lives of students were taken by police and internal security forces. This man, after visiting the local grocery store, came to face death without hesitation. “I assume he thinks he’s going to die. But he doesn’t seem to care, for whatever reason his statement means more to him than his life,” according to Widener from an interview with Kate Pickert.

News Values: Conflict and Emotion

Conflict is an obvious news value for two reasons. This picture exists because there is a protest going on by college students. These college students were met with excessive force by the police and internal forces resulting in death. Another reason this is an example of conflict is because a man is no match for the three tanks in front of him. The question on whether or not the tanks will continue in their paths exemplifies conflict.

            Emotion is relevant in we feel the pain of the loss of the college students by viewing this individual’s courage. We want to unify with his efforts knowing such drastic measures should not have been taken.

Mario Testino: Wales:: 1997                                                                          

Mario Testino a well-known photographer. “Testino started out selling portfolios to wanna-be models, but then found his true calling in photographing portraits for famous people; including Princess Diane. His specialty is to reveal the deceptive air of nonchalance in his photographs,” according to article from People. His popularity doesn’t stop behind the lens of a camera, Testino is famously known in the designer and fashion editors’ world too. “Testino popularity and talent both captures and sells beautiful clothes, according to article from People.

Princess Diane of Whales is modeling for Mario Testino

News Value: Prominence

Princess Diane is famously known for her caring and giving qualities. According to Valorie Delp, “Diana is noted for two major contributions to humanitarianism, although during her lifetime she was President or Patron of over 100 charities.”