Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

The objective of a photojournalist is to record and capture and truth and report to the audiences using the photographs as the evidences.  In order to be ethical, they have to follow certain rules in order to demonstrate the truth to the audiences. However, different photojournalists have different ways and role of taking photographs, as they have different aspects and values in photography. Using the creations by Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier- Bresson vs. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado as an example, we will be able to prove that different photojournalists can believe it different approaches.

Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson both believe that capturing the natural moment of an object or a person is the best approach to use by photojournalist. It is no doubt that the true side can easily be recorded in the photograph without any modification and that is why anything or anyone can be their model. By examining the photographs below, the nature side of the objects and people is displayed. It seems that people in the photographs are no aware of the photographer, making reality to be shown. These two photojournalists are also believed in simplification; one of the identities of their photographs is that they are simple object based. The objects do not deliver lots of messages in the photographs and audiences often experience natural feelings in the photographs, simply by those common objects and background, such as water, grass, and buildings.



Andre Kertesz, To Susan, Paris, 1931. 8 "x 10", Gelatin Silver Print, Signed.
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/kertesz/big/2.jpg

 


14. Andre Kertesz, Elizabeth's Book, Newtown, CT. 8 "x 10", Gelatin Silver Print, Signed.
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/kertesz/big/6.jpg

 


Henri Cartier-Bresson Spain 1933, 1933 http://mediastore.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR3/2/9/e/1/PAR43608.jpg

 

On the other hand, Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado had the opposite opinions as Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson. They use people as their models; poses are also required in the photographs. Although this can reduce the reality of the photographs, strong and meaningful messages are demonstrated instead.  From the photographs below, we can see all the people express their emotions, sad, helpless, and lost. Those kinds of photographs are the evidences of proving what happened in the 19 century. Compare to Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado took the social responsibilities to tell the audiences about the stories from behind.



Eugene Smith,Nurse Midwife Maude Callen (Outside Portrait With Child), 1951.
http://www.joseflebovicgallery.com/Catalogue/Archive/Cat-126-2007/Large/0164.jpg





Sebastio Salgado, Gourma Rharous, Mali 1985
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TAU7AQV5kvVtRW5v_2YhyDISwrpjdnAP6lwiEo6NEkq5vB5AReJVbx-9d5dV5tFACLs7plS0BHFW8DJMWwiYCsM9L_clByIcgvczRcH9ndzZjP5bIlsIS5ITgXjDe8AeH3TgSg_Bvj4/s320/Gourma+Rharous+mali+1985.jpg



By comparing those two different styles, Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson wait for the right moment to capture, in contrast,  Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado “create” the right moment instead by editing the photographs or modifying the model object.

According to the main rules of photojournalists, images should not be altered in any sense. The original meanings and stories should be portrayed throughout the photograph. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado often alter the images in order to emphasize the main ideas while Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson did not. There is no such better approach in this case as those photojournalists had the same goal- showing the truth, of course, by using different ways, emotions and techniques.

Press photography versus art photography

Provided by the press and art photo below, there are certain similarities between them. The objects that are being capture in the photographs have no limitation and boundaries, making everything can be a model.  Although those photographs are created for different purposes, they both deliver messages and emphasize the ideas throughout the photographs in different ways.  On the other hand, press photography should indicate the true side of the event to the audiences, while the art photography is just art, making reality unnecessary.

It is acceptable to alter art photographs only with the approval of the original author. In the case of the author is no longer alive, proper word cited or references should be stated by the “photo remake”. By altering art photographs, for example, creating different versions of the photograph can contribute to the art world.



Gisele Bundchen By Walter Chin
http://www.artphotoexpo.com/product.php?id=37&ido=32



Naomi's Shaving By Ellen Von Unwerth
http://www.artphotoexpo.com/product.php?id=29&ido=345

It is not acceptable to alter press photographs because this is not ethical to hide the truth of the event. Altering the press photographs is any sense should be prohibited since the reality of the photographs should be shown to audiences; they have the right to know everything about the event. Using the press photographs of earthquake as an example, imagine what would have happened if the background of the photographs is altered so that the ashes are removed? What would have left is only a sad face; there is no way to know anything about the disaster. Moreover, altering the images can also lead to manipulation in readers’ minds. As we discussed in the previous assignment, the power and effects of altering the image can very strong, negative facts can be twist around into positive facts, therefore press photographs should be altered. However, photographs enhancement can be used in order to improve the quality of the photographs without changing the main idea to give the audience better understanding of the event.



Natori, Japan- Japanese Self- Defense Force soldiers look for victims amid the debris. Japan’s Emperor Akihito delivered a rare address to a jittery nation in dread of a nuclear catastrophe. By

Toru yamanaka/afp/ getty images
http://framework.latimes.com/2011/03/11/earthquake-and-tsunami-hits-japan/#/14





Otsuchi, Japan- Reiko Miura, 68, cries as she looks for her sister’s son by

Itsuo Inouye_associated press
http://framework.latimes.com/2011/03/11/earthquake-and-tsunami-hits-japan/#/14



Shooting the truth: Photojournalism

What’s the role of photo journalism?

The role of photo journalism is to record the truth of an event by taking a picture and broadcasting it to the audiences. Photo journalism is generally used in reporting news because it can help the journalist to deliver clear messages to the audiences. Adding photographs in the article when reporting news can attract audiences to read and it can help them to understand the news better. Also, photos can be a very good tool to deliver messages that cannot be portrayed by texts.

Are there rules that photojournalists should follow? Why? Why not?

According to the course notes, there are certain rules that photojournalists should follow:

1.      -Journalists must not alter their images because they should inform the audience about facts.

2.      -Photos should be changed only if the journalist wants to improve the quality. Context and facts on the photograph shouldn’t be changed in any sense.

3.      -Telling the story without changing the reality is the main purpose of the photographs, that is why objects and people shouldn’t be deleting in the photographs.

4.      -Photojournalists should have accountability to the public by ensuring the accuracy of the context and facts reported.

Is the ethics of taking journalistic photos different than the ethics of writing a news story?

They should both follow the same ethics because bring out the truth accurately to audiences is their objective. Simply changing a word or two in a paragraph can alter the whole meaning of that news story article. Words and photographs are important tools in media that is why they must deliver accurate information and facts. Therefore, when a person writes a news story should follow the ethics of taking journalistic photos.

What’s the impact of altering press photographs? Should they be edited (at all) in post production?

Altering press photographs can result in both positive and negative effects in terms of ethics of photo journalistic. It is no harm to alter the photograph to improve the quality as long as it can still inform the audiences with the right and accurate information.  However, altering the photograph without keeping the original facts or information should not be accepted as the truth of the events is hidden or changed.

Word cited:

Photojournalism: shooting the truth

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dc99qrtt_117dbtkzfgx