Chapter 8 -- Photojournalism Bias

Truth in Photojournalism

Photo by Ed Clark

Reflection:

This is a clearly moving image. The actual structure of the image is amazing and the subject's emotion can be felt. But my next stream of thought was why the man felt so affected by the loss of FDR. While we are talking about the longest running president that put in place some historically significant policies, he's the only person I see in this photo in full tears. It think of Professor John Nordell's video about Photojournalism bias. In there he describes the photos he's taken and how the way he frames them creates a certain feeling from the image. The historian in me went to research if there was any policy put in place or action FDR had made that would've made a difference in the African American community. In short, there wasn't any set movements made in his presidency that aid in equality. But there was an underlying change in attitude that would later carry on into the following eras of civil rights. So I believe his tears genuinely display his feeling of loss of someone who undeniably changed the game politically. He was refreshing as a president and a man of action. 

Photo by Don McCullin (1964)

Image A Truth & Way of Knowing

The image is of women during the Cyprus Civil War in obvious distress. They are clingiing to eachother for support. Looking at this image, the idea of technique replacing storytelling comes to mind. This photograph is true to it's context-- these people are in the middle of a war. They are experiencing grief and fear. There isn't exetensive focus on the technique of the phototaking but rather the story it's telling. Nowadays, there is a lot of competition for these amazing images to gloss over every news site. In the interview of Shahidul Alam, he talks about the reality of multiple truths and "being on the fence" while photographing his subjects. 

In a civil war, there is obvious tension within the boundaries of one country. The differing sides allow for differing opinions that may force photojournalists to figure out their own views and biases. The most obvious way of knowing is emotion and intuition. Nothing about the image feels artificial to me. I find that the people are reacting in such a way that shows little attention to the camera in their faces and capturing a great photo. They aren't trying to model and the photographer isn't making them pose like props. 

Photo by Roger Fenton (1858)

Image B Not Truth & Way of Knowing

This image is seemingly a normal historical picture of two Arabic men smoking in traditional clothing. While it's a beautiful image, it's not real. The two arabic men are actually two white europeans photographing in London. The image was composed to help aid in expanding European imperialism.  Similar to the Wired article about fake news, this image was also taken to use for a sort of poltitical use. I imagine yellow journalism could be applied to this image in a sense that it's goal was to attract readers. It's purpose isn't for the basic ethic of truth in photojournalism--- it's very carefully made.

My way of knowing is between language/authority and a bit of sense perception. I obviously had to do a bit of reading to understand that the photo was posed. But in some ways, I'm sure a bit of sense could be used to really tell the image wasn't natural to begin with. Probably anyone with a good eye for traditional garb could find little inaccurate parts of the photo.