Photojournalism


kchpower94

New Member
Nov 7, 2010
1
0
0
pasir ris
Ehh..i always have this question in my mind ,how to become a photojournalist and what it do. I always wanted to travel around and take pics like how national geographic photographers did. So anyone call tell me more about it?:what:
 

Ehh..i always have this question in my mind ,how to become a photojournalist and what it do. I always wanted to travel around and take pics like how national geographic photographers did. So anyone call tell me more about it?:what:

not that easy. are ur photos up to standard yet. do u have the right contacts. are u planning to work as a mixed photographer? not many photojournalists only do travel. most do wedding to support their photo journalism. some work for businesses such as OCBC to document their events etc.

lets just say its not easy to venture to. unless u have a lot of contacts and strings u can pull lor:think:
 

Ehh..i always have this question in my mind ,how to become a photojournalist and what it do. I always wanted to travel around and take pics like how national geographic photographers did. So anyone call tell me more about it?:what:

As the name suggest, they are photojournalist.

Instead of writing a piece of article, they record/show it with the pictures...

This is what I have learned from Mike Yamashita, one of the NG photographer who do a lot of article about India, Afgan, Japan, etc...

He started his career by spending a lot of his time and money, living in India and doing the shots and come out with a portfolio before he go and see NG people.

NG photographers are a very special people, people who is driven for different cause and their life is about what they do.

One don't become a photojournalist one day by wanting to do it... they become one, because they are one from within.

What set them apart or set anyone apart in their work, is what come out from within them...

Being a particular type of photographer and do well will start from your inner self.

For example, if one is passionate about people, they will do well about people photography.

You have to ask yourself, why are you interested in photojournalism? Do you live life like a photojournalist? or simply, you are tourist who would like to record images where you have visited? that is the question that you have to find within yourself...

Hope it helps..

Regards,

Hart
 

The above reply is one of the few most informative and helpful advice I have seen within the internet community.

Hart, here is my sincere regards to your well being and thumbs up for your contributive advice for the masses.

Kudos
 

Thx... Glad you find it helpful.

Hart
 

As the name suggest, they are photojournalist.

Instead of writing a piece of article, they record/show it with the pictures...

This is what I have learned from Mike Yamashita, one of the NG photographer who do a lot of article about India, Afgan, Japan, etc...

He started his career by spending a lot of his time and money, living in India and doing the shots and come out with a portfolio before he go and see NG people.

NG photographers are a very special people, people who is driven for different cause and their life is about what they do.

One don't become a photojournalist one day by wanting to do it... they become one, because they are one from within.

What set them apart or set anyone apart in their work, is what come out from within them...

Being a particular type of photographer and do well will start from your inner self.

For example, if one is passionate about people, they will do well about people photography.

You have to ask yourself, why are you interested in photojournalism? Do you live life like a photojournalist? or simply, you are tourist who would like to record images where you have visited? that is the question that you have to find within yourself...

Hope it helps..

Regards,

Hart

Great answer, can't agree more :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 

Looking at Ts profile, who is a student currently? The first step towards thinking and wanting about being a photojournalist is to find yourself.....are you a street, events, sports, travel, people kind of photographer? Be involved in your school events as a photographer, that way you may be able to find more or less where you are inclined towards.

In the past years, having started photography as a subject option for my students, I have seen them grow by being involved in all kinds of shoots in school, from editorial, events, sports, potraits, etc beside their subject requirements. They also were involved in the photo club in school.

One recently won the National Geographic travel scholarship, which took him to Bhutan with a NG photographer. This is on top of the NZ trip he won at the photomarathon two years ago, this guy is hungry and will volunteer for all kinds of shoots, even to the extend of improvising a fish tank to take his cam underwater. He talks his way into homes people he met and shoot them in their habitat........he will be one those to watch in the future.

Another graduated with a high distinction in Photography(Visual Art), was also able to sweet talk his way into a children hospital to capture the sufferings of the terminally ill young patients.

.... to be successful, one need to have people skills as well.....even if you want to specialize in landscapes as you do not shoot for yourself.....but your client.

Both these students had zero photography background, but within the 4 years, they were like sponges, absorbing all that they could learn.

On the other hand, there are some very technically sound individual, but the fire was not burning in them. You might want to observe the real pro work during major events like YOG, they were the last ones out when it was pouring.....they are constantly sizing up the situation, and always looking for the next better image....when some photographer would have packed up when they got a good shot.
 

You might want to observe the real pro work during major events like YOG, they were the last ones out when it was pouring.....

yea i was at yog. it was pouring like free... my shoes was very muddy...

see this person?
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Sport/Story/STIStory_567788.html

5262871705_d33b25b58c.jpg

lucky me:) only guy in the whole world with this shot. cause other photographers all not there, when i was there. we often dun associate weightlifting with daintiness

anyways back to topic. TS, photojournalism market in sg is pretty small. check out this person
http://logue.sg/services/photography
i was under her wing for a 4 weeks photojournalism course. i learnt from her that its not easy to make a living, often u shoot from your own pocket, while doing event/wedding photography to supplement the journalism aspect. very rare u will get a chance to be paid to do photojournalism.

some things to consider:

writing along with the photos.
equipments.
who would buy your story.
why is your story important.
what makes ur photography different from others?
 

Last edited:
Many years ago, I read an article about the lives of several photojournalists. Their family life can be quite messed up because they spend like several months to years away chasing the pictures and the stories. Something to think about.
 

oh yea. to give u an idea, a story u think is interesting? it might have been overdone.

to just give a list of idea, which we did during the course and majority had mentioned they wanna do:

Foreign workers
Fish Market
Street Performers
& more foreign workers...
barbers

etc.

u need a story, that hasnt been told, or has been mistold.

for me i chose folklore taoism. got it approved and went shooting:)

and then there is the deadline, and whether the opportunity arrives. etc etc. then there is research. interviews. translations (which i had to do myself). its not easy
 

Last edited:
very simple...call up SPH or any Wire services and see what is their requirement. The most direct approach often works when you need a direct answer.

If you are in school, volunteer your time to the school paper if any or start one and see how it goes.
 

since you mentioned about national geographic, i suggest you study about their field men. read about the lives of maynard owen williams, of volkmar wentzel, of luis marden, of tom abercrombie.

you'll realize soon enough that they totally soak into the cultures of any land they visit. they're not just taking photographs, they're living. the camera is secondary.

i can see where you're coming from, as i'm aspiring to go down this path too. the beginning is the toughest and life is always an upwards struggle. once out of the army (if you're singaporean), do you spend the next 3 long years studying for a better future? do you start work and look for a stable income, at the risk of losing the passion for your dream? or do you intend to travel around the world, doing odd jobs plus scrimping and saving every step of the way.

these are the decisions you must make. of course, it helps if you have connections.

i say, spend the first few years of your early 20s travelling off the beaten track, no matter what it takes, and read extensively. you'll come into contact with so many inspiring people, and gain much perspective-changing experiences.

then you think about what you really want, again.
 

The very best training you can get as a Photojournalist is to work with a magazine or Newspaper as a staff photographer. It will teach you the needed work ethics and editorial skills required to make the shots required for publication day in day out. While doing that hone in your skills big time at being able to shoot anything (and I mean anything), any subject, any event, any item as once you are in the field you are very much reliant on your own abilities and what gear you have with you at any one time.

Also practice and perfect your abilities to communicate using sign and body language, you are really going to need it. Also having strong guts is a must if working in the 3rd world as there are things you'll see, hear and eat that would have the average person wishing to hell they weren't where you are.

If you want to go play in warzones then make sure you are with a major agency. Too many freelancers these days end up with their heads removed, throats slit or they endure far worse fates. The numbers of dead PJ's in recent years has risen greatly. This is in part due to lack of trust by the opposing sides given the rise of half baked amateurs roaming around saying they are freelance PJ's and the fact that certain non press agencies who shalt remain nameless have been placing operatives in the field in the guise of PJ's.