Photojournalism and Bias

"Going Home"
Photo by Ed Clark
Image Source: http://www.thegreatleapsideways.com/?p=209

When I look at this image, I see a young black male from the Army or Navy, crying while playing the accordion. You see pain on this young man’s face. The young man is the focus of the photo, you also see other people in the background near him, mostly women. You see a woman with her head resting on her hand, as if she is crying. Other women are looking at what appears to be the young man, but they could be looking at something else. You see a man hanging his head low, also showing grief. Before I looked up more information of this photograph, I thought this could be an image of the young man playing at other army men’s funeral. However, this was captured at a part of the funeral train for Franklin Roosevelt. To me, knowing that makes it a little more emotional. The fact that a President was so loved by people that a young army man was cry while continuing to play his instrument, he played through his pain he felt. As John Nordell said in his video, “Perspective and history determines a reaction to particular image.” I believe this photo explains these words.

Obvious main subject: It is obvious the main subject this the young man. If you did not see the people in the background you wouldn’t see all the emotion, it would be as if only that young man was sad. However, it is better that why are not as focused as the young man.

Rule of thirds: The young man is not in the center of the image, you are able to see the other grieving people behind him. You are able to see that there are many people who attended this event.

Black & White: I believe if this photo was in color, you would not get the same emotion. Due to the photo being in black and white, the names face is facing more towards the night, which captures the man’s tears running down his face. You see the detail of the pain and grief he is expressing.

Photo by Bill Franks
Image Source: http://billfrakes.photoshelter.com/image/I0000rhNFFPdEsl0

In or Out of Focus: The women are in focus and the rest of the image around them are buried and not in focus. This helps keep the focus on the two women and the feeling they are going through than what is around them. You can tell they are at a big race with a lot of people around so the photographer focus the women and blurs the rest of the area to keep the attention on them.

Black & White or color?: I believe if this photo was not in color it would be hard to make out the meaning of this photo. With color, it shows their jerseys and that they are on the same team, another teammate helping another. Also, if it was not in color, you wouldn’t be able to make out that the one women is helping her teammate by icing the back of her legs.

Quality of Light: The light is right on the two athletes. It helps bring the focus on them. Also, with the light you see the details on the women’s bodies. You can see they are in shape and are true athletes. The light is hitting both of the women and not just one or the other.

I chose this photo because I used to be an athlete and know what it is like to be able to count on teammates to be there when you need them. This is a true photo because it just shows the women runners most likely after a big race, one has her shoes off and the other is on her knees while the woman with her shoes off is rubbing the others leg with ice. You can tell the women are not set up for a photo, it was taken during the moment.

Photo by Christopher Marr
Image Source: http://mediacentre.visitscotland.org/pressreleases/first-minister-hails-iceland-agreement-1595930

Black & White or color?: If this photo was in Black and White, you would not see the detail of all the different bright colors. This photo in color is breath taking, all the different colors the sky can make.

Rule of Thirds: In this photo you see the sky, and then a reflection on the sky on the water. The same for the mountains, they are in the middle of the photo but also parts reflect off the water.

 Use of Lines: The photo has lines from the color going into the next. There is lines from the mountains and from the water. The lines take your attention towards the subject.

I chose this photo for a false photo because it looks like the photographer could have brightened the lighter or even added color to the photo. As much as I love the Northern Lights and seeing pictures of them, it is hard not to think that they could be false photos due to how bright the stars and colors in the sky can be. Also, the reflection of the green part is brighter than the green is the sky, and you don’t see much of the purple in the water like the green.