The images that accompany a newspaper report or a magazine article not only embellish it, but also narrate a story of their own. A meaningful picture is worth a thousand words as the adage goes. Photojournalism sheds light on important issues and brings them to the forefront of public consciousness. The compelling imagery elicits emotions, challenges biases, and inspires actions. Whether it's questioning the status quo, amplifying the voiceless, documenting momentous occasions for eternity or sharing new cultural perspectives, the photojournalistic lens provides a multidimensional view of the world.
Avid Learning presents a full-day Workshop with Photographer Ritesh Uttamchandani that will get you started on your photojournalism journey equipping you with the essential skills. You will learn the intricacies of the creative process, the technicalities of composition, skills for developing an impactful visual story, and industry insights from the experience and expertise of the faculty who will also provide valuable critical evaluation of your submitted photos.
Calling all aspiring photojournalists and enthusiasts to learn to
capture photos that make a difference.
Key
Highlights:
· Learning what makes a photojournalistic image great - key elements
· Photography as storytelling
· Ethics of photojournalism
· Creative and Technical aspects of photojournalism
· Photojournalism in the Age of social media
Please submit your photos to avidlearning.essar@gmail.com to learn how and where you can improve your skills during the workshop.
Ritesh Uttamchandani began his career as a news photographer with the Indian Express in 2004, followed by a three-year stint at Hindustan Times. From 2008-2015, he was with OPEN Magazine and he has been freelancing since 2016. In 2018, Ritesh self-produced a book on Mumbai titled "The Red Cat and Other Stories". Shot with an iPhone, the book is a modern chronicle of the city, informed by a fable his mother narrated to them as kids. In Feb 2022, he had his first solo show at the prestigious Cymroza Gallery in Mumbai. Curated by eminent art critic, historian and poet Ranjit Hoskote, “A Lease Of Life” featured 21 images of Ritesh's long-term work on the up-cycling of political posters by common folks into objects of daily use.
Read moreWhat is Photojournalism
Photojournalism is defined as the art of telling a story using photos as the primary means of expression. An image helps evoke emotion and helps the audience to connect better. Photojournalism allows the audience to relate to the photograph without a narrative, it may also serve as an important source of information. The role of the photojournalist is to convey the story and the truth through the pictures. Since images are easier to remember and photographs also add to make the narration more tangible while making a profound impact, it is evident that the domain of photojournalism is reaching new heights in today’s digital media and technology world.
History of Photojournalism
Photojournalism is as old as the field of photography. The first photojournalism photo is said to be taken in 1848, it documents the June uprising in Paris and was called the barricades in the Rue Saint Maur Popincourt. One of the earliest photojournalism series was covered during the Crimean War in 1855. The birth of modern photojournalism is linked with the invention of the first 35mm camera, the Leica in Germany during the year 1925. The 35mm camera was small, portable, and easily available along with less tedious printing methods which led to the advent of the ‘golden age of photojournalism’ from the 1930s to 1960s. Some significant photographers of the “golden age of journalism” include Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, and Gordon Parks.
Types of Photojournalism
Photojournalism has multiple categories according to their individual special characteristics. The first of which is General news photojournalism, a type that involves events that need to be planned in advance including press conferences, product launch ceremonies, and fundraising. The experts working in this field report the day-to-day significant local, national, or global happenings. The other type of photojournalism is Spot news, which refers to capturing sudden events by a photojournalist or their team. The other subtype is Portrait photojournalism, which is very distinct from normal portrait photography as it involves capturing portraits in their usual undisturbed and natural environment. Long-term photography projects are put in the documentary photojournalism type. Sports photography involves photography at sports events like football, and cricket matches.
Well Known Photojournalists
Photojournalism has reached new heights across the world. Some top global photojournalists include Vietnamese-American documentary photographer World Daniella who is also the founder of Women Photograph. William Daniels is a documentary photographer and also contributed to National Geographic. Alaskan writer and expedition guide Acacia Johnson is a famous photographer focusing on people and nature through her work. Marcus Yam, Krisanne Johnson, Stuart Palley, and Dina Litovsky, are some more prominent photojournalists across the globe. Top Photojournalist names in India include Pablo Bartholomew who photographed “Chronicles of A Past Life: ’70s & 80s in Bombay”, Ragu Rai author of 'Raghu Rai's India: Reflections in Colours', Gauri Gill who has exhibited at the 58th Venice Biennale, Arko Datta, Sudhakar Olwe, Pamela Singh, and Dayanita Singh.
