CONCLUDING CHAPTER
Photojournalism has definitely taught me a lot after taking this class based on what I assumed it was in the beginning of this course. In my opinion, it was photographers who took pictures and wrote a story with it which seems like it was an easy job and that was it. However, as I did assignments, read articles, did research, view other blogs, and learn about photojournalism it made me open my eyes that photojournalists were more than people who just took a picture and wrote a story. I can honestly understand why they say a picture says a thousand words because some of the images were so powerful without a story behind or a caption and there was so many things that could be said about it. This class took us to the route of how photojournalism begin which was before we had any of the advance technology we have today and showed us more in depth information as to how things we done in the pre-digital era. We took a historical journey when we did our timelines and it showed how technology has advanced in the photojournalism and how it affected it. We have seen numerous photos but great photographers but I have also learned that some of those photos do not always portray truth. All the photographers stood out to me whether they took pictures of fashion, war, children, and more they took amazing photos and all were motivated to take these images for whatever personal reason. However, Sally Mann stood out to me in her photos that provoked emotion and especially the images she took of children they were definitely out of the norm. Watching her videos and seeing her images you learn a bit more of her personal life and the love she has for photojournalism.
Photo By: Sally Mann
My classmates and I have had opportunities to get a better understand of the concept behind photojournalism. We each have researched different photojournalists and again more insight about the photographer and what motivates. Some of us can relate because our family motivates us, being around war veterans, nature and other things because at the end of they day they are still humans like us. For those who have grasp the concept of photojournalism I believe that when we see an article, a magazine, fashion photo, we know that there is a story behind it and there was a reason for the photo being taken. We have more of an appreciation for our digital cameras, iphones, and advance technology because the photojournalists before us did not have these luxuries. Taking a picture on a phone still does not portray the quality as if a photojournalist takes an image. The way the photo is taken, the way it looks, how the colors project, you can tell the difference between a professional doing work and someone snapping a picture. Now what is even more amazing is we all did technology timelines and we all can agree it has changed tremendously over the years. With technology so advance in the next 50 years just imagine how far technology may advance too it will be scary to see the things that are invented within the next few years. Another significant moment in photojournalism is the use of color, during the pre digital time black and white photos were the only images that were taken before color had been taken. In our modern times photographers are still taking black and white images and those are very significant in the photography world today. The black and whites images are still powerful and valued as they were years ago but of course color has made a huge impact in the photojournalism world. 
Photo By: Gabor Jurina
Image source: http://www.photographyoffice.com/2012/10/follow-your-dreams-and-trust-your-instincts-fashion-photography-by-gabor-jurina/
In my opinion I have had many “Ah-ha”
moments during the entire course because everything was new information from learning about wet and dry plate collodion, to what motivates a photojournalists, from black and whtie images to color and most definitely photojournalism and bias. What stands out is learning how the impact of a photo can affect an individual in a negative way and cause harm between countries. The fact with modern day technology one can easily post an image and it reaches around the world in a matter of seconds and based on the position of the individuals in the image people from there own opinions and the story took off. It is not until after the individual who was harmed in the image spoke about it and told the truth that we understood the image correctly. This happens in society all the time because people posts images constantly and without knowing the truth behind it, it causes harm because people in society develop there own stories.
The story and image I was referring to was about a Jewish boy who was studying abroad and was beaten severely, while he was trying to run he was helped by an Israeli policeman. However, before he had spoke about what happened an image was posted and they said he was Palestinian and the Israeli policeman had attacked him.
Photo by: Unknown source
Image Source: http://www.wildolive.co.uk/mediabias.htm
In conclusion, photojournalism has definitely taught me alot as to how photojournalist think and what motivated them to keep taking images and the stories behind these images. It is an experience that we may not ever understand until we experience ourselves from travelling, being in wars, seeing people suffer from hunger and starvation, a birth, a marriage and much more. We know that there images are showing us there experience through there own eyes. This whole course has given me a greater understanding from pre digital to digital age and the possibility with new invention constantly on the rise that there will be more to offer in the future. This course has also given me an opportunity to learn new things from simply writing blogs, reseraching photographs, embedding images and powerpoints, to taking my own image and posting it. Professor Nordell you have definitely open my eyes to another world that I probably would have never taken the time to research and I have an apprecitation for the technology I have now and the professional images that I have of my family I definitely will value them even more. This course has most definitely taught me everything that I see may not be the truth.
Photo By: Angelique Husbands
Photo By: Angelique Husbands
