Press Button To Blog - Photojournalism

With a passion for storytelling, it has always been a low key dream of mine to explore the world of journalism.

There's a mental picture in my mind. An old school, grizzled detective with more salt than pepper hair with stress related erectile dysfunction. He's hitting the dingy streets with vodka soaked glasses, knocking the heads of pimps and twisting the nips of prostitutes', willing to do anything to find a lead, desperate for that miraculous just under the wire victory type of thing. That chase, but with a camera in hand. Maybe I just have no fucking clue what I'm talking about, but if that doesn't sounds like photojournalism to you, I don't have a better definition. But entering a field like that is nigh impossible to achieve as an outsider, especially without a formal background in photography or journalism. You basically just have a blog or youtube channel. Which isn't exactly the vibe I'm searching for.

I have always admired the incredible power of photojournalism in particular, the idea that a single image can convey so much about a particular story or situation. I have seen countless examples of how a compelling photograph can capture the essence of a particular moment, bringing to light the truths that are often hidden beneath the celluloid surface. There are photographs that have changed the course of history in part because of their cultural influence and the conversations that stemmed from their popularity.

In a world where mainstream media often seems to be more concerned with sensationalism and clickbait headlines than with accurate reporting, the importance of photojournalism as a tool for discussing the raw realities of life has never been more critical. There was a time before Photoshop and A.I apps when a picture still said a thousand words. But now piss poor journalists use ChatGPT to write the words to describe the fake picture Midjourney made of the Pope.

Photojournalism presents a unique way to expose important stories that might otherwise fade into the background, overshadowed by other more sensational headlines. An image stays in your mind, a byline disappears like recycled newspaper. I would love to try my hand as photojournalist, to be the one who gets to share these stories with the world, drawing attention to issues that need addressing and people who might need help.

The idea of not being able to convey a story that presents itself is one that looms large for me. I'm my own toughest critic, so it's daunting prospect to represent someone or something fully that genuinely deserves to have their story told. As someone without a formal background in anything related photojournalism, I worry that I might not be able to capture the full breadth of what is happening in a particular situation. I worry that my skills or equipment might not be up to the task of telling the story in the way it needs to be told. Even if I can capture the essence of what I intend to, what do I do with it? Post to my ZERO followers?

Despite my copious fears, I'm planning on keeping an open mind and keen ear for future opportunities of stories worth telling. It might be the case that while doing portraiture, I could encounter someone with a fascinating life story to share, someone who has spent their whole life in the shadows without anyone to listen. I can't promise that anyone other than myself might ever care, but I can promise that I will put in the effort to do the story justice.

I am hopeful that readers of this piece will reach out to me with their stories and that maybe I can help to share some of those stories with the world. Photojournalism is a powerful tool, and one that I would feel honored to be a part of. I hope that I can use my skills to make a difference, to share stories that matter, and to help people see the world from a different perspective.