Conclusion

Photojournalism was seen as nothing more than just uploading interesting artwork at the beginning of the semester. Now journalism is seen to me as whatever message the camera can create. If providing horrific, gory pictures of humans before, during and after the war is in photographs it will provide emotions only seen on the battlefield. When journalist capture images of starving children in the world suffering from male nourishment and harsh living environments, at the beginning of the semester I would planning believe that the journalist was just working for a paycheck but matter of fact they are trying to provide a shot that screams “HELP” at the top of their lungs for the many men, women, and children in need. For example my Classmate Leah Przybyszewski provided shocking images of famine and there large effect on small organizations like the ones in this photo.

Photos By: James Nachtwey

This image speaks numbers on why photojournalism is so important and in many cases if we didn't have journalists that would go to these great lengths we wouldn't know about any of this. In the beginning, it was just artwork and now through studying in-depth photography and opinions from my peers, journalism is just another way to provide a message, a voice, and a small chance to be heard around the world.

Background information is always and will always be necessary for any line of work consisting of a general makeup of historical significance. Photojournalism dates back to the first-ever camera years and years ago, but this information about the techniques and materials used to capture shots back then correlate in such an immense way today. In today's work, catering is accessible to almost everyone who owns a smartphone of some sort or anyone who can take a photo with a steady enough hand but the historical significance provides examples and artwork that creates a base for journalists today. In earlier times, one shot was the only option they had so creativity played a huge role in the business of photography at the time. In today's line of work, everyone can be a photographer and everyone can capture shots but not everyone can capture the true meaning behind what makes it worth remembering.

Photo By: Thomas Peschak

Many moments throughout this course have created many ah-ha moments but a specific couple of images and opinions took my breath away on sight. Moments like when photographers brought to my attention by my peers of someone capturing shots of someone's final seconds or right before their soul left their body. Moments like when a man jumped on the tracks right when a train was coming just to commit suicide and take their lives. Moments and images like that really took me on a whirlwind of emotions when thinking, why would someone ever want to take a photo like that or why didn't they help. Another example would be horrific gory photos of bits and pieces of body parts all over street corners from bombing during the war. Young boys and girls with ash all over their body looking puzzled and dazed from explosions that created such large shock for a journalist to capture. Images that don't have any words but speak with their own voice provided insight on what a photographer was looking for in moments of crisis like these. Some of these images turned me away due to the emotions that were brought to the surface due to the helpless feeling of wanting but not having the ability to step in and help when most needed. For example, my classmate Maria Jehle had provided a photo image of a shark getting its top distinctive fin cut off by a machete. Now even though this photo might be tough for some viewer's eyes, it has a massive symbolic meaning to it. When you cut off the distinctive top fin of a shark, the shark has no need for living. You take away something bold characteristic, you take away their life because whatever that is, will never be seen the same again.

Pictures everywhere have had a large impact on everyone's lives, due to them being able to capture moments when they are most wanting to be taken for significance. Everyday moments are captured and events are significant because these moments are captured by a photojournalist. In a TED talk on how photos can change the world the speaker says, “Images provoke reactions from people and those reactions to cause change to happen.” Change happening will always stir the emotions of one's around them.

Photographs can never be forgotten or lost in one's mind when I say this I relate to everything and anything you can remember. Song lyrics, quotes, old sayings, propaganda, rights mostly anything can be forgotten due to human error but an emotional, heart reaching image can stay with you forever. Some photos create events in your mind that could have never happened to you before you saw that photo but now that you have, you're emotionally handcuffed to that image until something more significant is presented. For example, my classmate Felipe Novelini Maia provided a photo of young children playing in the snow during the japan war.

Photo By Robert Capa

Some photos speak to people different from others and many people interpret every photo differently but until their voice is heard no one will ever know what they believe in. That's why photographs have such a large impact because they do have the capabilities of changing one's opinion once seeing the truth with their own eyes. Sometimes it ruins relationships towards one another and sometimes it allows people to view someone's truth from an angle that wasn't present in the beginning. Photos bring out some of the most powerful contributors in the world, the truth, the hate, and love. In cases a photo provides the truth that changes that love and in other cases the truth changes that hate.

The photos that I took were of the biases of the use of CRAM JAM FINALS REVIEW. These images captured a couple of the environments that some students were currently in for the work that needed to be done by the time they left for Christmas Break. For example, I took photos of a student that preferred to work alone and work in silent confinement using pen and paper to take down confident notes. Also, I captured a student as well in a state of confinement but using technology as their advantage when studying either Bio, Criminal Justice, Math, Chem, Psych, Physics, OT and PT. Lastly, students that were struggling with late, procrastination helped me capture a shot that involved bickering and frustration from studying the topic. These photos were found to see the different aspects of every kind of student, the ones who preferred different approaches and the ones that helped work. For my final and last photo, I captured a dark walkway through various topics on bookshelves which represent the large stretch of classwork and learned knowledge throughout the semester. I also wanted to provide this photo to help allow a voice to my reason, the many chapters and sections learned over the course are now crammed into one long final exam that creates stress due to the amount of studying for multiple topics. Finals week consists of a constant struggle of trying to manage 3-7 courses over a span of a week of testing all from one semester.