Press Photography V.S. Art Photography

Press photographs could be defined as those photographs which illustrate certain news in the newspapers or the magazines. Press photographers have signification effect on the journalism. They record the important moment to visually support the news or stories in the print media. Contrast to the press photography’s telling a story, art photography is focus on the visual feast. It used to “refer work created with such a desire in mind, to articulate an impression, a felling about, or relationship with the world”. (Photography Art Cafe) The major difference between the press photography and art photography is the purposes of the photographers and the functions of the works of photography. 

"The Starving of Sudan" by Kevin Carter 1994
http://caledonianblogs.net/jic09/2009/10/21/scenario-5-the-photographer-as-vulture/

by Anthony Suau
http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/02/worldpress.html

“The Starving of Sudan” was taken and named by Kevin Carter in 1994, a South African photojournalist. He won a “Pulitzer Prize” after he sold this photograph to a US newspaper. In the photograph, there is a famine stricken girl crawling toward the United Nation food camp and a vulture which is waiting for her to die then it can eat her. (Senario 5- The Photographer V.S. The Vulture) The second photograph is taken by the American photographer called Anthony Suau. It depicted a policeman holding a gun and moving through a Cleveland home. (Anthony Suau wins World Press Photo)

From those two examples of the press photography, both of them shoot the truth of the news.  “According journalistic codes of ethics journalists must not alter their images because their role is to report about various events and inform the audience about facts” (Danilovic) It is not ethical and acceptable to alter a press photographs to change or cover the truth. The job of the journalist is to report the truth to the public. The manipulated photo may mislead the reader or audience. However, the manipulation of the photograph is acceptable for some situation or purpose. They may alter the press photo for improving the quality of the photograph. (Danilovic)

by Toni Frissell
http://www.yesterprints.com/demo/0036-fine-art-photography-female.htm

by Scott Speck
http://www.lightweaversphoto.com/fine_art/pinhole/page001/pic16.html

The first art photograph was taken by Toni Frissell in 1947. It clearly depicted a woman floating in the aquarium. The second art photograph was Scott Speck’s “The Massive National Archives”.

the another difference between the art photography and press photography is that art photographs are allowed to be altered in order to reach the desire of the photographer. Although, there are too many different between the art and press photographs, the similarity in between this too type is existing. The similar of these two types of the photography is that photographers deliver the information through the photos more than we visually see.

Works Cited

Anthony Suau wins World Press Photo. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 21, 2011, from National Press Photographers Association: http://nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2009/02/worldpress.html

Antique Floating-Woman Fine Art Photo, 1947. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 22, 2011, from Yester Prints: http://www.yesterprints.com/demo/0036-fine-art-photography-female.htm

Danilovic, S. (n.d.). Photography: Shooting The Truth. Module 9.

Photography Art Cafe. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 22, 2011, from Definition of Fine Art Photography: http://www.photography-art-cafe.com/definition-of-fine-art-photography.html

Senario 5- The Photographer V.S. The Vulture. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 22, 2011, from Journalism In Context: http://caledonianblogs.net/jic09/2009/10/21/scenario-5-the-photographer-as-vulture/

Westbrook, D. (n.d.). A Brief History of Photojournalism. Retrieved 004 22, 2011, from Photography School: http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm