Press Photography Versus Art Photography

News photography teaches you to think fast. - Weegee

Sidney Crosby celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime Sunday, giving
Canada the gold medal with a 3-2 victory over the U.S. in Vancouver, B.C.
Photo by Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press

Prime Minister Stephen Harper greets U.S. President Barack Obama
upon his arrival on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb 19, 2009.
Photo by Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press

Press photography has been around for years. Everyday, we come across press photography in the media, whether we’re reading the newspaper, flipping through magazines, checking out blog sites, surfing the Internet or watching television. The two photos I posted above are photographs that have been headlined in the news within the past year. The first photo was (taken by Chris O'Meara) on February 28, 2010 when Sidney Crosby of Team Canada scored the game-winning goal during overtime beating Team USA and winning the gold medal in hockey during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. This was a major event that occurred in Canada, where all media and television broadcasters had gathered to take photographs or footage of the most anticipated hockey game during the Olympics. By looking at this image, viewers can say that Sydney Crosby’s facial expression, gestures, and position portrays a victorious moment in time. The second image (taken by Fred Chartrand) is of Prime Minister Stephen Harper greeting President Barack Obama when he visited Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 19, 2009. This was also another special moment in time, because it was the first time when the newly elected president visited Canada to talk about the economy and other future plans with the prime minister. Press photographs are photos of events that occur at a certain time. Once the opportunity passes by for the photographer to take a certain shot, it will never come back. The images are usually in the public's eye within a short period of time, to show an event occured the day before or the day of. The raw images are never edited or altered, because they’re taken to show evidence, which a certain event actually occurred on this day and time. For example, if a photographer changed the background of the second photo and cropped out the Canadian Mountie standing behind (in the middle), it is not longer considered a press photograph. Photojournalists are required to follow the NPPA Code of Ethics and portray truthful accurate images to the public when publishing and broadcasting photos. If images are altered, it can change the public’s thought process.

I am a perfectionist. When I take a picture...it's gotta be good - Weegee

Matching Socks
Photo by Jeff Harris

60 Watt Bug
Photo by Hamnah Asif

Art photography has influenced many photographers to create their own vision during the photo-taking process. Although, art photography is quite different from all other types of photography such as press, commercial, fashion, they all have the same goal, which is to “get the viewer to buy the image.” Make the viewer believe in the photo and reflect certain thoughts in their minds. The first art photo above taken by an inspirational Toronto photographer (who is currently fighting cancer) Jeff Harris and shows him doing laundry matching different pairs of socks. The image does not portray a main event that cannot be published in the news, but instead it’s from the photographer’s point of view. Jeff Harris can go take the exact same shot a couple days later if he wanted too. My sister Hamnah Asif took the second photo above, when a lady bug was in her bedroom on the lamp. From her perspective, she felt that this was an interesting shot to see nature on something we use in our modern day life, light. Artful photographs can be taken at different times and can have their own headlines, unlike press photographs. The photos can be altered and edited using Photoshop, because they do not have to prove any event or topic, but instead change the viewers thinking. Many different art photographers will have millions of ideas and visions in their mind, but press photographers will have similar ideas between one and other.

Press photography and Art photography have a few similarities. Both types of photography can be of anything. Whether it’s of people, nature, landscape, buildings, fashion, etc. Both photographers are able to create a vision and goal of what they’re trying to capture to portray to the audience. The photos are realistic and meaningful for the viewer.

Sources:
Sidney Crosby's overtime goal gives Canada Olympic gold in a 3-2 victory over the U.S.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper greets U.S. President Barack Obama
National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)
Wegee Quotes
Week 10 Course Slides - Capturing the moment: Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson
Fine Art Photography