Becoming a Photojournalist

Photography Tips

It’s easy to take photojournalist for granted. They are out there on the frontlines with the police, firefighters, victims and heroes, yet they are rarely seen by the masses and are interviewed even less. In a mini-documentary, Dan Perez de la Garza, changes that as he interviews a group of photojounalists, including a Pulitzer Prize winner. The short film takes us behind the scenes in a day in the life of a photojournalist as they individually recount their experiences and offer insight on the current state of photojournalism. Have a look at the documentary below:

With the widespread use of digital cameras, many photojournalists are finding themselves faced with new competition–the public. As the pool of competition thickens, it becomes increasingly difficult for the professionals to find paying work. In addition to finding work, the photojournalists share concerns of safety, theft, and the overall strain that is put on one’s family when employed by such a consuming job.

“I go until I’m done. That can put a lot of strain on a lot of relationships,” says Time Magazine photographer, Chris Usher.

The State of Photojournalism

Of course, the life of a photojournalist isn’t all hard. To take on such a task, you have to love what you do. While the hours can be long and the assignments dangerous, photojournalists are out there doing what they love. There’s also the added benefit of potentially helping someone in need.

“Each time you go out, your hoping that your going to make a picture that someone will see and go ‘Oh, my god’ and do something about it,” -Chris Usher