how to get started as a photojournalist

Larry Towell would also be the first person to tell you (with vigour) that he is NOT a photojournalist I assure you.

I agree about the locale thing though. Personally I think th gulf spill suggestions outline a very solid point albeit from the opposite standpoint. There will be a Reuters photog, AP photog, CP photog, a thousand staff photogs and double that in freelancers already smothering that story. I would suggest a complete left turn. If that is something one is determined to work on seek out something off the main story board... Impact on th Vietnamese fishing community. A month (or three) with a small business trying to navigate BP's compensation nightmare.

Don't try and compete with established folks unless you really think you hav the chops. Seek out what they miss due to assignment pressures.

Colin Corneau said:
Larry Towell proved you don't have to go to far-flung locales to make images. Get rid of that notion right away -- if you can't portray life right where you are, why would you think you can somewhere else?

I started over 20 years ago at small daily newspapers. I remember thinking then that it's never been as hard as it was 'now'...today, I think back to how easy things were back then. What does that tell you?
A) Things are getting harder all the time
B) Photographers are getting softer all the time
C) Dingbats with cellphone cameras will make earning a living from news impossible
D) All of the above.

My advice is don't pursue it UNLESS you are a curious person. A person who wants to use photographs to tell a story or explore the world around you. Don't think too much, don't psych yourself out -- but be aware.
Click to expand...
 
Mods - this THREAD deserves a sticky!

Dan, considering your location, you might consider, as a first project,
roaming the beaches and bays, documenting the effects of the oil spill.

This tragedy is being followed all over the world.

OTOH - Newspaper internship would give you a good quick course in how to
handle people - both subjects and bystanders... or convince you that
being a banker or sales exec might be a better path. (No joke.)
 
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There's some stunning advice here both in terms of its open-handed honesty and its sheer level of detail. If you want to be a 'pj' or documentary photographer you should be lapping up every detail and PM'ing some of these guys for more help...but just as importantly as future contacts.

I initially wanted to go along this route but found myself following another path, one that suited me far better and is no doubt the reason I do what I do now rather than photojournalism. I suppose I watched too many films as a young boy, Salvador was it with James Woods? etc etc😱

My reason for posting in this thread is simple. There are often threads like this that come up, asking for advice on how to get started in one area of photography or another. Besides the usual advice will often come, mostly from the same experienced people, the clarion call to always remember that what you are doing is a business. This is a key point to remember regardless of the area of photography your path has taken you.

Reading through John's (Emraphoto) posts reveals quite how much paperwork, planning and general 'business' needs to be done in the world of ( in this case) photojournalism and how the idea of grabbing a bag full of lenses and a flight to somewhere dangerous is little more than the boyhood dreams I used to have. You can do it, but lets not kid ourselves that this is the plan most likely to lead to success. Every overnight success story will have a long history of hard work and failures while those who attain 'success' over a longer period will simply have an even longer history of hard work and failures.

There is often alot of confusion over what we label these 'areas' of photography. To some photojournalism incorporates news photography such as my main income, while for others it is strictly for longer term, indepth stories. For some 'street' images must adhere to certain criteria, for others they simply have to be taken on the streets....and I won't even open the can entitled 'Art' photography. Despite the confusion, annoyance and general huffing that can go on around this one thing remains true. If you wish to succeed in any arena you must plan, have some form of strategy that can be adapted but will help you to actually be noticed and get work. Everything else is a hobby.

Good luck, I hope you find a way

Cheers
 
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