Suggestions on Books for Editorial Style Photography Stories?

[christian.rudman]

It has been a while since I have been on here and chatted with you fine folks; but, when I came across the realization that I desire to learn more on editorial direction in photographic storytelling and was hunting for books on the subject you all were first in mind!

I am leading a team of about 15 editorial photographers who photograph various stories in a documentary style manner and we are wanting to help train on growing in their craft. In order for that to happen, I would like to research some books on this type of work that might be more specifically geared towards the editorial world.

I have a few books like On Photography and various other technical manuals alongside some general storytelling books, but in looking for stuff that might deal with the vision behind photographic stories I wanted to hear what suggestions you guys might have.

+2 points for specific titles from people in the editorial industry - photographers or editors, either one.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Most of the best stories are told only in private, for fear of alienating too many people or (worse still) losing good sources/contacts.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ChrisLivsey]

You may want to tighten up on your definition which is a bit wide at the moment: "Editorial photography refers to the pictures in a magazine or newspaper that aren't ads."
What I mean is we can all point to Don Mcullin as a photographer but what I think you want and I could be wrong, which is why we need you to tighten up that definition, is something more like this work from Harold Evans:

Pictures on a Page: Photo-journalism, Graphics and Picture Editing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pictures-Pa...=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393367634&sr=1-3

 

[Roger Hicks]

And Derriere l'Objectif de Willy Ronis, not yet translated as far as I know.

Cheers,

R.

 

[christian.rudman]

I really appreciate the replies from you both.

You may want to tighten up on your definition which is a bit wide at the moment: "Editorial photography refers to the pictures in a magazine or newspaper that aren't ads."
What I mean is we can all point to Don Mcullin as a photographer but what I think you want and I could be wrong, which is why we need you to tighten up that definition, is something more like this work from Harold Evans:

Pictures on a Page: Photo-journalism, Graphics and Picture Editing

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pictures-Pa...=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393367634&sr=1-3

This is the kind of book I am trying to hunt down, thank you Chris! The group I am working with is storyteam.org, where you can see some of what we create and the style of photographers I am working with.

Basically we are a volunteer team of both full-time and hobbyist photographers who are learning how to craft visual stories paired to a creative written piece. Some photographers have had extensive photojournalism training, some are wedding photographers and some just love adventure photography. Everyone wants to contribute to this team though and everyone is willing to learn new techniques and gain understanding on how to pursue photo-documentary style stories.

In leading this team I am wanting to learn better how to edit our stories, provide feedback and critique, and create a common language we can use to grow everyone in their craft during this process of developing the structure and direction of this team. This is new territory for us and I want to learn as much as I can about anything remotely similar to what we are doing so that I can help guide other people in this.

I don't know if this makes it a bit less vague on what we are doing and what I am looking for, but I'm really appreciative of the responses regardless.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

I have the following books available which may be of interest to you:

Adelman, Bob: Down Home: Camden, Alabama. 1972 First Edition. Fine in cloth Cover, near-fine dust jacket with a few small, mended tears. $25

Clayton, Al: Still Hungry in America. First edition, 1969. Near-fine in good dust jacket with some chipping and a mended tear. $10

Davidson, Art: Endangered Peoples. 1993 First edition,Very fine in very fine dust jacket. $15

Hicks, Wilson: Words and Pictures. 1952 First Edition hardcover. A fine copy of the very rare classic text on photojournalism by the man who developed the Life Magazine photo essay format. No dust jacket. $95

Hurley, Gerald, and Angus McDougal: Visual Impact in Print. First edition, 1971. Very good cloth binding, one corner chipped, no dust jacket. $10

Kobre, Kenneth: Photojournalism: The Professional's Approach. First edition, 1980. Fine, in near-fine dust jacket. $10

Masters of Contemporary Photography Series
The Photo Essay: Paul Fusco and Will McBride. Hard cover with dust jacket, $10, Soft Cover, $5
The Persuasive Image: Art Kane. Hard cover with dust jacket, $10, Soft Cover, $5
National Press Photographers Association: Photojournalism / 76. 1st ed., 1976. Fine in very good dust jacket. $10

Schuneman, R. Smith: Photograph Communication: Principles, Problems, and Challenges of Photojournalism. 2nd printing, 1974. Soft cover, very good. $10

[FONT=&quot]E-mail me at djphoto@vol.com if any of these interest you.
[/FONT]

 

[ChrisLivsey]

The group I am working with is storyteam.org, where you can see some of what we create and the style of photographers I am working with.

That certainly sets out a definitive editorial policy.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Try to find a secondhand copy of Hidden Tibet: The Land and Its People (Element Books 1991) by Roger Hicks. It is an unashamed propaganda book about the history of Tibet and Chinese lies about Tibet. How many know that more than 1000 years ago, China was the subordinate state? Then the Tibetan Empire realized that oppressing other states was immoral -- so they stopped.

"Independent" or "objective" journalism is a lie put about by those who are either trying dishonestly to conceal their biases or are too stupid to realize that they have adopted the biases of their culture or paymasters.

Now watch for the hired shills to come in and attack this viewpoint. I'm biased. I admit it. They'll lie, and pretend they aren't. Check the facts -- not just from their links -- and see whom you trust.

Cheers,

R.

 

[grandallj]

I think you might find this "interview" book helpful: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044XUVYY/ref=oh_d__o00_details_o00__i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

David Hurn discusses, among other things, some useful approaches for deciding what kind of story you want to tell and how you might work to create illustrative images.

 

[christian.rudman]

Thank you all so much! This is a great start on where to look.

I knew I came to the right place to ask such a detailed yet random question. 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

Anything by Eugene Richards.

 

[emraphoto]

I would definitely second Eugene Richards. Danny Wilcox - Frazier is also very good at this process.

One of the things that I have always struggled with is how much of the work suggested here (and elsewhere of course) is old. There are so many young and super talented people out there now, who are producing beautiful and equal caliber work.

A few other names would be Bieke Depoorter, Rob Hoonstra (his Sochi project was superb), Don Weber (sorry, 'Donald' being the official name), Claudia Hinterseer, Chloe Dewey - Mathews etc.

Forgive any misspellings.

 

[MichaelW]

William Allard The Photographic Essay (great book)

 

[ChrisLivsey]

As mentioned.

 

[christian.rudman]

I would definitely second Eugene Richards. Danny Wilcox - Frazier is also very good at this process.

One of the things that I have always struggled with is how much of the work suggested here (and elsewhere of course) is old. There are so many young and super talented people out there now, who are producing beautiful and equal caliber work.

A few other names would be Bieke Depoorter, Rob Hoonstra (his Sochi project was superb), Don Weber (sorry, 'Donald' being the official name), Claudia Hinterseer, Chloe Dewey - Mathews etc.

Forgive any misspellings.

Emra,

Those are excellent suggestions. That Sochi project is absolutely amazing in its scope and execution. I do appreciate the wonderful suggestions of masters from days gone by, but it is definitely nice to see some contemporary work as well. Thank you for those suggestions.

 

[airfrogusmc]

And also look at the great ones. One of the very best is Robert Franks The Americans and heres a link to some words on it that you might find helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHtRZBDOgag

 

[Roger Hicks]

And also look at the great ones. One of the very best is Robert Franks The Americans and heres a link to some words on it that you might find helpful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHtRZBDOgag

It is (predictably) rather better known, and rather more highly regarded, in the US than in much of the rest of the world.

Cheers,

R.

 

[airfrogusmc]

Still one of the greatest photography books of all time.

 

[gns]

Don't know if it's something to recommend, but I've been waiting a long time for Jim Goldberg's book, Rich and Poor to be released...

http://www.steidl.de/flycms/en/Books/Rich-and-Poor/0305282939.html

 

[gns]

It is (predictably) rather better known, and rather more highly regarded, in the US than in much of the rest of the world.

Cheers,

R.

Not sure what the point of that is. What ISN'T better known or more highly regarded by some folks vs. others?