Concluding Chapter

I was inspired by Margaret Bourke-White "Rosie the Riveter" photographs because my husband is an ironworker.  The history of photojournalism has shared the history of ironworkers along with many other wonderful topics across the world. According to Rosie the Riveter Oral Histories article, " The demands of a wartime labor market made it more acceptable for women to take on jobs in manufacturing, utilities, and transport that in peacetime had mostly been done by men."  I traveled to my husband's job sites to live the life of a photojournalist and captured photographs of ironworkers building history. Unfortunately, there were not any female ironworkers there on site as it still is a demanding trade.

Welding Tire Rims

Photograph by: Margaret Bourke-White

Year Created: 1933

high school in the making

Photographs by: Mechealea Giordano

Year Created: 2019

 MGM 

Photograph By: Mechealea Giordano

MGM 

Photograph By: Mechealea Giordano

Amusement Park

Photograph By:  Husband Mario Giordano for safety

Year Created: 2019

The history of photojournalism continues to evolve with technological advances. I don’t think I truly realized the barriers photojournalist have encountered overtime taking photographs in the beginning of this course as I do now. Although, reflecting to Module Two I believe I had a thorough understanding of the definition of photojournalism. It’s a form of communication through photography to spread awareness. During Matthew Brady’s era, photojournalist had to lug around bulky equipment with the hopes of capturing a quality photograph, steering clear of the battlefield. Whereas, today photojournalist can keep their camera in their pocket and see what their photograph will look like instantly. The dangerous situations they encounter has put many photojournalist lives at risk and some have even lost their life In addition according to NPPA Code of Ethics, "As visual journalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its history In other words, .photojournalist image is a frozen moment in history that we can refer back to decades later like we are now.

I like it’s very important to educate people on photojournalism. There's meaning behind photojournalism that is beyond photography in journals. Some photojournalist are the back bone to news agencies. News agencies are competing against each other to provide the most recent news possible to viewers. Photojournalist are willing to risk their life by capturing brief moments of an event of a larger story to aware and educate the public. Sadly, after overcoming technologic disadvantages photojournalism is a dying breed. People all over the world are taking pictures with their phones and sharing photographs within seconds are considered civilian photojournalist. Some believe it is nice to have extra eyes to expose neglect and wrong doing as it has brought justice to many. However, Technology Photojournalism in the Age of New Media states, "social media have given photojournalists a million extra eyes in conflict zones. But if a picture can say a thousand words, the trick is finding the right one." Often civilian photojournalist are violating the code of ethics in photojournalism by mispresenting the truth spreading false and biased information. According to Jared Keller, "we want images that stand the test of time," Applewhite explained. "Snapshots and photos taken by camera phones are not things we can come back to learn from and understand something deeper." Photojournalist have skills, integrity, empathy to concisely capture moments in history to inform societies.

A few "Ah-ha moments I've encountered were during creating the technological timeline knowing how easy life is for us today with a touch of a button. The process it took to even take one photograph, not to mention how long it takes to develop one with a daguerreotype or the wet colloid process. A photojournalist job wasn't even completed after printing a photograph. They then had to transmit a photograph via train, boat, or a plane to get the image published. As years past, technology evolved allowing photographs to be transmitted from minutes to hours through telephone lines.

We've had some phenomenal females dominate the male role in photojournalism as well. Hansel Mieth and Margaret Bourke- White, first female photojournalist for LIFE. Dorothea Lange, who is cherished in the National Women's Hall of Fame and widely known for her photographs during the Great Depression. Each of these photojournalists had a vision to share their love for photography as visual messages to share historical events and hope someone will step up and make a difference. Today, female photojournalist continue to be successful. Nicole Tung to me shares all the qualities of Lange, Mieth and Bourke. She's an empathetic photojournalist who's won multiple awards. According to International Women's Foundation, "Her images on Native American War Veterans was awarded by the Society of Professional Journalists for Best Online Reporting, and the Image and Voices of Hope Award of Appreciation (2015). For her work on the migration crisis in 2015, she received the Human Rights Press Awards in Hong Kong" She's like Mieth because she fits in with the people she photographs having dinner at their tables. Whereas, she sheds light on migrant lifestyles like Lange. Lastly, Bourke and Tung are war photojournalist. International Women's Foundation quotes Nicole Tung, "as a photojournalist covering conflict and socio-political issues, documenting the most exposed and vulnerable people – in both chaos and quiet – is not only a responsibility one has as a photographer, but as a human. I chose to focus on civilians in conflict in my images as a reminder that those most affected by war are not the ones making political decisions or holding the guns, but those who are powerless in the face of a situation they did not choose.”

Certainly, photographs change the world as they have been for decades. Photojournalist have been shedding light on what some may find unethical due to graphic details, and emotions the image has portrayed. These photographs have exposed child labor, migrant workers, impact of war, natural disasters and many other crises to aid and change the lives in harm way. Even if viewers are not able to physically make a difference by these images, it still leaves heavy impacts seeing people all around the world in despair creating awareness. Each of these moments that were shared are history. Without photojournalism, what would we have to rely on to share some form of truth?

Photojournalist Profile of Hansel Mieth

INJUSTICES THROUGH THE LENS OF HANSEL MIETH
Johanna (Hansel) Mieth 1909-1998: Photojournalist

Top center photograph:

Created in: 1931

Photograph by: Otto Hagel

Bottom Centered Photograph:

Year created: 1962
Photograph by: Hansel Mieth

Left photograph:

year: 1965
Photograph by: Hansel Mieth

Right Photograph:

created in:1938
Photograph by: Hansel Mieth

 Photograph of Hansel Mieth

Year created: 1938
From:LIFE photo collection

  Image of unemployed father with son

Created in: 1938
Photograph by: Hansel Mieth

  photograph of migrant children

Created: 1932
Photograph by: Hansel Mieth

Photograph by: HanselMieth

Year Created: 1939

Sources:

https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/coll/womphotoj/miethessay.html

https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/hansel-mieth?all/all/all/all/0

https://www.shutterbug.com/content/leica-i-camera-change-photography

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hanselmieth/film.html

https://itvs.org/about/pressroom/press-release/hansel-mieth-vagabond-photographer

Winter Weather

Ella's First Snow Day!

Photograph By: Mechealea Giordano

Year Created: December 3, 2019

One would assume that all children love to go sledding during the winter. However, it's not the case for all. Today was the first day my two year old daughter experienced snow in our backyard. Unfortunately, the moment we stepped outside she asked to be done before placing one foot into the snow. I tried to make sledding sound exciting as I pulled her on the sled behind me, exclaiming, "weeeee, see its fun!" She still was not pleased.  Furthermore, once she touched the snow, our snow day adventure ended within ten minutes. When we were back inside, she couldn't be happier. We will continue to enjoy our snow days  playing indoors, watching movies, and sipping hot chocolate. Until next year. 

Expression:

She was not aware I took a photograph of her as she cried at the snow on her mittens. It's clear she was unhappy by her facial expression. I don't find this photograph to be a candid shot, however any photograph of her is special to me. Especially, all the first times I can experience with her. 

Rule of Thirds:

The main subject is in the center of the photograph where she sits on her sled. She's surrounded by a bed of white fluffy snow in the remaining two thirds. 

Simplicity: 

I find this photograph to be simple because, she is in the center of the image. There are only three things to see in the photograph, snow, sled and the young child dressed in her winter attire.

I chose this photograph because its one of many of Ella's first. In addition, it shows not everything we do with our children, they enjoy. I assumed she would like playing in the snow because she loves to play outside.  Far too often, people show all the good times they have with their kids and not enough of the bad. However, in photojournalism, I noticed I see a lot of both, children joyous while some are suffering.