Author: Mark E. Johnson

September 9, 2015

National Geographic Enters Partnership Agreement

There is a great deal of consternation surrounding the announcement that 21st Century Fox has invested $725 in the National Geographic Society and take a 73% ownership of a new media company called National Geographic Partners. The remaining 27% of ownership will remain with the National Geographic Society. There are many questions here, some of which are difficult to parse...

Categories Business & Industry/Photojournalism

September 9, 2015

The Danger of Drones

There has been a lot of talk over the last year about the usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (more commonly called drones) for journalism. There’s a conflict between freedom of the press issues, air safety issues and privacy issues – it’s a phenomenally complex situation and difficult to tease out what is legal from what is ethical from what is...

Categories Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal/Photojournalism/Tech Talk

September 8, 2015

It’s Never Been Easy

Every now and then one of your photographic heroes writes something about the calling that has us transfixed. This time, it’s Ed Kashi: For those who want to do this, I believe one must possess a voracious appetite for knowledge, a maniacal desire to engage with the world, very deep, personal interests that will you to explore issues, places, themes,...

Categories Advice & Learning/Craft/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 8, 2015

Visual Lies and the Loss of Photo Editors

I have lamented the loss of photo editors before, too many times over the years to count. But the evidence continues to pile up that with no one trained in the art and science of visual communication in positions of authority we are undermining all of journalism’s credibility. You will recall my tirades against my local publication, the Athens Banner-Herald,...

Categories Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal/Photojournalism

September 6, 2015

Photos, Logic and Emotion

Pictures do not work on our brains according to logic. They hit lower and deeper. Emotion is not reasonable, and in fact, there is undeniable pleasure in being able to submit to un-reason, to feel something strong and true after all the titillation and trash that crosses our visual field every hour of the day. That’s photography curator and historian...

Categories Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 6, 2015

Ethics and the Role of Photojournalism Organizations

Rachel Donadio has a piece up at The New York Times talking about this year’s Visa Pour l’Image Festival in Perpignan, France, that’s worth a read. Perpignan is the annual gathering of photojournalism, one of (if not the) largest exhibition of work each year. Donadio’s piece runs through some of the big issues of the last year, including the decision...

Categories Advice & Learning/Business & Industry/Ethics & Legal/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 2, 2015

ASMP Business of Photography Workshop in Atlanta

The American Society of Media Photographers is holding a two-day workshop in Atlanta, September 19-20. Great line-up of material to be covered, including client development, analyzing and negotiating contracts, website and platform options, copyright and infringement, social media workflow, digital asset management, cost of doing business, creating revenue from licensing and rate standards. Students can register at the ASMP member...

Categories Advice & Learning/Business & Industry/Photojournalism

September 1, 2015

Support the Kids – Help Fund the Fall Workshop

A year ago, dozens of people helped us build a new photojournalism workshop at the Georgia National Fair. That was a bit of a last minute effort as another event had fallen through, but it turned into one of the most spectacular days we’ve had here. In fact, the event worked so well we decided to do it again. And...

Categories Advice & Learning/Journalism/Multimedia/Photojournalism/Thoughts & Theory

September 1, 2015

Grant for Projects Dealing with Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Identiy

ViewFind is sponsoring three $5,000 grants to visual storytellers to produce issues of race, ethnicity and cultural identity. Application deadline is October 9. (Thanks to Evey Wilson for the link.)

Categories At Work/Business & Industry/Photojournalism

August 30, 2015

Keeping an Image In Context, 47 Years Later

Over at the Los Angeles Times, Steve Lopez brings us back to the story of Juan Romero and how, after 47 years, he is coming to peace with his place in life. Romero’s name is one few know, but his face is a part of one of the most haunting news photos ever – Romero was the teenage busboy who...

Categories Craft/Good Work/Photojournalism