When I first
started my photojournalism class 6 weeks ago I can honestly say that I was
blind to the life and profession of a photojournalist. I always saw behind the
lens of individuals by seeing their finished photos and their published
works on blogs, newspapers, magazines and other media sources but I never saw behind
the photojournalist. The photos I use to look at and be amazed by now hold more
of an impact knowing what type of situations the journalist put themself
in. Professor Nordell made a comment “they risk their life, safety and money,
because they feel so compassionate about the story” I couldn’t agree more now.
When I see a photo now weather it’s about something good or bad, I don’t
look behind the lens anymore, I start by looking who’s behind that lens and the situation they must of been in to capture such a moment in time. By
doing so now, I feel like it allows me to absorb the true meaning and reason
behind the photo.
I remember all throughout class seeing so maybe different photos. Some showing us the good things that are going on around us, some horrible things and some good pictures protesting bad things.
On July 5th, 2013 I was working on Worthington street, Springfield,Ma and while driving down the street I passed by about 75 people marching and protesting domestic violence. In the past I would have read the signs, drove right by and wouldn't of thought twice about it after passing them. I can honestly say now by taking this class my eyes are wide open now as I see these things. The day I drove past these people it was 92 degrees out, everyone of them looked tired and were sweating from the sun but because of the compassion about the situation they gave there all to promote awareness to world around us. They marched up and around the city holding signs letting us all know that domestic violence needs to stop. I couldn't walk by there side that day but I could do my part by helping them spread the word through my photos just like photojournalist do everyday.
I remember all throughout class seeing so maybe different photos. Some showing us the good things that are going on around us, some horrible things and some good pictures protesting bad things.
On July 5th, 2013 I was working on Worthington street, Springfield,Ma and while driving down the street I passed by about 75 people marching and protesting domestic violence. In the past I would have read the signs, drove right by and wouldn't of thought twice about it after passing them. I can honestly say now by taking this class my eyes are wide open now as I see these things. The day I drove past these people it was 92 degrees out, everyone of them looked tired and were sweating from the sun but because of the compassion about the situation they gave there all to promote awareness to world around us. They marched up and around the city holding signs letting us all know that domestic violence needs to stop. I couldn't walk by there side that day but I could do my part by helping them spread the word through my photos just like photojournalist do everyday.
Photo by, Jay Sanders (July 5th, 2013)
Photo by, Jay Sanders (July 5th, 2013)
Later that evening, July 5th 2013 I ran into another event that opened my eyes to something that in the past I would of walked right past. I was sitting around drinking some beers with my teammates after our game when a homeless man came over to us and asked if we had any change so he could eat and also if we could keep our cans together and leave them for him to come back later to get. Together we gave him about 5 dollars then he walked away heading straight for the nearest trash can.
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Photo by, Jay Sanders (July 5th, 2013)
Photo by, Jay Sanders (July 5th, 2013)
I reflect back earlier in my photojournalism class to the Images by Hansel Meith and how she was able to show the world about poverty and hardships, the photos by Paul Hansen that showed the effects on society that was impacted by a major event like an earthquake in Haiti or the photos by Marcus Bleasdale trying to promote human rights.
Through my photojournalism class I have been able to learn so many different things from the types of equipment, supplies and time that is needed to develop a photo like the wet collodoin to the ease of a photo on an Iphone on to a blog such as blogger.
I was asked earlier in this course if photos change the world and I said yes (source), I still agree with my initial response to the question, however I believe more now that photojournalist can change the world. Not only now do I see the world through my own lens but am able to walk the through shoes of everyone around the world through the lens of others.
I wonder where technology will bring us next, I wonder what images will be the next to move the world, I wonder if other people around me respect and appreciate the sacrifices that photojournalists make. I hope through some of my own photos I took and uploaded to my blog will open the eyes of my neighbors to photojournalism.
As I watched the people march up and down the streets the other day, then watched this homeless man walk away into the dark I know now with a person behind a lens, capturing just one moment in time, the world can be changed.
Photo by, Jay Sanders (July 5th 2013)
