This Week's Reading

In "Selecting a Subject" by Bill Jay and David Hurn, the two photographers discussed one of the most important aspects in photojournalism - choosing what exactly to photograph. They made several noteworthy observations. The first of which that struck home with me was the thought that photographers do what they do for something greater than the love of the art. The idea of making images might originally attract them to the profession, but it cannot hold them there. Photography must be employed to some bigger purpose. It is a tool use to accomplish something, but it is not the accomplishment itself. I could not agree more. I chose to pursue a career in photojournalism because I saw the potential for what photography can do, not what it is alone.

Another of their suggestions that I appreciated was the practice of narrowing story ideas. Broad concepts and wide-reaching ideals are fine to discuss. They are next to impossible to photograph. But one idea or one emotion can make a compelling image. Added together, those compelling images can make a telling story. I appreciate the authors' practical examples too. Flowers became "plants that relate to architecture." How cool (and challenging) is that?

A final observation that I am grateful the authors made is their idea that intellectual interest is not opposite emotional connection. While some photos are bursting with intimacy and personality, others can be just as moving without the photographer feeling so connected to the subject. A disaster story will surely carry more raw emotion than a photo illustration manufactured in a studio, but does that mean it is automatically better or more useful? No. The illustration might depict an important social issue that needs addressed just as much as the disaster relief and future prevention.

Anne Lamott's "Bird by Bird" continues to drive home the point that if you don't start somewhere, you'll never move. I love her candid approach to the creative process. She does not build herself or her method up. Instead of attributing great writing to great minds, she implies that hard work and tenacity are really what will yield a compelling piece. I think the same is true for photography. While some photographers are, undoubtedly, very talented, they would not grow if they did not work. We all have to start somewhere.

She also suggests that if you start working on a story, you may well find a better one in the course of your first work. The first work is by no means a waste of time, whether you publish it or not. If it leads you to a truly great idea, then how much better that you spent those hours trying something rather than trying to think of something?