Music photography:
With the birth of rock and roll in the 50s musicians were becoming as popular as film stars and with Beatlemania in the 60s rock stars reached a level of popularity the likes of which still seems incredible today. With music and photography as an artform evolving constantly it was only a matter of time before the two combined. Over the last 50-60 years there have been many iconic album covers and photographs of bands and musicians but it arguably British photographer Mick Rock whose work is the most iconic. He worked with some of the most famous and influential musicians of all time such as David Bowie and Queen. His work with Lou Reed is probably my favourite of his. The image below is taken from the sleeve of Lou Reed’s Transformer LP. The image was printed on high contrast paper and shot in black and white.
As far as finding work as a music photographer goes, there is of course many opportunities for anyone with access to a camera to take shots of local musicians, either promo shots or actually photographing a performance, but like many things in the media and art industries, finding well paying work in this field could prove difficult if one doesn’t have something unique about their work.
Photojournalism (documentary, social, etc) :
Although this style of photography can be just as visually stimulating as other methods of photography, the subject matter is often that of struggle or conflict. It feels wrong to describe an image of a starving family or war-torn street as anything other than tragic but some of these images evoke different emotions in me personally. While there is obvious sadness and an understanding these images are taken of real people in sometimes catastrophic situations, it’s hard not to be taken back by the quality of the photograph. Like with music and film, it is often sadness, hurt and struggle that stays with us the longest. This is why I feel these images stick with the viewer more than any other.
in 1910 America employed 2 million child labourers which was documented by Lewis Hine a man who used the camera as a tool for social reform. His photographs were instrumental in the changing of child labour laws in the US. Despite this he is probably more recognised for his photographs of the construction of Empire State Building in the 1930s. Despite the fact he had taken some of the most iconic photos of the early 1900s by the late 1930s few people were interested in his work past or present and he ended up without a home and claiming welfare.
Don Mccullin is a British photographer who has taken some of the most iconic photos of all time. His work will likely be discussed, debated and revered for until the end of time as the subject matter is often of things that will also be around forever such as war and poverty. His work in England is my favourite of his. Documenting everything from the unemployed, street gangs and miners going to work. Some of his work was taken not far from Middlesbrough including shots in Scarborough and Hartlepool which is why I think his work is particularly appealing to me personally.
With the birth of rock and roll in the 50s musicians were becoming as popular as film stars and with Beatlemania in the 60s rock stars reached a level of popularity the likes of which still seems incredible today. With music and photography as an artform evolving constantly it was only a matter of time before the two combined. Over the last 50-60 years there have been many iconic album covers and photographs of bands and musicians but it arguably British photographer Mick Rock whose work is the most iconic. He worked with some of the most famous and influential musicians of all time such as David Bowie and Queen. His work with Lou Reed is probably my favourite of his. The image below is taken from the sleeve of Lou Reed’s Transformer LP. The image was printed on high contrast paper and shot in black and white.
As far as finding work as a music photographer goes, there is of course many opportunities for anyone with access to a camera to take shots of local musicians, either promo shots or actually photographing a performance, but like many things in the media and art industries, finding well paying work in this field could prove difficult if one doesn’t have something unique about their work.
Photojournalism (documentary, social, etc) :
Although this style of photography can be just as visually stimulating as other methods of photography, the subject matter is often that of struggle or conflict. It feels wrong to describe an image of a starving family or war-torn street as anything other than tragic but some of these images evoke different emotions in me personally. While there is obvious sadness and an understanding these images are taken of real people in sometimes catastrophic situations, it’s hard not to be taken back by the quality of the photograph. Like with music and film, it is often sadness, hurt and struggle that stays with us the longest. This is why I feel these images stick with the viewer more than any other.
in 1910 America employed 2 million child labourers which was documented by Lewis Hine a man who used the camera as a tool for social reform. His photographs were instrumental in the changing of child labour laws in the US. Despite this he is probably more recognised for his photographs of the construction of Empire State Building in the 1930s. Despite the fact he had taken some of the most iconic photos of the early 1900s by the late 1930s few people were interested in his work past or present and he ended up without a home and claiming welfare.
Don Mccullin is a British photographer who has taken some of the most iconic photos of all time. His work will likely be discussed, debated and revered for until the end of time as the subject matter is often of things that will also be around forever such as war and poverty. His work in England is my favourite of his. Documenting everything from the unemployed, street gangs and miners going to work. Some of his work was taken not far from Middlesbrough including shots in Scarborough and Hartlepool which is why I think his work is particularly appealing to me personally.
Mccullin’s has stated he uses 28mm and 135mm lenses with 35mm SLRs, equipment has evolved to this point, but theory is also important photojournalism. It is important to capture the moment, something that will inform the viewer and hopefully raise awareness or challenge unethical issues. In the 20th and 21st century documentary photography has acted as a visual component to social reform as I mentioned earlier with Lewis Hine. Composition plays a big role in documentary photography, the photographer will place the centre of interest carefully by using the principle of thirds. Surroundings in documentary photography are ever-prominent too and work as a case point especially when recording war and conflicts.
While covering wars isn’t something anyone with a camera can do for obvious reasons, the documenting of social issues can be done by the courageous and those who want change.
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