As photojournalism refers to images that tell a story, or a story presented through
the use of pictures, i believe that prehistoric rock-art was kind of primitive
yet first photojournalism attempt in history of mankind in that sense. At least
it reflects this human tendency of depicting events as well as life style in
images. True it was drawings and paintings not photos of course, yet images still.
Isn't the image of people swimming in that cave in El Gilf El Kebir which is
now one of the most arid places on face of earth, tells us a bit of an amazing
story of those people at that time in a form of image? But isn't that what
photojournalism about?
Invention of Photography
No matter how you look at it, the photojournalism we know, obviously didn't start
before the invention of photography.
The first (fixed) photo image ever produced to the world was in the year 1826
(27) by the French inventor "Joseph Nicéphore". It took
him full 8 hours to capture the photo on a special metal plate sensitized with special
substance.
First photo image ever produced in history.
Early Photojournalism
The early start of photojournalism.
After couple of decades in the mid 1800's it became possible with heavy bulky
cameras fixed on a stands to take pictures in the field. By taking photos to the civil
war in the States, showing to the public for the first time what really happened in
the battle fields, it was the early start of photojournalism.
Photojournalism & Life
In the early 1900's the use of this new toy/invention called camera portraying,
presenting and raising awareness of social problems like children labor for instance,
helped to establish the initial rules of photojournalism.
Photographers or should we say photojournalists now ought to capture
"verbs". A complete meaningful sentences by their cameras.
Photojournalism & Disasters
In May 6th, 1937 the burst of the airship "Hindenburg" was almost the first
big accident that has been captured in photos. The photos showing the huge airship
filled with 200,000 cubic meters of flammable hydrogen on fire turned it from an
accident that could possibly happen to any aircraft to a complete disaster although
only 35 died and 62 survived the crash.
As a result of publishing the photos widely, that was the end not only for the German
company that made the airship and already made a very successful trips crossing the
Atlantic, but for the concept of carrying people in an airship filled with hydrogen,
thus it was the end of all airships era.
A true scaled image that shows the difference
in size between Hindenburg, Boeing and Titanic