History of Photojournalism – Study Notes
1. Foundations (mid‑19th century)
| Year / Period |
Milestone |
Significance |
| 1839 |
Invention of the daguerreotype (Louis Daguerre) |
First practical photographic process; makes visual recording possible. |
| 1840s–1850s |
Wet‑collodion plate (Frederick Scott Archer, 1851) |
Faster exposure, higher quality → easier field work. |
| 1860s |
Crimean War (1853‑1856) & American Civil War (1861‑1865) |
Early war photography (e.g., Roger Fenton, Mathew Brady). Images used for news reports, though printed as engravings. |
| 1880s |
Development of the halftone printing technique |
Allows photographs to be reproduced directly in newspapers and magazines. |
2. The Birth of Modern Photojournalism (late 19th – early 20th century)
| Date |
Event / Publication |
Key Figures |
Impact |
| 1880 |
The Illustrated London News (first illustrated weekly) |
William Luson Thomas |
Sets template for picture‑driven news. |
| 1905 |
The New York World launches “photographic supplement” |
Joseph Pulitzer |
Shows American appetite for visual news. |
| 1909 |
Moscow “Moscow Gazette” publishes first photo‑essay |
– |
Early example of narrative sequencing of images. |
| 1912 |
The New York Times publishes first front‑page photograph (Harold H. “Hal” B. …) |
– |
Validates photographs as headline news. |
| 1915 |
World War I – first large‑scale use of battlefield photography (e.g., Ernest Brooks, British Army). |
– |
Shows power of images to shape public opinion. |
3. The Golden Age (1920s‑1940s)
3.1 Magazine Dominance
| Publication |
Year founded |
Photo‑journalistic style |
| Life (U.S.) |
1936 |
Large‑format, glossy, “photo‑essay” narrative. |
| Paris Match (France) |
1949 (roots in 1938) |
Human‑interest and cultural reportage. |
| Picture Post (UK) |
1938 |
Tabloid‑size, “photo‑journalism for the masses”. |
| Der Spiegel (Germany) |
1947 |
Integrated photo‑reportage with investigative text. |
3.2 Iconic Photographers & Works
- Dorothea Lange – Migrant Mother (1936) → symbol of the Great Depression.
- Henri Cartier‑Bresson – “The Decisive Moment” (1932) → candid street photography.
- Robert Capa – The Falling Soldier (1936) & D‑Day coverage (1944) → war photojournalism.
- Margaret Bourke‑White – First female staff photographer for Life; industrial and wartime images.
3.3 Technological Advances
- 35 mm Leica camera (1925) – portable, fast, enabling candid shots.
- Flash powder → flashbulb (1930s) – better low‑light capability.
- Improved halftone and rotogravure printing – higher image fidelity in mass‑circulation papers.
4. Post‑War