Walker Evans Research Project - Part 2

Photojournalism began in the mid 1800s. Events that were considered news were photographed at first and printing presses used engravings until the 1880s. Innovations in photography led to the printing of photographs on presses by 1897. The “golden age” of photojournalism went on between the 1930s-1950s. Some newspapers and magazines were popular because of the photography. Life Magazine was considered to be one of the most read magazines between 1936 and the early 70s. It exposed a great deal of people to photojournalism. Photojournalism and documentary photography are considered as a form of art today.


Documentary Photography is a type of photojournalism that focuses on a certain subject. The purpose of the photographs is to show the reality of the subject and teach the viewer about places, people or a time in history.


The main artists in the photojournalism genre are Carol Szathmari, Kenneth Kobre, Don McCullin, Susan C. Zavoina, John H. Davidson and Grahan Clarke.
The main artists in the documentary photography genre are Berenice Abbott, William Eggleston, Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander, Jim Goldberg, Nan Goldin, Lauren Greenfield, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, Steve McCurry, James Nachtwey, Gordon Parks, Eugene Richards, Jim Richardson, Jacob Riis, W. Eugene Smith, Gary Winogrand and Sally Mann.
Walker Evans was the first photographer to make art from something that did not appear to be art. “His work embodies a way of seeing that at once is entirely Evans’ and stands upon him.” His work was considered an important part on American documentary photography. He was considered a genius in his ability to show the reality of The Depression in this art form. He was against photographs that were too commercial or artsy.

End Notes:
Quote 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photojournalism
Photo 1: http://myjournalism.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/photojournalism_002.jpg
Photo 2: http://sarahwichlacz.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/docume2-1.jpg
Photo 3: http://www.docuphoto.com/images/activists/200x300/activist.jpg
Book 1: Walker Evans 55