A photo taken last week by an iPhone was deemed worthy enough for publishing in the New York Times- the front page nonetheless.
The news has taken many people by surprise, leaving most with either a feeling of enlightenment or a feeling of outrage.
In common practice of photography, a “serious” photographer is encouraged to take a photo with a proper DSLR camera, accompanied by the necessary accessories, a flash, a lens, a couple memory cards. A photographer must also be at the right place, at the right time, with the right people with these gadgets. But as you might have already guessed, this is not always possible.
Sometimes a photographer is at the right place at the right time, but does not have the right equipment. Sometimes an opportunity is so rare and unexpectant, that the photographer is caught off guard and is not ready.
Sometimes a photographer is forced to work with the elements
The photo published on the front page of the New York Times was taken by a man named Nick Laham, who took a portrait of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez in a locker room bathroom.
He said that although the surroundings weren’t ideal, it was all he was given and it was a “take it or leave it” situation.
Laham used a DSLR in addition to his iPhone, but it was his a photo taken by his iPhone and processed by Instagram that was chosen for the front page spot.
To me, it makes sense to use other technology while covering stories, if conditions are not ideal. The perks with using a cellphone are that the picture can be sent off immediately, and can be received by other outlets instantly. Not to mention their convenience, their ability to fit in areas as small as a pocket.
The truth of the matter is, a lot of photojournalists are now covering stories with phone cameras because what the photo lacks in quality, it makes up for in convenience.
And if the photo looks good and tells the story, does it matter how it was taken?
It is to my knowledge that the New York Times knows a thing or two about photography. Perhaps they are setting a new standard for photojournalists around the world.
Journalism is a changing industry, and it has made a significant shift from print to online editions in the past decade. Perhaps it is time to get with the times.
If you take an awesome shot with your cell phone, email it to us at passherald@shaw.ca ... you might get published too!
