JOUR1111 Lecture 5 - Picture stories.

Picture stories are everywhere. On the TV (News, Drama/Reality programs or documentaries), movies, games, books, advertising, graffiti and even on the notes of money. Picture stories are what have helped shape the history of journalism and indeed the world. They allow us to create an imagine in our mind and better picture a certain event or experience. They are, in essence, what nudges at our imagination, allowing us a better and more vivid insight into other's lives.

In order to fully appreciate the reality of picture stories today it is important to understand the historical values of such stories. From Aboriginal cave art to Plato's theory of "Shadows on the Cave Wall", to China's Diamond Sultra then Illuminated Letters by the Monks and many churches stained glass windows to the eventual first line drawings apparent in an 1860's Newspaper shortly followed by actual printed photography firstly in the Daily Graphic and the eventual colour photo to the first picture published on the interned in 1992 and the first video in  2005, picture stories really have come a long way.

Aboriginal Cave Art

Diamond Sultra

First Line Drawing to be published in Newspaper

First Photo on the Internet

Photography is an art. A fine art. No matter how simply it may appear, many factors contribute to a good photograph. Anyone can take photos and they are so easily conveyed yet only great photography and professionals understand the compositional order of a photograph and the need for image structure. So this brings us to the question of what makes a great photograph?

Framing: The framing of a picture is important to properly emphasise the subject of the photograph. It should be obvious and make the object or subject of the photograph easy to distinguish and focus on.

Focus: Focus is important for clarity. A blurry photograph is not interesting nor a good portrayal of a story. And as we know, every photo should tell a story.

Angle and Point of View: The angle and point of view in which a photo is taken can imply meaning into a photograph. Often children are photographed with the camera angles down at them to emphasis the smallness and therefore vulnerability of them. People in positions of power can be photographed from below to give the impression of superiority and power.

Exposure: Expose is perhaps the most important factor in taking a good photograph. Without the correct lighting and expose a picture will not work. No matter how sensational the subject is, without the correct exposure the picture will not attract viewers.

Timing/Shutter Speed: The timing and shutter speed of a camera is important in that it allows how much exposure is let into the photograph.

Capturing 'The Moment': Timing is everything. A photo taken and instant too early or an instant too late, even with the perfect focus, shutter speed, exposure etc, can be very disappointing.

Rule of ThirdsAccording to Prophotography  "The rule of thirds is one of the main “rules” in art and photographic composition and stems from the theory that the human eye naturally gravitates to intersection points that occur when an image is split into thirds. When taking a photograph with the rule of thirds in mind, it’s always best to compose the photograph in the camera. This is so that you can avoid cropping later to retain as much of the image as possible and avoid reducing the quality of your photographs. However, I encourage going back to some of your older photography and seeing if you can improve them by cropping in a way to make them use the rule of thirds technique."

Of course traditional picture stories are now warped by digital manipulation, that is: changing the original appearance of a photo in order for it too appear more beautiful or even harrowing to the viewers. We are now being manipulated into believing certain images are reality when really it is a simple yet clever trick of digitalisation. Photoshop is professional image altering software that edits photos in such a manor that it can't help but to create fantasy.


This clip shows us the way in which the manipulation of women's bodies are portrayed through the use of Photoshop and highlight the detriments that Photoshop causes to many women's self esteem.

If you liked the look of that and want to watch more, click here.

Photo shop warps the way in which we view images of other people and therefore the way in which we think we should look and they way in which we therefore view ourselves. These photos have all be digitally edited and enhanced, effectively altering the subjects into more beautiful and striking objects.

Are we now living in such a superficial world that we cannot even bare to use real images of real people? And what is so wrong with reality?

Photoshop is furthermore  playing an increasing role in advertising, check these two pictures out.

Digital manipulation is now apparent in our everyday lives. But what does this mean? Are images now becoming so warped that we are loosing sight of reality? And what falsification of the portrayal of body images really doing to the average person?



Photography is without a doubt a skill, some have natural talent while other work hard using all the right techniques in order to best 'capture the moment'. Photographs are non-linear, they are unrestrained. They tell the truth (when not manipulated!) in an objective and timeless manor. Photography has the ability to imply and impress upon its viewers certain meanings and emotions. And that I believe is the very definition of a picture story.