Photojournalism is reporting with words and pictures.
These photos would not be readable without the cutlines, even with the artistic composition and the plethora of dynamics.
When editing photographs, the picture editor looks for DYNAMICS. As a photographer, you should understand that and strive to get these into your images.
Dynamics include:
Motion - a blurring effect
Emotion - any of the emotions pictured: anger, sadness, happiness, love, etc.,
Mood - generally done with lighting, texture, smoke, fog, etc.
Action - just as the name suggests, many times combined with motion
Reaction - one person's "reaction" to something or someone else
Interaction - involves several people, usually, and may include touching, etc.
REACTIONWalter Astrada
Agence France-Presse
"Monday screams"
Monday Lawiland, 7 years old, screams as he sees Kenyan policeman with a baton approach the door of his home in the Kibera slum of Nairobi 17 January 2008. Hundreds of police who had earlier clashed with supporters of Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga at the entrance of the slum moved into the shantytown and did a house to house search for protestors.
MOTIONDaniel Ochoa De Olza
Associated Press
"Highboard Dive"
China's Jia Hu performs a dive in the men's 10 meter highboard competition during the XIV FINA Diving grand Prix 'Comunidad de Madrid' in Madrid, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2008.
MOTION/ACTIONAniko Kovacs
Sport Plusz
"Eye, ball"
Fruzsin Bravik eyes the ball in a water polo game between Hungary and Germany 26 July.
FEATURENick King
Columbia Daily Tribune
"Trophy"
Jill Zulovich, 6, studies her baseball trophy after her coach handed them out to the team after the Royals' tee ball game against the Yankees at the Daniel Boone Little League complex. Jill, a cancer survivor, will represent Missouri on July 16 in a tee ball game on the White House’s south lawn.
MOODLouis DeLuca
Dallas Morning News
"Praying for Safety"
Bullrider Kaden King, 13, prays before his ride on "Terminator" at the Honey Grove Rodeo in Fannin county. Many prefer black and white images because of the mood they portray. This is a good example of the grit of the rodeo and the feelings of the riders.
EMOTIONAmanda Lucier
The Herald (Jasper, Ind.)
"lost"
In her new dress in the back of the car on her way home from the Sturgeon Carnival, Lurlena cries, having lost the competition for Carnival Princess. The title was given to the girl whose parents bought the most votes, in an effort to raise money for the elementary school. The Furlongs, with a single income and five children, spent eight dollars towards tickets for Lurlena, but the loss is still tough for her to accept.
MOODMichael Holahan
The Agusta Chronicle
"a soldiers prayer"
Pfc. Nathanael Harris bows his head in prayer during a candlelight vigil for fallen soldiers Saturday evening June 28, 2008 at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Photographers taking photographs such as this one are not intrusive during an emotional moment.
Then, we have the horror of war in this photo.
INTERACTION/EMOTION/ACTION
Carlos Barria Reuters
An Iraqi man holds the body of a boy after a car bomb explosion at a market in the neighborhood known as New Baghdad, southeast of Baghdad February 18, 2007. Two car bombs tore through a busy shopping area of a mainly Shi'ite district of Baghdad on Sunday, killing 55 people and wounding scores as militants defied a military offensive by U.S. and Iraqi troops.
And the horrors on the home front.
INTERACTION/MOOD/EMOTION
Stephen M. Katz The Virginian-Pilot
Members of the press photograph three Virginia Tech graduate students at the drill field on campus in Blacksburg on Wednesday - 4/17/07 - afternoon during a prayer service remembering the victims of Monday's (4/16) shooting spree at the University.
And the horror of a never-ending conflict.
INTERACTION/REACTION/EMOTIONYonathan Weitzman Freelance
Israeli soldiers move into position inside a Palestinian house during clashes with Palestinian protesters near Qalandiya check-point on the edge of the West Bank city of Ramallah March 16, 2007.