Photojournalism and Bias

Tears stream down the cheeks of accordion-playing Chief Petty Officer (USN) Graham Jackson as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's flag-draped funeral train leaves Warm Springs, Ga., April 13, 1945.
Photo By: Ed Clark

This photograph of Chief Petty Officer Graham W. Jackson playing the song “Goin’ Home” on his accordion with tears streaming down his face at Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s funeral is a perfect example of an image that represents the truth. I believe that the photographer, Ed Clark, took this photograph to capture the nation’s grief and true emotions felt by the citizens of our country at the time of his death. He was a greatly valued president, as he was the only man elected four times to the nation’s highest office. He had done so much for his country, and would be sorely missed, which is expressed very well in this photo. FDR was highly involved with civil rights in the United States, making the photograph even more powerful, emotional, and real, since a grieving African American man is the main subject. Viewers of this photo can truly feel the nation’s loss. Millions and millions of people loved him dearly, and this photograph definitely shows the truth behind the loss of FDR - the true sadness of that moment endures in history.

Obvious Main Subject: The main subject takes up around 1/2 of the photograph, so he would be considered an obvious main subject. He occupies mainly the left side of the photo. He is also up close and in focus, while the background is slightly blurred and seemingly further behind him.

Subject’s Expression: The main subject’s expression greatly impacts this photograph. It sets the mood of the photo, and expresses the feelings of great loss and sadness. The tears streaming down the subject’s face tells the story of the photograph.

Black and White: This photograph was taken during a time when color was not an easy option. Therefore, the picture is in black and white. In my opinion, the black and white compliments the photograph because this, too, sets the mood and also speaks for the time period in which it was taken.

Image Source: The New Yorker

This photograph represents the truth to me, especially because it hits so close to home. The opioid crisis in America is a major issue that is completely misunderstood and ignored by so many. It has been a problem that’s been rapidly growing for nearly two decades and is getting out of control. While the president plans to declare the Opioid Crisis a national emergency, the reaction to this has been consistently muted. Many people see images such as this one and probably brush it off, mainly because people have become much less empathetic towards addicts. As it is mentioned in How Photos Fuel the Spread of Fake News, such images can reinforce existing prejudices. However, after reading the article What are the Four Ways of Knowing, I knew that this image spoke the truth based on my sense perception and emotion/intuition. According to the article, you know certain things because you can see and perceive them yourself. Also, you know certain things because you feel them emotionally. Opioid addiction is an issue that I have experienced in my own family and the topic brings tears to my eyes; this is why this image is so real to me. The introductory article on Yellow Photojournalism states that “some of the Journal’s most notable exclusives came close to home.” This image truly expresses the horror of seeing your loved one - a wife, husband, brother, sister, son, daughter, best friend, anyone near and dear to your heart - being taken away in a body bag after losing the battle to addiction. There are no words to describe the pain I felt losing my brother to this awful disease, but this image does speak the truth about the loss of a loved one in this terrible epidemic.

Black and White: At the time when this photograph was taken, color was the original form of this photo. However, the photographer chose to change the image to black and white. This adds a dramatic effect to the photograph and also sets the depressing mood expressed in the photo.

Feelings Created by the Image: All of the people in the photograph are either looking down, sad, or crying. The feeling created by this image is definitely sadness. All of the subjects are grieving the loss of the man or woman in the body bag.

Background Compliments Photo: While the main subjects are grieving the loss of their loved one, the police officers, medical team, and other family members in the background are as well. The background adds to the emotions created by this photograph. It is all of their expressions that make the photo more powerful and meaningful.

Image Source: DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON ADDICTION AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC

This photo shows voters in the 2020 presidential race pressing the Democratic presidential candidates to address the issue of the Opioid Crisis. People in this photo are holding up signs saying things like, “treatment is effective” and “people recover,” however, it is not that simple. I know this because I have first-hand experience with the crisis and have gained a lot of knowledge about the issue. According to What are the Four Ways of Knowing, "you know certain things because you can apply logics and reasoning…rationalists consider reason and logics so important, that they say that all sources of our knowledge comes from our ability to use reasoning." Therefore, this photo does not represent the truth to me because a lot more needs to be done to put an end to the epidemic. As I mentioned before, people are not doing their part. Most people ignore the issue due to the stigma associated with the Opioid Crisis. Most of these protesters think that they are making a change, when in reality, they are just being ignored. As it is mentioned in the article, How Photos Fuel the Spread of Fake News, most people believe a photograph represents reality. However, this photograph is the opposite of reality. The federal government needs to provide more funding toward the education and prevention of the opioid crisis. Also, the accessibility to opioids needs to be reduced. Most importantly, the access and quality of treatment needs to be improved greatly. All of these things need to be taken seriously - wishful thinking. On that note, this photograph does not speak the truth, in my opinion.

Color: This photograph is kept in color. It has a lot of bright colors that draw in the viewer’s attention. All of the participants are also wearing brightly colored clothing that adds to the brightness of the photo.

Subjects’ Expression: All of the subjects in the photo appear very serious and passionate about the topic. It adds to the seriousness of the photograph and says that a change needs to be made. Some even appear sad, most likely because they have a lot of experience with this issue.

Depth of Field: I feel that a lot is missing from this photograph. Not the right amount is in focus, and appears as if most of the photo has been cut off at the bottom. The image uses a very shallow depth of field.