Photojournalism often places you in the midst of deeply impactful situations, requiring you to witness everything from conflict and disaster to intimate personal struggles. You might be documenting the aftermath of a natural disaster, covering a violent protest, or capturing the silent despair of someone facing eviction. While this work is essential for documenting reality and raising awareness, these experiences can take a toll on your emotional well-being. It’s important to remember that you are not a robot; you are a human being with feelings and limitations.
In the heat of the moment, your focus sharpens as adrenaline and the determination to capture the story take command. This "surge" is a powerful physiological response that empowers you to perform at your best under pressure. You become laser-focused on getting the shot, effectively blocking out distractions and any discomfort you may feel. While this intense concentration is vital for your job, it can also hinder your ability to process your experiences fully in real-time.
Once the intensity of the moment has faded, it’s essential to carve out time for quiet reflection. This can happen at the end of a long day after you’ve organized your photos, or even weeks or months later when you’re reviewing your work. Use this time to identify what requires your attention. Ask yourself: Was there a moment when I felt uncomfortable or unsafe? Did any interaction with a subject, colleague, or bystander leave me feeling uneasy? Perhaps someone got too close, either physically or emotionally, or maybe I felt pressured to compromise my journalistic integrity. integrity.
It is crucial to pay attention to your emotional responses. Identify specific sights, sounds, or smells in your environment that trigger intense reactions. A particular color may remind you of past trauma, or a specific phrase may evoke difficult memories. Recognizing these cues is not just valuable; it is essential. By pinpointing your triggers and boundary violations, you empower yourself to make deliberate choices moving forward. This may involve positioning yourself further away from distressing situations, implementing mindfulness techniques to maintain your focus in the present, or asserting your needs and limits clearly to colleagues and others around you.
Over time, this process of reflection and adjustment will actively build your resilience. You must become more aware of your emotional landscape and develop effective coping mechanisms to navigate challenging situations. This approach is essential not only for managing your mental health but also for enabling you to continue the important work of bearing witness to the world. Remember, acknowledging the impact of your work is not a sign of weakness; it is a crucial step toward maintaining your well-being and sustaining the work that truly matters.
PhotoCamp Daily is not a newsletter about the technical skills required to be a good photographer or become a photojournalist. There is a multitude of videos, self-help books, training courses, and classes, and then there is the power of social media as an instructional tool.
PhotCamp Daily is about learning to experience making good photos. About learning to better observe subjects and their relationship to story. Learning yourself to express better what will become a collective view of your world and the new experiences you will encounter.
PhotoCamp Daily is always free! But you can pledge support at any time.
Consider subscribing to The Westerville News and My Final Photo News. Also recommended is Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
My Final Photo News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support photography and commentary, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.