Photography is an art form that involves a variety of styles and techniques, both of which have limitless possibilities to express the artists ideas and emotions. While there are some similarities between artistic photography and photojournalism, the end result is quite different.

Traditional artistic photography concentrates mainly on posed shots where every scenario is setup with careful thought and consideration. This is mainly seen in fashion, glamour, wedding, and food photography to name a few. Much like a fine artist or a sculptor, the photographer using such a method has the freedom to manipulate his or her work to convey a message or a feeling. This can be achieved not only through proper staging but also using photo enhancing techniques.

Photojournalism, however, does not use photo enhancing techniques such as lighting correction, modification of tonal values, or any other methods that alter the appearance of the subject in the photo. Photojournalism is based on the idea of capturing a candid moment in its true, raw form.
It is meant to tell a story usually associated with the news and is similar to street photography and documentary photography. It is distinguished by having the ability to accurately depict events without objectivity and to be able to tell a story that relates to the viewer. In some cases, such photos can tell stories worth more than words.

The role of photography in journalism is to enhance the story and to help readers engage with the depiction of reality. The following photograph shows the results of a deadly bomb attack in Baghdad. The photograph is in its true form – a story told behind the lens with no modifications, exaggerations or special effects.

The second photograph is taken by Yaghobzadeh, the grand prize winner of the World Press Photo competition and first prize winner of the National Press Photographers Association in the United States. Yaghobzadeh was an active photographer during the Iran-Iraq war, taking unforgettable photos of the brave acts of Iranian men and women. This example of his work, reveals the reality of the wartime. Often photojournalists find themselves in difficult situations, amidst turmoil and danger, but the key to becoming
a successful photographer is to always be aware of the surroundings and to wait for the perfect moment to snap the shot.

From above examples we can conclude that photojournalists choose their inspiration based on the story they want to tell. For the photographer the instant moments of the surrounding is what create the story. Artistic photographs, however, encourages the artist to play with the image and object. They are pleasant to the eye and have the strenth to capure almost any viewer.