While photography enthusiasts may take pictures for the pure love of the hobby, others actually do it as a full time job. Some of the best and most famous images in the world have come from the hard work of talented and determined photo journalists.  These pros venture into situations that most of us would not dare,  and armed with the proper equipment, such as a digital camera and laptop computer, photo journalists can share images of the most historical and world-changing events, just seconds after they take place.

Photo journalism has been around since the 1850s as a way of recording historical moments and delivering current events and news to the masses via still or moving images. While it may sound like a glamorous job for those of you who love photography, but it can also be a very dangerous one. Many of these people risk their lives on assignments such as war coverage, political and civil unrest.  While photographers are covered by some level of political protection in war zones,  the nature of their job demands that they get as close to the action as possible, and many photographers are killed each year while documenting dangerous events.

Even nature photography poses a certain degree of risk. While the lions and tigers you see in National Geographic may look cuddly and cute, they will definitely attack if they feel threatened. You’d think these situations would call for a strong zoom lens, but most photo journalists love to be right in the thick of the action in order to convey a real sense of the moment and their subject in their photographs.

The nature of photo journalism means that not all photos are taken in perfect conditions and surroundings.  There is rarely an opportunity to spend time setting up a 'scene',  and even the simple act of finding a suitable position or a flat surface to hastily erect a tripod must all be done on the fly.  They often have to take a photo at a moment’s notice, so photo journalists are always prepared and have the necessary equipment with them, often changing lenses and film (if they still use it) as quickly as possible. As well as being very technically skilled, photo journalists must also have the natural instinct of knowing when to take a photo, and to be able to gauge which shots will have a strong human interest factor.

Of course photo journalism isn't always about dangerous action and globally significant events.  There are plenty of other news stories in local or regional events.  With the invention of digital cameras, it’s a lot easier now for the casual photographer to try their hand at this style of photography at local events, or to visually document something happening their area.  Are wildlife areas being destroyed by building work?  Is litter cluttering the parks?  Is homelessness on the rise?  Are more and more shops in your downtown area being abandoned and lying empty?  Of course, photo journalism doesn't have to be all bad.  Perhaps you want to highlight seasonal wildlife migrations in your area.  Or capture the happiness on people's faces at a local festival? There are plenty of things to cover, and you may surprise yourself and come up with a masterpiece or historically significant photo.