The Visual Composition, Journalistic Values, and the Conveyed Meaning Reflected Through Journalistic Photographs Awarded by Issara Amantakul Foundation of the Thai Journalists Association

Abstract

        This study is a qualitative research aimed at (1) examining the visual composition of the Isra Amantakul Award-winning news photographs, (2) analyzing the journalistic values of the Isra Amantakul Award-winning news photographs, and (3) exploring the conveyed meanings through the composition of these photographs, awarded by the “Thai Journalists Association.” The research is guided by various concepts and theories, including photojournalism, journalistic values, the art of photography, visual communication, and methodologies for analyzing journalistic photographs. The researcher collected data from the Isra Amantakul Award-winning news photographs from 2008 to 2022 to analyze their visual composition, journalistic values, and conveyed meanings.

        The research findings revealed that (1) the composition of the Isra Amantakul Award-winning news photographs involves principles such as the rule of thirds, spatial organization, texture, lines, repetition, framing, balance, and silhouette. These elements enhance the visual appeal and deepen the conveyed meanings of the photographs. (2) The journalistic values in the Isra Amantakul Award-winning news photographs include proximity, prominence, oddity, human interest, conflict, and impact, which are crucial in capturing the readers’ attention. (3) The signification from the composition of these award-winning news photographs include the symbolic meanings of the shapes and objects in the photographs, the implicit meanings derived from technical photographic language, the psychological implications of color, nonverbal communication through facial expressions and body language, and the creation of binary oppositions.