David Burnett began his photographic career in 1967 with an internship at Time Magazine. He has since worked as a freelancer for Time and Life, covering stories in over 70 countries for the past 40 years. Burnett was influenced by photographing victims of war, motivating him to understand real situations firsthand. Technological advances have made his job easier over the decades, from simple cameras to today's digital devices. Burnett's photos have impacted society through their documentation of history and awareness of important issues. He continues to be inspired by new challenges in photojournalism.

1. David Burnett
By: Makayla Stefanski
Photo By: Horizon Photography

2. Career Path
David Burnett, at the age of 21 began his photographic career. In 1967 he started a
internship with Time Magazine and this was the start for him. While doing a
internship, he was pursuing a degree at Colorado College. According to National
Geographic, “ He began working as a freelancer for Time Magazine and then Life
Magazine, first in Washington, D.C. and Miami, and later in South Vietnam”.
Because of where he worked, Time and Life would publish his work. According to
Freestyle, “ In his career that has spanned nearly 40 years, David Burnett has visited
more than seventy countries. He has covered stories as diverse as the French and
American Presidential elections from 1972 to the present; the famine in Sahel in 1974
and in Ethiopia in 1984; the Iranian revolution following Ayatollah Khomeini's return
to Tehran in 1979, and the Summer Olympics from 1984 through 200”. David Burnett
is also a member of the Freestyle Advisory Board of Photographic Professionals.

3. Era
• David Burnett work first started in the late 1960’s. The era he went through was
the Vietnam War. From about 1970 to 1972 Burnett captured images of the war.
Start after that according to Simon & Schuster,“ his work during in Vietnam
exposed the grueling trials of a seemingly endless war, and his candid inside the
White House and on the campaign trail shots of American Presidents since JFK
have characterized the pressures of the job.” He had won the magazine
photographer pf the year.

4. Motivation
David Burnett has been in many situations good and bad. He photographed all
different type of images from, war images to the London Olympics. The most
influenced and motived ares was when he work in war territories. According to
Manfrotto, “ Anytime you are in a place where people are victims of war it makes you
as photographer more aware, something that got loss on the line. There is an
additional sense of drama and need to understand what is really happening”. The
motivation behind that is to really see what is going on from a first person view. His
biggest motivation is finding “ a challenge”. Burnett uses challenges ti always strive
for the best. According to Manfrotto, his best piece of advice is to, “Do your
homework, know as much as you can about where you are going, whether it is a
foreign land, try to speak a few words of the language. Photography is not just about
pressing the button, it is about those relationships”.

5. Technology
• David Burnett is a unique and very successful photojournalist. In 1976, he is a co-
founder for Contact Press Images. This company is based of photojournalism and a
agency for it.
• According to PetaPixel, “ David Burnett has just announced that he’s switching
over to Sony camera equipment after over 40 years of shooting with Canon gear.”
He explained on how he finally feels like he is part of the 21st century with all of
the new technology. Back in the 1960’s when David first photographing images, a
camera called Bell & Howell Canon Unique Dial35 Camera was the newly
advanced technology. Looking into today, the advances have came a long way and
made photojournalist like Burnetts job a little easier.

6. Ethics
• Ethics in photography will always be a issue. Photojournalist have to follow by
the code of ethics but, has that been broken? According to Photoshelter, “ taking
photos is intrusive, and most people would agree upon some near universal norms
regarding photography (e.g. taking photos of children in public).” In a historical
event from 1945, there was an atomic bomb and killed over 145,000 people and in
this moment photojournalist didn’t know what to do. Some question themselves if
they should capture this or just pitiful to see. According to Photoshelter David
Burnett said, “ this is exactly when you have to take the picture”. “ The line gets
fuzzy much more quickly than you’d expect.”

7. Bias
• David Burnett pretty much covers it all. According Photo Pro, “ covering many of
the world’s most important events. He has covered presidential campaigns, the
Olympics, wars and revolutions. Yet even when working from the same
photographer press area as other shooters, the New York-based photojournalist is
able to record his singular take on the scene before his lens. Burnett’s images are
remarkably Burnett.” He believed in all of his images and he liked to create a feel
and make everything important. Burnett liked to bring awareness to everyone
viewing his images.

8. Impact
• Burnett Photos has a great impact on society. Along with his impact, Burnett
achieved many great awards. He achieved 12 awards and also wrote 4 books that
has a impact on society. For example one award according to Freestyle, “ 1986:
American Society of Magazine Photographers (ASMP) "Philippe Halsman Award
for his contribution to photojournalism over the last decade.” With the use of his
photographs he displays different events and different images on lives. He shows
what is going on in wars and the courage of individuals.

9. David Burnett relations to Psychology
• In my studies at American International College, I am pursuing a degree in
Psychology. Psychology is about the human mind and the behavior. In
photojournalism and with David Burnett, everyone can connect to psychology as
they use their minds and behaviors everyday. Burnett uses his mind and focus to
follow his career in photojournalism.

10. Viewpoints
• David Burnett is highly popular photojournalist in this society. He has created a
great resume and amazing images that has changed how people can view them.
According to Simon & Schuster, “ He is named one of the "100 Most Important
People in Photography" by American Photo magazine”. He is a inspiration for
photography and a great example of someone who is always motivated to succeed.

11. David Burnett Photograph
• Quality of Light: The quality of the light is used
to focus on President Obama and his wife. The
light is shined on them to show they are in the
spotlight of the photograph
• Exposure time: This photograph was taking
while the photographer had time to set up the
picture. It was a fast shutter speed picture. There
is no blur in the picture and it captured a perf t
timing of them hugging.
• In or out of focus: This picture is a In Focus,
meaning that it created a sharp image. It was
focus in to show the emotional of the
photograph.
By: David Burnett

12. David Burnett Photograph
• Use of lines: The use of line is used in the
middle of the photograph. The river leading up
to the city had great effects on this photograph
• Contrast Appropriate: The contrast in this
photograph was high. the photo showed tons of
darkness on the sides of the picture and had
lightness in the water leading all the way down
the river to the city.
• KEEP IT SIMPLE: This picture is kept simple.
There was no action going on and looked like a
calm, quiet day when the picture was taken.
By: David Burnett

13. David Burnett Photograph
• Subject’s Expression: All of the subjects
expressions are serious posses. This is a
photograph of D-Day of the members to salute
their fallen partners. You can tally the body
language on how they felt about this moment
and it was something serious
• What feelings does the image create? This image
is a act of American History. Viewers can view
this image in different ways. After knowing
what the photograph actually is, I view it as a act
of hero. As members fought in the world and an
act of sadness to honor who did so.
• Is the image black & white or color? This image
was create in black and white to capture the
image. The image in black and white gave off a
certain expression to the men in the photograph.
By: David Burnett

14. David Burnett Photograph
• Background compliments or detracts from
composition: The total image was used to see all
different angles of the photograph. Burnett took
this photograph showing the depth of the field.
The image is during the Olympics of a rowing
team but they aren’t the main focus. The main
focus to show the beautiful sight where this event
is taking place.
• Depth of field: The depth of the field creates this
image. There are tons of details of this picture
and it makes a outstanding photo. This image is
dig maximum depth of the field, showing off the
mountains in the background and the cloudy sky.
• Rule of thirds: This photograph does not have the
main focus in the middle of the image. The main
focus is throughout the entire image. When
dividing the image, it will still create a great
effect on the image as this image is very unique.
By: David Burnett