NYT and Photography

April 13, 2010 at 9:59 pm · Filed under New York Times Online

Before I even set out to explore the New York Times’ use of photography, I was already well aware of how important this particular element was to the publication. Growing up in New York and witnessing how the NYT photographers captured the news there was enough to ensure this, at least for me.

When navigating through the photo content of the NYT Online, it becomes clear that the creators of the website sought to remind viewers of this fact. The photographs are specifically organized among assorted slideshows and categories. These vary in size and specifics, from photo-essays, to slideshows of The Day in Photos. Beyond this, there are overall annual slideshows (like 2009: The Year in Pictures- a collection of the most gripping and poignant photographs of 2009, as selected by the editors of the New York Times) There is even an option to go further beyond this, through, Documenting the Decade in which, “readers submitted photos and their recollections of important moments from the last 10 years, documenting events including the Sept. 11 attacks, the space shuttle Columbia disaster, the war in Iraq, the Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 and 2008 elections and the recession.”

NYT photography is also available via Lens, the website’s photography blog. According to its description, the blog presents “…the finest and most interesting visual and multimedia reporting.” Users who have a particular interest in the subject can subscribe to Lens via RSS feed or even follow the blog on Facebook and Twitter. In its short time in existence, features like these have attracted a great deal of participation to the blog. Its founders thank readers for this, saying, “To say that we are gratefully astonished by your participation and your enthusiasm and your patience would be an understatement. Thank you.”

The presentation of photography in this way is not without its faults though, and readers work to make sure the people at the NYT are aware of that. Common complaints have included illegible photo comments, the animated gallery display, lack of a mailing list, and general navigating. However, perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the NYT is the speed at which they have responded to their feedback, both positive and negative. It is that, in itself, that reminds us why online journalism in general, has grown so much.

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