Five Bloomberg insiders reveal what they look for in a photograph.
Photos 15 November 2017
Daniel Acker
Bloomberg photographer based in Illinois
“One of the greatest things about photography is the subjective nature of it. I’ve had many lively discussions with friends and colleagues about images and their ‘greatness.’ We don’t always agree, but I cannot sidestep one crucial aspect for me personally, and that is objective truth. No matter how a photographer uses light, composition, and all the underlying tenants of photography in a general sense, if an image isn’t grounded in objective truth, it will never be great in my mind.”
A border fence stands along the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg
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Brent Lewin
Bloomberg photographer based in Hong Kong
“Covering financial news in Asia, my assignments vary a lot. We often get great behind-the-scenes access, and I try to present the subject to our audience in an interesting and creative way. My favorite shots have always been subtle images that are layered and illustrate a larger story of the Asian economy, looking at such issues as income inequality and the effects of globalization and consumption.”
A model poses with a bamboo caterpillar between his teeth in an arranged photograph at Insects In The Backyard restaurant at Changchui market in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
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Eddie Seal
Bloomberg photographer based in Texas
“I don’t follow any composition rules when shooting photos. I look for action, expressions, angles and light to make an interesting photograph. It’s difficult to say what makes a great photo, but you know one when you see it: it speaks to you and illuminates something important in the world.”
A U.S. Border Patrol agent looks for people traveling across the Rio Grande River to the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. Photographer: Eddie Seal/Bloomberg
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Sanjit Das
Bloomberg photographer
“Photographers need to be honest while working on issues that are about real people, because if you aren’t concerned when you’re photographing, people won’t connect to it either when they’re seeing it.”
Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's former prime minister, works at his office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016. Photographer: Sanjit Das/Bloomberg
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Graham Morrison
Managing Editor for Visual Media, Bloomberg Media
“Having spent years working as a photographer, I understand the difficulty in making good images, so it allows me to really feel the joy of my colleagues when they’ve done something amazing. One of the most important things I do is represent the photographers in the newsroom. It is essential that we create an atmosphere where we are more than just illustrators of the news – we are an integral and dynamic part of it.”
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