Scientific Photojournalist- Felice Frankel

Felice Frankel 

1)Career Path:  Who did the photojournalist work for? How were the photojournalist's images disseminated? 
- Felice Frankel started her career off in the field’s chemistry and biology. However, she found a passion in photography. She combined her love for science and passion for photography, and decide to capture the story of the sciences. According to The New York Times Felice Frankel is currently work’s for M.I.T and Harvard. She helps fellow researchers “use cameras, microscopes and other tools to display the beauty of science. Her amazing images disseminated after she received a grant in 1995, she started taking her work to galleries. Her photos are displayed in magazines and in most scientific journals.

2) Era:  What era did the photojournalist work in? What was the state of photojournalism as a profession at the time? 

- 1995- Present: Felice Frankel began her career in 1995. Photojournalism at the time was advanced and still advancing, with technology at its best. However, her career is alive and well. Unlike photojournalism in which is dying because of the advanced technology. 

3) Motivation: What motivated the photojournalist? 
-Felice Frankel always had a love for science, and thought it would be essential to show the world the importance of science. According to Frankel, “Science is important and I am helping them bring attention to the science,” Frankel said. “Sometimes that help comes in the form of a photograph or a graphic, other times it comes in the form of a mixed medium like a digitally altered photograph.” Like any other photojournalist Felice Frankel believes that photos capture the essence of a story and connects viewers to that story. 

4) Technology:  What type of photographic equipment did the photojournalist use? What affect did this technology have on the manner in which the photojournalist carried out her/his craft. - Frankel uses all the technology that she can get her hands on, even cell phones. She believes a great photographer can capture an amazing image using any kind of photographic equipment. During an interview with Melinda Baldwin she states “And I use all the pieces of equipment myself. At one time I really didn’t think anyone could ever make serious pictures with a cell phone, but I’ve definitely changed my mind.” Many of her photos published in scientific journals were captured with her cell phone. 

5) Ethics: What ethical dilemmas did the photojournalist encounter?  
-Frankel alters and edits many of her photo’s. As a photojournalist this a huge ethical issue and she states that accuracy in enhanced photo’s is not discussed enough when it comes to science, and scientific journals, according to The Conversation. However, she states that editing, altering and enhancing photo’s is acceptable because “the purpose is not to disguise or twist scientific information, but to make it clearer.”   This is most people, especially photojournalist believe is unethical. However, the way Frankel explains her views is worth giving thought to. 

6) Impact:  How did the photojournalist's images affect society? 
-Her images have a huge, positive impact on society. She engages people of all ages, and now even teaches people how to capture the essence of science through photographer. Many people are very intrigued by her photos and her personality. She has done many interviews and gained many followers. According to one of her colleague's, “her impact on scientific communication has been very large, in the way science talks to science and science talks to the world outside science.” 

7) Bias: What biases did the photojournalist have? 
-The biases Felice Frankel has simply derived from her being a scientist. When she captures her scientific stories, she may assume that viewers will see and understand what she’s captured. However, that is hard to do with the sciences. She states that in her interview with Melinda Baldwin “the challenge for researchers is that they assume we see what they want us to see.” 

8) Viewpoints: - In the beginning of her career her images did not sell. Her photo’s have no emotion, which made it harder for people outside of the sciences to connect to her photo’s. According to the New York Times, Frankel states that she knows her photos did not sell because when she began to put her photos into galleries “Nobody wanted to bother looking,” However, her photos are currently the face on many scientific journals, and even magazines.

9) My Major at AIC:
- My major is biochemistry. Biology and chemistry are my favorite subjects to learn and discuss, even when they are difficult to understand. Felice Frankel and I relate on scientific bases. I have seen many replicas of her photos during my chemistry and biology experimental laboratories here at AIC. Her photos help me understand what I see during my experiments and help me put an artistic spin on what I love.

My Final Project Pictures: