It all comes down to the storytelling: Boyzell Hosey discusses the impacts of technology on photography

Boyzell Hosey has seen technology drastically change the landscape of photography and photojournalism throughout his celebrated 30-year career – from working in darkrooms, through the infancy of the digital age, to today’s rapid advances.

Through all of the changes, there has remained one constant, however: it all comes down to the storytelling.

Hosey, the Tampa Bay Times’ deputy editor for photography, led a discussion on the advancements in photography and its impact on photojournalism at The Dali Museum on Thursday. The presentation was in conjunction with a special exhibition, The Woman Who Broke Boundaries: Photographer Lee Miller. During the pinnacle of Miller’s career in the late 1930s and 1940s, large sheet films gave way to more agile 35mm cameras which provided many more exposures. While considered a technological advancement in those days, the developing, editing, and printing process was still laborious, and there was also a limited number of exposures.

Legendary photojournalist Gordon Parks greets fellow photographer Boyzell Hosey during a photo exhibit of Park’s work at the Manchester Craftmen’s Guild, in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1988. Polaroid photo by Curtis Reaves.

Today, a camera can take 12-20 frames per second, and you can store thousands of images on a small card and transmit the photos all around the world instantaneously. While the digital revolution has made the process faster and less labor-intensive, Hosey told the Catalyst it does not make the job any easier. “Not by a long shot,” he said.

“Now, I think it’s even more challenging because the stakes are raised for photojournalists,” said Hosey. “When you start to minimize the technical aspects of the job, it really does come down to the storytelling.”

He said long gone are the days when someone who was adept at taking photos and developing pictures could “basically shoot their way onto a staff.” He said that to have a good chance at being successful today, a person needs a degree in photojournalism or visual communication. As technology has improved, he said the onus is now on the information. Hosey said that photographers need to approach the job like a reporter now more than ever.

“There is a difference,” said Hosey. “You have photographers, and you have journalists, and in photojournalism, there’s a bit of both. They’re skilled with the technical aspects of telling the story with their camera, but you also have to be responsible for the information as well.”

When asked how he thinks a photographer like Lee Miller would fare today with a completely different format, Hosey said, “she would flourish.” He said that her drive, intellect, and range would suit her well today. The digital evolution would have also allowed her to focus less on the technical aspects and more on her storytelling. Hosey said that while Miller had to be decisive with her shots due to the technological limitations of the time, he thinks her confidence and decisiveness would continue in the age of infinite frames.

“If you can identify a moment, you don’t necessarily need 50 frames of that moment,” said Hosey. “You really just need that one moment.”

One of Hosey’s more iconic photos was captured during Super Bowl 37 in 2003 in San Diego. An Oakland Raiders fan and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan have totally different reactions as the Bucs scored a definitive touchdown securing the teams first championship. Photo by Boyzell Hosey.

Hosey said he was impressed by several of Miller’s portraits, but what stood out to him the most in the exhibit was her personal journey. She started out in front of the camera as a model and was exposed to the best photographers of that era. One of those photographers was American surrealist Man Ray. Miller moved to Paris and began a three-year personal and professional relationship with Ray, and toward the end of her time in Paris, Miller photographed Dali and his wife Gala. Hosey said the last half of the exhibit featured several photos of Pablo Picasso and called the community of surrealist artists at the time “amazing.”

“She lived an extraordinary life,” said Hosey. “And that type of life that her circle of friends led, as well.”

The special exhibition of The Woman Who Broke Boundaries: Photographer Lee Miller features over 130 images by the groundbreaking female photographer and is on display at The Dali Museum until Jan. 2, 2022. For more information, visit their website here.

Learn more about Boyzell Hosey here, and visit his Instagram page here to see more of his captured moments.