mario garcia
Photography vs. illustration One of the most difficult decisions to make is how to illustrate a story. As always, the basic question should be: what is the best way to tell the story? Many times, in news events, photographs are usually the answer. A photograph conveys emotion, information and advances the story telling process in a direct way that impacts the readers and draws them into the story. However, illustrations can be the ideal visual image in stories that are more abstract, or where a photograph may be risky to use. Lifestyle articles, for example, can benefit from the impact of an illustration that captures the spirit of the story. Illustrations are ideal for subjects such as abortion, divorce, and the death penalty, to mention a few. Visuals need to reflect the point of view and tone of stories they accompany. Photos for the stories above may be difficult to find; illustrations can be made to order, conveying the necessary mood. Illustrations can also be effective when one does a long interview or reportage with a well known individual, whose photos are overused; an illustration, caricature or sketch of the person can help to create greater interest, while providing the visual surprise of an image we have not seen dozens of times before. Often, good designers mix photos and illustrations, with great results. Pure design relies on the instinct of the designer, working in close cooperation with the editor or reporter, to seek the best visual to illustrate the story.  172
pure design
Photo and illustration: The artists and designers of La Gaceta, of Tucuman, Argentina, excel in their ability to create a visual concept for a story and develop it, in a relatively short period of time. Here we see how an entertainment section is illustrated with a photograph, making this page visually seductive and appealing. Sometimes, as in this case, using both a photograph and an illustration is most effective. 173