How did color photography begin to change photojournalism after World War II?

Following World War II, color photography began to influence photojournalism by challenging the long-standing dominance of black-and-white imagery. While black and white remained the standard for much of the mid-20th century, advancements in color materials and processes encouraged photographers to explore its creative potential.1

A pivotal moment occurred in 1953 when Austrian photojournalist Ernst Haas utilized color for his photo-essay New York in Life magazine. His work demonstrated that color could add vibrancy and nuance to depictions of everyday life, effectively pushing the boundaries of traditional photojournalism.1

Despite these early experiments, color did not immediately replace black and white in news media; it was not until later in the century that color became the dominant format for photographic output and was widely incorporated into daily newspapers. While some street photographers, such as Raghubir Singh, began working in color to reveal the inner and outer lives of their subjects, the transition was a gradual evolution rather than an instantaneous shift.1