Documentary/Storytelling Photography - Week Two [Workshop Notes]

Documentary Photography - Class Presentation Notes

A depiction of the real world by a photographer whose intent is to communicate something of importance - to make a comment - that will be understood by the viewer?
Documentary Photography, Life Library [1972]

Art/Journalism
- Form
- Genre
- Tradition
- Style
- Movement
- Practice

Phases:
- Visual Reality
- Social Reality
- Psychological Reality

History:
- The term documentary was first used by John Grierson in 1926.
- However, documentary film was being produced since the 1800s.
- Robert Frank captured pictures during the Great Depression of its effects on different social groups.

Poignant Photographers
- Martin Parr
- Jacob A. Riis
- Dorothea Lange
- W. Eugene Smith - Life Magazine
- Robert Frank
- Richard Billingham


[CHECK STUDY DIRECT FOR OTHER, SIMILAR PRESENTATIONS]



- To be documentary, does it have to be real or can you construct the codes to intend a certain meaning upon your intended audience?

- Creative Treatment = Construction 

- Take a look at the FSA and their photos for another resources on documentary photographers/photography.

Look at the Magnum website as it's full of photography projects all across the world.

Have a look at using Google Street View in contemporary photography.

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Week Two - Practical Task

Go around campus and take photos using a tripod that tell a story or have a decisive moment. Use the skills you learnt from last week's practical workshop.

Here are some of the photos I took during the shoot:



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Homework Task - Documentary Photography

Produce 4 images that tell a story in any style or location of your choice for next week's session.

I carried out my task whilst on holiday in the Canary Islands. The four pictures I've produced tell the story of ......