Help! what is documentary photography??? ?

Question

im doing A level photography and over the summer got to research into 2 of a listed 4 documentary photographers (Richard Billingham, Martin Parr, Ty Wheatcroft and Robert Frank) im finding it really hard as none of there work inspires me plus i dont really understand what's it about. can someone please explain

thanks

Answer 1

Documentary photography is photography which aims to describe / portray / comment on some aspect of the world the photographer inhabits. Journalistic photography is a form of documentary photography that everyone is familiar with as one sees it everyday in the newspapers. Other forms of documentary photography may be about documenting (recording) communities and how they behave. Strictly speaking even your family snapshots are a form of documentary photography as they are record your family in various situations.

Generally the term documentary photography would be used to distinguish it from things like studio or fashion photography. Essentially documentary photography is (crudely speaking) about documenting "real" things and events.

Answer 2

Its like photo journalism.

Have a look here, http://www.redbubble.com/street-photogra...

it might help.

Good luck.

Answer 3

"Basics of Documentary Photography

Documentary photography captures objective and truthful pictures of people, places and other subjects that portrays the perspective of the photographer himself. Documentary photography professionals and amateurs use this kind of art to express their own definition in different areas of life.

The documentary photographer utilizes his collections mostly for publications. There are few though who collect their arts for their own exhibitions in different art galleries. The art of documentary photography has been widely accepted in the media for it added color to topics discussed on current issues and it even extended the press' dimension into the field of photography."

A casual example of documentary photography may be a series of photos that capture the migration of swans or follow a person on their efforts to learn fly fishing. The photos tell the story, capture the emotion and allow the viewer to see the essence of the moment. I hope this helped.

Answer 4

Short answer: Documentary photography is to document, report, show, demonstrate current events. Its like being a news reporter / Journalist.

You document, you inform.