The Lifestyle Of A Documentary Photographer : Research Project

After a steady progression, pictorial photography as a movement emerged. Pictorial photographers believed that their field is more than just an objective, mechanical media. Photography was not just about capturing the documentation and information contained by an image, but rather, about the effect and the mood they translate. The images began to have meaning and a reason for their capture, completely transforming the images produced.

Firstly, it is important to understand how the documentary form is best suited to illustrate the film’s theme. In order to do this, one must have an overview of the documentary style of filmmaking. Documentaries concern themselves with the “exploration of

A reoccurring topic of the essays, concerning photography, discussed during the course is the future of professional photographers/photojournalists. Some believe that the easily accessible spread of amateur photography can and has put a strain on the works of professionals. However, with magazines such as National Geographic still in print after over a century, it raises some questions. Though the spread of information, and thus photography, has increased the platforms and need for professional photographers and photojournalists still exists.

The documentary film connected to the writings of Crimp, Wells, and Bates as they showing us how profitable the modern photography became. As the video mentioned, that in this modern day, Gregory Crewdson creates and sold his superb photographs for large amount of money, such as over $200,000. In addition, a single photograph can be priceless or worthless as sold for over $200,000, has amused me because I didn’t know it was cost that much. However, the readings explains how photography developed in the modern day and enlighten that the photographers developed their various photographic methods of making photos, while the film tells us where and how the photographers are making their money from. While watching the film, I realized that the arts

“The documentary tradition as a continually developing “record” that is made in so many ways, with different voices and vision, intents and concerns, and with each contributor, finally, needing to meet a personal text” (Coles 218). Coles writes “The Tradition: Fact and Fiction” and describes the process of documenting, and what it is to be a documentarian. He clearly explains through many examples and across disciplines that there is no “fact or fiction” but it is intertwined, all in the eye of the maker. The documentarian shows human actuality; they each design their own work to their own standards based on personal opinion, values, interest and whom they want the art to appeal to.

The novel Documentary Storytelling by Sheila Curran Bernard delves deep into the behind the scenes of the development of documentary. She writes powerfully and informatively on the structure of documentary and how time on screen can be used. In the chapter entitled Planning and Pitching, Bernard discusses the importance of selecting a cast of experts with a wide range of viewpoints (Bernard 148). I agree with Bernard that having a diverse range of opinions may add credibility to the film, but I must argue that having too large an amount will undermine the direction of the film. While having a wide range of viewpoints may balance the film, those viewpoints may contradict each other and make the concept of the film difficult to understand.

Documentary photography is redefined as a form of photography that is used to capture every moment as it happens in order to express a message of what is occurring around the world (“Documentary Photography,” n.d.). Photographers who focus on documenting capture photographs that attracts public attention and tells stories of situations that happen in our daily lives (“Documentary Photography,” n.d.). I have always found interesting documentary photographers because they are able to tell a story with a click of a button. Of course it is more than just pressing the shutter button, it's about being able to use light, the limitation of space, location, and composition to capture the most possible in order to express emotion and capture a visual

The process of a documentary is an experience unlike the others and requires your voice, your creativity, and your ability to handle technology. It is fun, exciting, enjoyable, and the result is worth the time you spent to make it. A documentary is an audible and visual approach and we believe that is the best way to appeal to an audience.

For many centuries since their inception, photographs and photography struggled to find its own niche, inspiring heated debates over their value and place in the artistic world. Today, they are viewed as an instrument of artistic expression, inspiring change and thought, reflecting our tastes and interests, as well as social and political realities. The photograph has the ability to inform and educate, as well as to evoke emotion. With its ability to capture a moment in time photograph is a time capsule enclosing the secrets of the people and times that it captured.

A documentary is an art form pulling away from a film as it tries to create the illusion of reality by becoming non-fiction. Film creates a great sense of escape but documentaries create a sense of realism. The history of documentary began quite basic by just facing the mirror towards nature. But as the years prolonged; ideologies, societies and controversies arose and documentary-makers decided to block certain parts of the mirror to show what they want you to see, “the truth”.

Documentary photography conveys a larger sense of the subject through an almost poetic presentation of unexpected details and fleeting expressions. This trend has seemingly gone hand-in-hand with the shift toward photographers, photo editors, and the general public embracing the subjective nature of documentary photography. (Module 10

In a documentary, the artist is rarely seen, his or her character, personality, and opinion are shown in the shots they choose or the way in which they commentate on their surroundings. A journalist is a main focal point in their piece, they are a recognizable face ever-present in the film. They walk through the environment explaining the events to the viewer face-to-face. A journalist’s opinion or style is often shown in their commentary choices and they way they hold themselves in front of the camera. Their emotion is shown on their

In the book “ the photograph as contemporary art” Contemporary Photography is divided into eight categories that were chosen to highlight the diverse styles and subject matter that is somehow connected through similar characteristics.

From the Early Photography--Smart History, "Photography is a controversial fine art medium." Joseph Niepce, a Frenchman, developed a light sensitive surface and the basic principle of photography was born. Many thousands of years prior to photography, men and women desired to capture chronological events in a documentary form to enlist viewers both past, present, and future into their everyday lives. Photography is similar to paintings, drawings, and printmaking in the format that individuals are translating what are in depth desires or visual avenues to portrayed for alternate pathways to enrich our lives. According to Google, "Documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle events or environments

In Robert Coles book Doing documentary work, Chapter one “The Work: Locations in Theory” he claims that when doing a documentary, the researcher must express his or her perspective in the story they choose to tell. “A close reading of what they ultimately wrote about their experiences, helps clarify our thinking about the various ways observers can respond to what they have seen