Documentary Photography

In todays lecture we looked at considerations when photographing, so whether this be legal or ethical but also considerations to the effect your presence as a photographer has on your shots. If for example you were trying to photograph people in the streets and you walk around boasting a nice big camera and actively showing people you're taking photos, then this is certainly going to have an impact on the final results as each person is going to be aware of you and the camera and act differently to how they naturally would. A few ways you can go  unnoticed and  achieve a candid shot is:  - Using a Long lens - so you  don't  need to get really close to people, simply just zoom in.   - Covert - Almost camouflaging yourself within a scene. This is used throughout wildlife photography and can be used for street photography as well.   - Where cameras are the ‘norm’ – going unnoticed. So for example at a music/art festival or car sho...

Diane Arbus  Dianne Arbus  was an American photographer who specialised in photographing marginalized people— dwarfs, giants, transgender people, nudists, circus performers—and others whose normality was perceived by the general public as ugly or surreal. I am drawn to Arbus as a photographer because she gave these minoritized people a voice. The people she photographed were outcasts and people that society looked down upon and judged for being different and this on a level links with my project as i am photographing individuality through fashion, tattoos, piercings and hair choice. The people I'm photographing will have someone from mainstream society judging and looking down upon them just as the people Arbus photographed.  Arbus' work is always quite brutally honest, it is up front and straight forward for the viewer to see, the style i will be photographing in is different but no less effective. Instead of photographing how it is i will be g...

The photography reader  -  Liz Wells   'the general watches his gardener'  - James Jarche   The writing of this image: •    T he 'look' itself has recently become an object of theoretical attention. To take an example — General Wavell watches his gardener at work, made by James Jarche in 19415; it is easy enough today to read the immediate connotations of paternalistic imperialism inscribed in this 35-year-old picture and anchored by the caption (the general watches his gardener).   •    A first analysis of the object-text would unpack the connotational oppositions constructing the ideological message. For example, primarily and obviously, Western/Eastern , the latter term of this opposition englobing the marks of a radical 'otherness'; or again, the placing of the two men within the implied opposition capital/labour . Nevertheless, even in the presence of such obviousness another obviousness asserts itself — the ve...

Prepare and deliver a 10-minute introduction to a piece of writing about a particular photographic image. It is important to start with the writing and then move towards the image rather than choose an image and then find some writing on it (which will be more complicated). For this assignment you can work in pairs or individually. The amount of writing about photography is an ever expanding field. It can seem daunting to begin with. This assignment is aimed at a joint venture both in terms of producing the material and in how we engage with it as a group.  The presentation should address the following: The theoretical perspective. Specific/ key language used. An analysis of the photograph in visual terms. The context , background or ‘back story’ to the image/essay . Purpose? To learn from existing practice in documentary photography and how this has been analysed/ critically exam...

Zun Lee - Zun Lee's work inspires me through the honest and vulnerable emotion shown in his photographs. There is a raw feeling which accompanies his work. All his subjects look straight down the camera, creating an invisible relationship with the viewer. This connection allows the viewer to connect and establish emotions when viewing the photo.  Compositionally Lee's work tends to be up close and square, with the subject near enough central in the frame. He doesn't allow for any background distraction which puts all emphasis on the subject. Lee's work makes me feel my consciousness as the photographs are so real and true. i start tinking about times i have been dishonest and in a way makes me feel guilt. His work is powerful and has a way of connecting which is something i want to try and portray in my own work.  Andre Josselin -  Andre Josselin is another photographer from whom i have gathered inspiration from. His wo...

INDIVIDUALITY   The name for my photographic series is going to be 'Individuality'. I have chosen this as the name for my project as it is a word that means a lot to me. This word allows you to be yourself an express your emotions and that in itself is important. In my project i will be demonstrating how photographing can be used to document someones individuality and furthermore celebrate someones individuality. To start i will be getting in contact with people who visually express themselves to arrange photoshoots. the people i will be contacting will be people who stand out from the crowd because of their fashion, hair and or tattoos and piercings.

Initial ideas - Further Ideas:  - Document Worcesters Youth   - Document Worcesters diverse sub-cultures   - Showcase the diverse range of styles within Worcesters youth  Final Idea: I have decided to show how photography can be used to document  and celebrate individuality. I will be photographing young people around Worcester who stand out and who don't conform in terms of their fashion style, tattoos and piercing choices. The aim of this series is to show people that Worcester is a diverse community and not everyone from this small rural city is the same. People have different styles, likes and dislikes but thats good, so this series of photographs is going to be a celebration of these peoples individuality in a society which very much shames people for looking different.  I want to portray my work in a book form as i feel something tactile has a lot more influence and meaning and lets the viewer get up close an...