UNIT 57: PHOTOGRAPHY Research 1- Documentary

TASK1-
For this task we were asked to research three different areas of photography and look at the way in which each area uses imagery to communicate ideas. I have chosen to look at; Advertising, Documentary and Fine Art, as I feel these three are different to each other and each have a unique style of getting across appropriate messages and ideas. Also I enjoy their images and I am inspired by various artists who photograph those three specific areas. 

Documentary photography is popular form of photography usually snapping historical events or issues happening in the world as well as every day life. Documentary photographers are our eyewitnesses to show hidden messages within society and capture moments of time for all of us to see. They take shots of what they see in the world with their observation and skills. They have to be mentally and physically stable and prepared as some photographers come into contract with horrific and traumatising conditions.

Documentary:

THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY

RESEARCH:

http://digital-photography-school.com/documentary-photography-six-tips-for-creating-a-legacy/

This is a website article about how to capture Documentary photographs. It explains that "documentary means as it happens naturally" this means that when capturing a Documentary photograph, photographers don't push or make a scene for the photo to be happen, they wait for something to happen to capture it or capture every day lives of some people so they ensure the photos are natural and shows exactly what is happening, yet sometimes the photographer captures only a piece of whats happening to portray a specific emotion or feeling. Erica McDonald is a documentary photographer and she captures real life events and people in their every day lives not pushing them to do something or react a different way she just shoots what she sees to communicate an idea across.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=s3zn2PivtX4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=documentary+photography&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwid_L_9mubMAhUkM8AKHaOIAmUQ6AEIJTAC#v=onepage&q&f=false

This is a book called Engaged Observers about Documentary photography and different photographers such as; Lauren Greenfield, Leonard Freed, Mary Ellen Mark. These photographers shot different events such as; Fast Forward and Girl Culture, Migrations, Black in White America. Documentary photographs are extremely popular as many famous and historical events are captured by many photographers and a lot of people want these photos and they are willing to pay high prices for them, especially the really famous and historical ones. Documentary photographers have to be emotionally and mentally stable compared to other photography field photographers as they may witness some horrific and disturbing scenes as well as some amazing and exciting ones. Pieter Hugo is one of these photographers as he is based in South Africa, he see's various scenes and has to remain professional and stable whilst capturing shots.They also have to work very fast and move around a lot because they are capturing real life and there aren't do overs. Many photographers only choose to capture a specific piece of whats happening to portray a different feel or emotion towards whats actually happening, whereas looking at the event on whole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nT5lM-jL0I

This is a documentary called Telling the Story: Documentary Photograph with Thatcher Cook. It is about his documentary photographer life, his career and how he takes his images and what he does to them. He states "My technique was I just hold the camera up to my face and then i let people walk through the frame and then i just go snap, instead of chasing them around" this shows how photographers photograph what they see as a pose to capturing a made up scenario. However, this way it portrays a emotion or feeling towards the audience as they approach how they feel towards it or what they thinks happening in the photo. Thatcher talks about how he approaches people he would like to photograph and asks them politely and respectfully, he also keeps a good relationship with his clients which is good for documentary photographers as they can capture more of an individuals life and create a portfolio on the same individual over time which is really cool and interesting.