Independent Study – Project #3 Documentary Photography

OVERVIEW:

Project 1 was from the perspective of an artist (communicating a sense of self in your images), Project 2 was from the perspective of a commercial photographer (advertisements), and now Project 3 is from the perspective of a photojournalist (documenting the world around you in a powerful way).

Photojournalist often work with a different mind-set than a commercial or fine art photographer, in that they are trying to bring awareness to an event/subject/moment in time that other people are unable to witness, often times with the purpose of creating change or to memorialize this moment.  Unlike commercial photographers, photojournalists often have to work in situations that they have little control over and have to document events whether or not things are ideal.

For this assignment, think about different things that you are passionate about, things that you want to bring awareness to, and figure

INSPIRATION:

Francis Harr was a photographer who “documented parts of Chinatown and Pālama—known as ‘A‘ala in the 1960s—while they were being demolished, capturing some of the final images of a Honolulu that has since disappeared.”  Read the more on him and his work at the article linked here:

Check out some of TIMESʻs best of Photojournalism here for 2018.

OR read this article from the New York Times on photojournalism in the 21st century.

OR read this article on My Modern Net on the history of photojournalism…not sure if all of these links will work, but try it!

Below is a video by the Museum of Photography Art: “San Francisco-based photographer Paccarik Orue carries out long-term documentary projects in various communities in the Bay Area and his home country of Peru. In this episode of Art School we tag along with Orue as he photographs on the streets of Richmond, California making intimate portraits of people he encounters.”

  • Check out this video on Dorothea Lange who is best known for documenting the Great Depression in America and for photographing the picture “Migrant Mother”

  • Photojournalist Dan Milnor discusses his approach to film-based documentary photography and provides really good tips on things to be aware of while shooting