Martin Parr's early black and white work, such as his Hebden Bridge series, is a good example of a photographer embedding themselves within a community to become a familiar and accepted presence. These photos are interesting to discuss alongside his more familiar projects, such as The Last Resort. His images often manage to balance subtle humour with an affectionate nod towards the absurdities of human behaviour.
Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin's epic journey through 12 modern ghettos, starting in a refugee camp in Tanzania and ending in a forest in Patagonia, provide powerful insights into the lives of others less fortunate. The use of both stillness and space in their work can create a more detached, objective quality.
"Broomberg and Chanarin's photographs make clear gestures towards the heritage of documentary photography. They use a large format camera, which requires a tripod, and makes the taking of photographs a slow and conspicuous act." V&A resources
Broomberg & Chanarin, Ghetto
Julian Germain's project, For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness, is a series of photographs made over 8 years of the quiet, contemplative existence of Charles Snelling, an elderly man living alone in a small house in Portsmouth. The work is a warm and sensitive insight, incorporating a range of approaches from still life to informal portraits.
Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin's epic journey through 12 modern ghettos, starting in a refugee camp in Tanzania and ending in a forest in Patagonia, provide powerful insights into the lives of others less fortunate. The use of both stillness and space in their work can create a more detached, objective quality.
"Broomberg and Chanarin's photographs make clear gestures towards the heritage of documentary photography. They use a large format camera, which requires a tripod, and makes the taking of photographs a slow and conspicuous act." V&A resources
Broomberg & Chanarin, Ghetto
Julian Germain's project, For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness, is a series of photographs made over 8 years of the quiet, contemplative existence of Charles Snelling, an elderly man living alone in a small house in Portsmouth. The work is a warm and sensitive insight, incorporating a range of approaches from still life to informal portraits.
Assignment:
You will be given a randomly assigned prompt for your documentary challenge.
Arrange a visit to your selected location
Develop a body of work that culminates in 6 final, selected images.
You will be given a randomly assigned prompt for your documentary challenge.
Arrange a visit to your selected location
Develop a body of work that culminates in 6 final, selected images.
- Search for a potential local solution to your theme
- Make contact with the relevant person to introduce yourself, explain the challenge, and to gain co-operation for a visit
- Arrange at least one visit for a morning, afternoon or evening (make sure that your visit has been approved with your teacher and parents)
- When in the location, try to identify your own personal documentary 'agenda', regardless of the perceptions of others in the environment.
For example, a shop owner might want commercial images that would be beneficial to them, whilst your personal interpretation / response of the environment might require a more conceptual, or even less flattering approach. It is possible to do both, whilst keeping your own agenda more discreet. (This can be the nature of documentary photography. These photos do not need to be displayed publicly).