introducing documentary lesson 2hr
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TRANSCRIPT
Documentary Photography
What is Documentary Photography?
On the post it notes write down what you think documentary photography is• What are the key skills that it uses?
• Name as many photographers you know of that you think fit into this genre
• When you’re done, stick it onto the wall (make sure your name is on it too)
Learning Objectives
• Explain what documentary photography is and what makes a good documentary project
• You will identify the various types of sub genres
• You will identify the types of images used to create a narrative
Learning Objectives
• Explain what documentary photography is and what makes a good documentary project
• You will list and identify the various types of sub genres
• You will identify the types of images used to create a narrative
• You will take photographs in pairs demonstrating these skills for your college poster task.
What is Documentary Photography?
• What is it?
Documentary Photography is a narrative or story being told through photographs that involves real events to provide a factual record or report (and sometimes this is complimented with text).
Documentary Photography
Name different sub genre’s of Documentary
Sub Genres Task
• On your table is a series of photographs.
• Around the room is different headings for sub genre’s.
• In your groups use the blu tack provided to put one image into each category
• In your groups select an image to discuss looking at the technical, lighting, compositional and contextual information behind the image.
Key Points
• ‘Document’ means evidence = official, to be trusted, not to be questioned…
• Documentary as signifier of truth but what of re-presentation??
• Documentary is intimate – it assumes a bond between viewer and image and it is charged with showing the world as it really is
Documentary photography has always had the power to shock, to inform, to change opinion and to persuade yet the very term can be ambiguous and the photographer always chooses a particular frame
and moment in time
Early documentary was often for identification – documenting criminals
Or racial types
Henri Cartier-Bresson like Doisneau is seen as a father of
photojournalism and also street photography. His style is
often decisive and always candid
Martin Parr: Part of the British new wave whose focus was on the everyday from a critical perspective
Simon Norfolk’s work crosses the line between fine art and photo journalism, often shooting locations that are war torn or where
atrocities were commited
Documentary Landscape
Annie Leibovitz - Pilgrimage• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/sunday/annie-leibovitzs-pilgrimage.html?pagewanted=all
Richard Billingham - Zoo
Photojournalism
Robert Capa
Anastasia Taylor-Lind English/Swedish photographer
Street Photography
Beat Strueli - Bangkok 02
Kate Hooper – night
Social Documentary
Nan Goldin Photographs her friends and family. A lot of her work is about gender
politics. Insiders view – as she knows who she photographs
Bullfighter, Portugal. 1994Julie, Netherlands, 1994. One hour after giving birth.Video: http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/cruelandtender/interviews.htm
Rineke Djikstra – Mothers & Bullfighters
James Russell Cant - Family
Brother Alone
Identification
Marc Garanger – Femmes Algeriennes 1960
What makes a Good documentary project?
2 minutes task: • Think – individually of one thing you think
makes a good documentary project
• Pair - up with person next to you and list more ideas.
• Share – with the rest of the group.Countdown clock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9MytO0O_q0
What makes a Good documentary project?
Assignment Brief
• Today we are going to focus on section 2
TYPES OF IMAGES
• narratives :– a story or an account of a sequence of events in the order in which
they happened.– the art or process of telling a story or giving an account of
something.
Compositionally you can use the following types of shots to create a story:
• Establishing • Detailed, • Main and • Concluding shots.
Establishing
• Is the beginning of a narrative – sets the scene.
And’Art, 2009. All images © Jaskirt Dhaliwal.
For more info go to: http://www.jaskirtdhaliwal.co.uk/gallery_296587.html
Detailed
• Looks at specific detail of an item that is part of the narrative. Close up, detailed.
MainShows the main part of the story. Could be portraits of people involved or a shot of the main part of the event.
Main
ConcludingCompletes the story
Tell a story
Fistful of Dreams by Nishant Ratnakar
• Watch the multimedia project: http://nishantratnakar.com/portfolio/multi-media/fistful-of-dreams/
College Poster – your narrative
student example using different types of images
Establishing
Main shots
Detailed
Practical Task - College poster
You have to document a short story, your narrative, showing the college in a positive light in aim of using it for promotional material.
Take photographs using the following 4 types of images in your sketchbook: • Established, • Detailed, • Main and • Concluding shots.
You can work in groups or individually but need to include to produce a poster as an end product.
Back to Learning Objective
• Explain what documentary photography is.
• List the different types of sub genre’s of documentary photography
• You will identify the various types of sub genres
• You will identify the types of images used to create a narrative
Back to Learning Objectives
• On your new post it note write down the following:
• What is documentary and what makes a good documentary project?
• List the various sub genres• Identify the types of images used to create a narrative• Any photographers you could name
• Once complete - stick it next to your original post it note onto the wall
Extension Task
• Plan and prepare to produce your own narrative / short story at home.
• For instance this could be someone cooking dinner, going to college etc
• You should have 4 – 6 photographs, printed on normal paper at least A5 in your skecthbook.