Documentary Photography: Beyond Just Taking Photographs

Today I want to talk about one of the most respected genres of photography: documentary photography. This genre requires a set of skills and resources that goes way beyond simply aiming a camera, composing and exposing correctly, pressing the shutter button and publishing the resulting work after it has been transformed via a specific workflow to suit personal or editorial needs.

Let’s start by defining what documentary photography is. “Documentary photography” is a term often used to categorize a form of photography that chronicles certain events defined as significant and relevant to human history. These events usually are social, economical, political and cultural. The genre is typically developed by professional photojournalists, but as in all genres of photography, we can find extremely well-crafted work from photographers who have another way of earning their living besides photography.

The Difference Between Documentary and Photojournalism

After viewing various works, the thin line between documentary and journalism becomes more obvious. The best way to tell difference between the two is simply to observe that photojournalism pursues immediacy, and documentary portrays reality at a slower pace. This definition has a great impact on the public that consumes these works. We all are used to…