Documentary Photography (in my perspective).
I want to share my perception, and there is an established definition of what documentary photography is. I want to share how I got interested in this type of photography.
I hope you can join me in following this idea, or maybe I could give you inspiration for how I perceive documentary photography.
Most of the photography that I had to document was from the streets. But that is just street photography, not too much documentary photography. The documentary is part of the photography; the variants and descriptive as a documentary could be it is a genre, but it also could be specific.
Each moment that happens on the streets can document each step is happening on the street. Also, it is good to see and pay attention that each photo taken is a file stored in the photographer’s files or in a big book that shows the life of that part of the world.
Now I know that a Documentary is not only about streets or a single event but is much more, and there is a whole element that a documentary can be much more. To document and be part of those stories, have to be an involvement between the photographer and what he wants to write and take photos of.
Stories develop each time, and we must have a curious mind and a way to inform people or our followers. Maybe it is me, but each time we take and create a photo, we document it for ourselves and others who will go through our stories.
How started for me?
My approach started with street photography, as I mentioned before. First, as an introvert, you feel safer having a long lens that doesn’t move you from your safe spot. Also, you don’t want to be seen as a threat to others.
But to approach people from a certain point of view, I will say it wasn’t easy because you have to get close to people, and you will feel like a creep.
It is more natural for an introvert to have a safe spot, but this has to change because to get close to people, you take photos from near and more when you are documenting what is happening in different events.
“Street photography prepares you always to be ready for the moment.”
What is Documentary Photography for me?
Documentary photography has always interested me, especially in magazines like National Geographic, which show the importance of animals and the planet’s ecosystem.
Maybe I am wrong; it is more how the story connects with the images that move our feelings but are not also how you want to tell this type of story.
The documentary is not just about images; maybe you can have solid pictures or a video and how it works in the way you want to tell stories using different factors.
But the main reason is why you are taking the photos, how the image will share that story and what you are going to tell that story.
For me documenting was more with daily life. One genre of street photography is to be ready for that moment that is going to be but also plans the moment, which helps me a lot.
An opportunity came when I had the chance to document the restoration of a church damaged by an earthquake. The process to preserve the church is what matters because, in other parts of the world, they register and have these as files that will help others in the future but here is more related to how much I will pay, not how much it will help us.
Taking photos and registering is to know how they do it and preserve all that information.
Documentary photography is not only one type of photography; there are more ways to document that involve time. Photographers do the following project where they visit people or places to confirm through time and how it affects humankind’s evolution.
Places are also affected by climate change or how others preserve life in areas where people are saving animals, and that has to be preserver for success or failure and how that change what could happen to our humanity and world.
Everything evolves. I no longer want to shoot only candid photos. Interacting with people you take the picture is also essential because it reflects how people change through time.
Photography gives us the skills and tools to create a document that will reflect our past so that we can be better and not repeat the same mistakes or as a window to another time that will affect us in the future.
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