Doing documentary photography is not always that easy - it is not just about being a technically good photographer, but other skills might also be needed.

 

Let's hear how you work as a documentary photographer?

 

What are your personal experiences working with documentary photography?

 

What do you think is important for being a good documentary photographer?

 

I think you need to be a good listener with an open heart never forget your target. Respecting other cultures and following their rules. No EGO:-) You need to be open for all things and you should never hesitate even in dangerous situations:-)

 

YOu should also have a concept kind of road book for what ever documentary you do. Knowing what you want and open for unexpected things will give great pictures. You should not be lazy and walk into areas unknown. Friendliness of course and always have a smile left for others. Compassion is also important and the ability to show it to others.

 

Hm... there are much more:-) Lets see what others write.

Some times mathematics can give answers to the most difficult approaches and as such, Documentary photography, as I see it, is a "subset" of a "total" story.

For me there is a story to be told and I chose photography to give it a more complete dimension. In most occasions a series of photos is essential in order to cover angles that cannot be seen in one or two frames. I try to give additional information on who is doing what, where and when. There are also differences between "news" and other kinds of documentary photography but as a general rule, the story is more interesting and has more value as a document if you get to know your main subject and make some research instead of just scratching the surface of it. Candid photos can make documentary photography too but the story has to be told even more clearly and without double meanings.

I fully agree with Robert as for the rules he follows on a documentary concept.

@ Robert. I fully agree that you need to be present, to be a good observer and a good listener and of course respect people, their culture and behaviour. Strong empathy and the ability to connect with people are qualities that are required when working with people in public or private spaces.

 

As you say Robert, friendliness, good humour and a smile for others are also very important to make people feel comfortable and willingness to take part in the shooting. Compassion and patience are equally important. One thing which has not been mentioned yet is time - time is important. Good documentary often requires a lot of time and willingness and ability to return over and over again to experience new situations and different conditions etc. The art is to disappear as a photographer.

 

A famous photographer once said that good walking shoes was the most important being a good photographer - I agree that good equipment - not just camera etc - is important. If you walk alot and are out in tough conditions for hours you need to think about your equipment.

 

You have to be open and not afraid of walking into unknown areas or situations. Sometimes you might also need to take a few risks - but when taking risks you should listen carefully to your feelings and have a good sense of the situation. How far you can go is a personal judgement.

 

As Gianni says, look for the good stories and often a series of photos will give a more complete "picture" and story of your documentary. I also agree with your point that some research before and after are often required instead of just scatching the surface.

I agree that time plays an important role and also good quality gear:-)

Very very interesting read! i think you guys have really covered it all.

 

If i have to add, I think perhaps perseverance is also a very important part to making Documentary series/photograph. Going back countless of times to the same destination might be necessary to get a full coverage of the environment, moment and especially people.

 

In my experience, the first time we explore a place, we are a stranger and even though we get connected, there will still be barriers and often to most, we found ourselves behind close doors. By re-visiting the places, people will start to get to know you better and these are the times where you are literally invited to roam around free to capture the images/series you are out to document (invisibly).

I fully agree, Michael - going back to a place or staying with the same people for a long time pays off in terms of good photos. When people know you, they relax and maybe forget you - when you receive no attention and is just part of the setting - then you get your shots in light box. As you rightly say "becoming invisible".

 

I fully agree. That happens many times to me. I visit families many times. One family i did make a series and when it is finish i will introduce the picture on my home page. I monitored the life of a paining artist now over 5 years with her family. Every 2 or 3 month i payed a visit. She got married now and have the second baby. I love to portrait her life. On 30 of June i back to India and i will go to visit this family again.

Great Robert, that gives you continuity and you are able to cover developments over a longer periods - not just snap shots, but the story of people and their lives. Wishing you a great trip to India :)

I live there:-) Now i have signed for another 4 years but in Orizza this time.

How nice :) I have noticed your many photos from India, and wondered how often you went there. Orissa is a very interesting state with a lot of culture, history and indigenous people. I came back last summer after five years in Bangladesh - just next door to Orissa. Now I am in Kathmandu in Nepal. I am sure that there are a lot of great motives and portraits waiting for you in Orissa, Michael. Will you be living in Bhubaneswar or somewhere else in the state?

I will build a new steel factory in Kalinganagar. Two steel converters each 360 ton of steel and two double slab caster on a green field. I have started the project already last year in march and now all the foundations should be ready and i hope we can start soon if the rain season allows us. I already build two guest houses to accomodate 35 people of my team.

Robert. India is also one of my favourite places - been to many states in India since 1985. You will be able to continue your great photography work in Orissa. I think that rural Orissa is very interesting. I have been there for work, but never had the change to go around and photograph.

If you have time please be invited for a tour in a steel factory for photographing purpose:-)

Thank you Robert, In Dhaka I often went into steel works - facinating places. The industrial development in India is very interesting - also in the industrial areas of Kalinganagar there will be good objects and stories. Can see that there is often controversies from the area covered by the local newspapers. Now I just a little curious, Robert - what kind of equipment do you use and how do you typically edit your photos?

I use Nikon PRO and only and primes. 3 zoom lens i have only 14-24 f2,8 / 24-70 f2,8 / 80-200 f2,8. All other primes from Nikon i also own:-) I also have one Canon Pro with the 50 mm f1,2. Several GoPro`s and smaller cameras like Nikon V and Fuji x100 and a coolpix AW. Also Hasselblad and Mamiya but these are too heavy and too slow for the pictures i make.

Hm.... i am a freak for gear:-)

Sounds as a good arsenal, Robert - suited for most conditions :) I also have lenses from 14 mm up to 200 mm - all Canon L and mostly primes but also two zooms. Also nice that you use smaller cameras.

 

My God... that is an arsenal ready for world war :) LOL!

 

Anyways, I have to say that India and me connected one way or another being in the Cotton business. I am looking forward to travel to India again soon mostly in cities of Rajkot, Gujarat, Amedhabad and Mumbai. When i do, i hope i can visit you Robert in Orissa. It will be great to learn from the best :)

Listening to you all talk about India makes me envious :) My mother was born and grew up there (Ootecamund in the Nilgiri Hills, southern India) but I have never been.

 

Jan, have been thinking the last day or so about these questions and everyone's answers. It's so interesting to read how everyone approaches their work. As Gianni ,and actually all of you touch upon, it is so often as much about the actual story behind the subject/s. This is very true for me when I approach – and carry out – certain jobs. I think that stems from my Reuter days, appreciating that the caption accompanying the image is as important as the image itself, but also because I'm a writer and so find that the telling of the story comes out easily in words as well as visually.

 

When I approach a topic, for example the South Sudan story last year, I usually would think to spend quite some time in researching and planning. In this case, it was imperative, mainly because of trying to get into the country; you can no longer just fly into South Sudan, you have to be invited, get press permissions, permits, pay for this, pay for that…it's all quite a mission and one that changes on an almost daily basis. When I knew I was going in, accompanying a documentary film maker making a film for the UN, I started to put the story, that we were covering, out there in terms of trying to get funding for it, or agencies/NGO's etc who would want to buy the pictures. As a freelancer, unfortunately money does really dictate what is possible, although sometimes you find yourself very passionate about a subject and really want to do it. In this case, I took the chance to just go and then luckily it got picked up afterwards.

 

I'm working on two stories at the moment, one concerning the Rwandan War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha, and the other a return to South Sudan – over a year later – to follow the midwifery students that I met, as they graduate and go out into the far reaches of the country to work in the community. Their last three years have been spent in the somewhat sanitized conditions of the main teaching facility in Juba and suddenly they are going to be faced with the reality of rural midwifery and all that that entails. I would hope, this time, that the story would be of interest to both parties who took my images before and that they would do the necessary to get me back in to the country; having just heard, however, that press permits are now $4,000 a pop and that the peaceful future of the country is on "a bit of a knife-edge", I have to slightly hesitate until I can learn more about this.

 

That made me think a bit too, where it's mentioned above…'you don't hesitate' ….and I think, oh but I do :) I do hesitate, I'm not 21 and totally gung-ho anymore. Of course there are many things that I do (and will do) where this mindset doesn't even enter into it, but when there are elements of risk you weigh that up against how far you would be prepared to go to do the job, when you don't have a lot of back-up and support behind you. Beyond that, all that you say is true: empathy, open-ness, politeness, interest in people generally, also a pretty thick skin in some cases, strength of mind…and body (carrying gear and other crap with you)….good shoes and a good bag: Robert remind me of how much I am going to love that Lowepro x100/x200 when I can finally get it out here :)

 

What I find the most frustrating about my job is establishing relationships with NGOs or whoever, who say oh but we love your work, but we don't have a budget for photography so is there any way you could still see yourself doing something for us; it seems to be the story of my life at the moment! Photographing hotel room interiors and safari camps helps to bring in the bucks so that when I do have financial breathing space, and am passionate about doing something, I can compromise on some things and then I look at it also as helping to build my portfolio and experience which is still important for me.

 

When I first get inspired by a topic, I ask myself: Will this material lend itself to becoming a full feature documentary, a book, an article, or a blog post? That helps me frame the extent of project. Sometimes the answer isn't always clear cut; I can start out writing it as an article and it expands organically and sometimes the idea contracts down to one shot that says it all. Generally, I know from experience what is possible and I set out with a goal in mind. This helps when making introductions so subjects know what the intent of my focus is from the start.

 

I usually interview experts on the topic first and try to get opposing opinions. After determining locations and principals, I create storyboards, piecing together what I envision to be a beginning, middle and end. Then I make sure that I mix up shots within each situation, being sure to include establishing shots, overviews, details, portraits as well as cover choices. I also find out when things are happening that are visually interesting and make sure I have credentials and/or positioning to get the best advantage, scouting in advance if possible.

 

Hi Jain,

 

So good to "meet you" here. :) ..thanks for your input, it's really interesting.

 

When you have a topic in mind, do you already have an end-result for it, an audience or 'client' signed up as such? Do you have to pitch your ideas, once thought out, and market them? I think the more you do this, and your reputation grows, this process is easier isn't it.

 

What kind of topics do you focus on and are you working with one media or several - stills, videography etc....or a mix depending on whether its a feature documentary (video?), book, article etc etc (damn, at this point I know I need to read your About page, but I don't want to lose this in the process :)

 

Hi Eliza,

 

It's nice to meet you here, too, and thanks for these great questions. Yes, I almost always have an end result lined up before starting. Most of the time, my projects start out with a pitch or through brainstorming with a client or publisher. You are right: As you get known, people come to you with stories.

 

One of my specialties, and what I'm most fond of doing, are "making of" or "behind-the-scenes" books and documentaries and these have typically been large format books, but now we are doing more video /ebooks. The last few years I've been producing just about everything under the sun. We take whatever work we can get, right?!