DP - Explore Documentary Photographers (Lesson)

Explore Documentary Photographers

In one of the most famous photographs of the 20th Century, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon near the leg of the lunar module Eagle. Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Sea of Tranquility for two and a half hours while crew mate Michael Collins orbited above in the command module Columbia.

Documentary photography encompasses a variety of genres: social documentary, conservation photography, ethnographic photography, war photography, the photo essay, and social landscape photography. What all of these have in common is the same goal of telling the truth.  Photojournalism has many of the same qualities as documentary photography. The goal of both is to capture facts and reality. The main difference between the two is time. Photojournalism often records and shares events as they are happening in real time. Often only one, maybe two images are used to support a written story on the event. Documentary photography is often more complex, allowing the photographer to capture a story over a greater length of time and visually more in depth. 

The best way to understand documentary photography is to immerse yourself in the world of those doing the work. Explore each of the photographers and their work below. Consider how each approaches their subject and what is conveyed through their photographic work. Due to copyright constraints, the images cannot be included directly in the course material. Use your digital research skills to explore the work of each of these artists in depth. In your next assignment you will select a contemporary documentary photographer to research and present your research to the class.

Explore Documentary Photographers Self-Assessment

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