Photography Documentary Tips

It was Keith Richards, the English Musician and Songwriter of the Rolling Stones that said, ‘Everybody’s got a different way of telling a story, and has different stories to tell’.

The vocally gifted ones use music to tell their stories, the fiction-crafter may turn to drama, the fine artist relies on brush and canvas, the wordsmith employs spoken word and a host of others use a relatively uncommon but effective way known as Photography Documentary or Documentary Photography.

This ‘effective way’ is our focus for today.

The assignment of a Documentary Photographer is to employ a style of photography that provides a straightforward and accurate representation of places, people, objects and events. Similar (but not exactly the same as) to Photojournalism, Photography Documentary has proven to be a memorable and effective way of bearing witness to global events, historical moments, iconic narratives and significant times in our shared human experiences.

In an age of smooth Instagram Filters, superhero movies, outrightly over-sensational fictional stories and all, people are looking for truth.

Simple stories of truth, without filters, without flattery, without fiction. Simple stories of Love, ‘How we Met…’; of fight for justice and equity, ‘EndSars…Black Lives Matter’; simple stories of single motherhood, of the scourge of an epidemic etc., these are all stories that are being told with the harmonious combination of a good eye, camera lenses and attention to details…welcome to the world of Photography Documentary.

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY

KEEP IT REAL:

Don’t ruin the very thing that makes documentary photography tick and unique. Rawness. Honesty. Unscripted-ness.

As a visual story teller foraying into Photography Documentary, it’s good to understand that some of the best sights, scenarios and pictures for your documentary may come from unscripted moments. This is not to suggest that all cases will be like this, in fact, most won’t be; but when a great ‘photographic’ opportunity presents itself, don’t be tempted to start giving poses, directing the art, telling subjects how to dress, what activity to do and whatnots. Sometimes, keeping it real and raw in moments like this is what makes a story perfect. Since you are not creating a commercial, editorial or lifestyle photo, get creative. Stay true to the scene right in front of you, capture the beauty of naturalness with your camera and document things right the way they are.

ALWAYS HAVE YOUR CAMERA READY

The opportunity for an award-wining head-turning picture might not even come when you plan to ‘take an award-winning head-spinning picture’. Like the old Boys Scouts motto says, Be Prepared! Being prepared means you’ve always got your camera ready and your battery well-charged. You may come across a bee trying to mate, a mother breastfeeding her child in a most serenely amazing ambience or even witness a police brutality. All these may give fresh inspirations or add to an existing documentary idea in your head. Never be caught not ready.

BUILD A REAL RELATIONSHIP

The out-of-frame relationship between a creative and a human subject plays a beautiful role in what you get in the frame. If your documentary photography is about a person or people (say in a community), then it may help to build some trust and connection with the people. The vulnerability and freedom of your subject is priceless and the more unforced it is, the more natural the stories in your images will come out. So ask questions without being intrusive, introduce yourself if the settings permit; all of these will help you to understand some things, know what to really focus on, translate the what and why of your pictures into necessary, photographic elements that help tell an irresistible story.

GETTING THE BASICS RIGHT

The very basics of a good proactive photography also fully apply in Photography Documentary. In this age of digital photography, one may not have the opportunity to click the shutter too many times. Being prepared and spontaneous doesn’t mean one should compromise quality for spontaneity. So, do not be caught without spare batteries. What you scheduled 2 hours for may turn out to be 5hrs. Set your focus, shutter speed, aperture etc. properly and immerse yourself in lots of practice to heighten your intuition and pattern recognition for flaws and flows.