Documentary Photography: Self-study outline
At some point in mid-2021, I was feeling a little discouraged by not being able to work on the projects I'd been planning. So, I turned my attention to improving my knowledge about the field of documentary storytelling in general.
The full story is in this blog post, but to cut a long story short. I’ve taken the course outline from LCC's Photojournalism and Documentary Photography BA. I’m adding resources that seem to fit the various units as I find them and I’m updating that page as I go along.
I’m aiming to blog about it – probably monthly – just to let you know how it goes. If you have any suggestions in relation to any of this, please get in touch.
(update: 12 March 2024 - Since this blog post I have completely revised the way I’m studying. There’s more here.)
Year 1
Unit 1: Introduction to Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
This unit acts as an introduction to the course and to your subject specialism. Topics covered include effective learning and studentship at undergraduate level as well as introducing basic technical skills.
The effective learning aspect of this unit is where I first fell down (blog post).
Naively, I feel as though I’ve got the ‘basic technical skills’ aspect covered.
Unit 2: Practical Documentary Photography & Photojournalism
This unit will introduce you to the skills and knowledge required to identify, research, shoot and edit a series of photographic images within particular genres of documentary and photojournalistic image-making.
Book: Understanding Photojournalism - Jennifer Good and Paul Lowe
Chapter 1 - What is Photojournalism
Book: Documentary Photography Reconsidered: History, Theory and Practice - Michelle Bogre
Book: Witness in Our Time: Working Lives of Documentary Photographers.
I’ve so far explored the chapters on
Hansel Mieth (1909–1998) - by far the most inspiring chapter so far. She seemed like such a ballsy woman, someone I'd loved to have met. See my blog post #2 for a link to the Vimeo documentary.
Walter Rosenblum (1919–2006) - very interesting to read about The Photo League, which I need to delve into further.
Michelle Vignes (1928-2012) - this chapter is a little disappointing as it exclusively talks about Vignes as a documentarian during the early days of Magnum, but not as a photographer in her own right.
Unit 3: Histories & Theories of Photojournalism and Documentary Photography
This unit introduces you to the key historical and social issues surrounding photojournalism and documentary photography from their earliest stages to the present day.
Book: Understanding Photojournalism - Jennifer Good and Paul Lowe
Chapter 2 - History and Development of Photojournalism
Chapter 4 - Photojournalism Today
Book: Documentary Photography Reconsidered: History, Theory and Practice - Michelle Bogre
Unit 4: Documentary Storytelling
This unit helps to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to produce a documentary storytelling project. It will examine contemporary ways of using images for storytelling and help you develop an understanding of visual and narrative structure.
Book: Understanding Photojournalism - Jennifer Good and Paul Lowe
Chapter 3 - The Single Image and the Photostory
Unit 5: Moving Image
This unit will train you in the skills of basic moving image/film-making within a photojournalism and documentary photography context. You will be supported by expert tutors in developing content and technical skills, resulting in the production of your own short film.
This should be really interesting, I know very little about the process of video documentary practice, although I’m very keen to experiment.
Unit 6: Media Ethics & Media Law
This unit will introduce media theories that underpin and help us to understand the role of communication systems, modes of representation and systems of meaning. You will learn about the main media laws that affect the work of photojournalists and documentary photographers.
Book: Understanding Photojournalism - Jennifer Good and Paul Lowe
Chapter 5 - Power and Representation
Chapter 6 - Ethics
Year 2
Unit 7: Contemporary Documentary 1
This unit will help you to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to produce a documentary project and associated theoretical research. You will be encouraged to go beyond traditional narrative documentary approaches and to look at ways in which to disrupt expectations about storytelling and start to embrace experimental narratives and structures.
Book: Understanding Photojournalism - Jennifer Good and Paul Lowe
Chapter 7 - Aesthetics
Chapter 8 - A Network of Trusted Witnesses
Unit 8: Elective Unit
The Elective unit provides a choice of stimulating conceptual and practical projects that will compliment the core units of your course.
Unit 9: Contemporary Documentary 2
In this unit you will further develop the knowledge and skills necessary to produce an in- depth documentary project and associated research. The unit is designed to encourage you to think holistically about the theoretical, philosophical and subjective aspects of documentary photography in relationship to the development of your own practice.
Unit 10: Reading & Writing Practice
This unit explores the practices of reading and writing within, around and about photojournalism and documentary photography. The unit culminates in the submission of a Dissertation Proposal, and you will also create an analytical reading journal that records and articulates your engagement with literature in a personal way.
Year 3
Major Project part 1
In this unit you will begin the exploratory process of researching and making visual work towards your final major project. You will begin to develop a written proposal, complete a risk assessment and begin to make work that will be further developed in the Major Project Part 2 unit.
Major Project part 2
This unit requires the consolidation of your Major Project and its presentation in an appropriate form which will be negotiated with tutors and can encompass, for example, a portfolio of photographic prints, multimedia piece or a photographic monograph.
Dissertation
In this unit you will write an extended written essay and will work closely with selected supervisors to present a substantial research project.
Contemporary Professional Practice
This unit asks you to consider your future goals and how to best prepare yourself for your career after university. You’ll do extensive research into your chosen career field, produce a web presence, a creative identity package and an interview with a relevant professional.
If you have any suggestions in relation to any of this, please get in touch.
