You'll explore the art of visual storytelling through photography. The course covers techniques for capturing candid moments, ethical considerations in documentary work, and how to develop long-term projects. You'll learn about composition, lighting, and editing to create compelling photo essays. There's also a focus on the history of documentary photography and its role in journalism.

Is Documentary Photography hard?

It can be challenging, but in a good way. The technical aspects of photography aren't too bad, but the real difficulty comes from developing your eye and storytelling skills. You'll need to get comfortable approaching strangers and potentially dealing with sensitive subjects. The workload can be heavy with lots of shooting and editing, but it's usually pretty engaging stuff.

Tips for taking Documentary Photography in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram for exams and quizzes 🌶️
Always carry your camera - you never know when a great shot will present itself
Practice approaching strangers and asking for permission to photograph them
Study the work of famous documentary photographers like Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier-Bresson
Experiment with different lenses to find your preferred style
Learn to edit efficiently in Lightroom or similar software
Watch documentaries like "The Salt of the Earth" about Sebastião Salgado's work

Common pre-requisites for Documentary Photography

Introduction to Photography: This course covers the basics of camera operation, composition, and editing. You'll learn the technical foundations needed for more advanced photography work.
Media Ethics: This class explores ethical issues in journalism and media production. It's crucial for understanding the responsibilities of documentary photographers when representing real people and events.

Classes similar to Documentary Photography

Photojournalism: This course focuses on capturing newsworthy events and telling stories through single images or short series. You'll learn about working on tight deadlines and collaborating with writers.
Visual Storytelling: This class explores various media for narrative storytelling, including photography, video, and multimedia. You'll learn how to craft compelling visual narratives across different platforms.
Digital Video Production: In this course, you'll learn the basics of video shooting and editing. It's a great complement to documentary photography, as many documentarians work in both still and moving images.

Journalism: Focuses on gathering, verifying, and presenting news and information. Students learn various forms of reporting, including written, broadcast, and visual journalism.
Visual Arts: Encompasses various forms of visual expression, including photography, painting, and sculpture. Students develop technical skills and explore artistic concepts.
Media Studies: Examines the impact of media on society and culture. Students analyze various forms of media and learn about production techniques.

What can you do with a degree in Documentary Photography?

Photojournalist: Work for newspapers, magazines, or news agencies, capturing images of current events and social issues. You might be sent on assignments locally or internationally to document newsworthy stories.
Documentary Filmmaker: Create long-form visual stories using both still and moving images. You could work on independent projects or for production companies, exploring in-depth stories on various subjects.
NGO Photographer: Work with non-profit organizations to document their work and the issues they address. This often involves travel and can be a way to use photography for social change.