Research

After reading the chapter “Defining the real in the digital age” in Wells, L. (ed.) (2015) Photography : a critical introduction​. (Fifth edition.) London, [England] ; New York, New York: Routledge. pp.92–95, I have made great progress in my understanding of how we perceive photographs and how ultimately we see them as a true representation of a scene. It cannot be argued the dawn of digital images and manipulation has altered as what we see as truth but I feel that this has only become more apparent with access to editing techniques to the mainstream audience. As we have discussed previously in this section, manipulation and has been a product in photography since the very earliest days, but digital imagery has served to bring this to prominence and also accessibility. Does this in turn alter the way we perceive images? Do we look at photographs now and question their authenticity? This to my mind can only be said of documentary photography and its relatives such as reportage, because we know that art id a form of expression and feeling rather than truth. The cynical mind will always question and this probably means the more cynical when looking at photography the more questions will be asked. Whether or not we agree with manipulation in this context, it is important for our own safety that we are aware of it. But with ever advancing technology does this make it more difficult to identify? Perhaps so but I believe there will always be objective photography documenting the truth and this should unearth any such wrong doings or injustices. As Wells discusses, more often than not citizen journalists seem to documenting events in a seemingly raw and unsophisticated fashion, that cannot be compared to the work of a professional photographer. Perhaps in the hands of such individuals digital manipulation is more dangerous as these frontline reporters aim to seek acclaim or notoriety for their representation in an any given event. Also they have little or no compassion with the camera and fundamentally ignore the ethical practices we as photographers largely uphold. Perhaps it can be likened to little knowledge being dangerous and it is a hypothesis in this instance I certainly agree with. Ultimately there will always be wrong doings in any form of art, yet it is only the power of the camera that provides unwittingly this quite perilous opportunity. A photograph will always hold truth and should always be viewed as such. Perhaps manipulation, or the discovery of, ultimately gives us more or better knowledge. And knowledge in the right hands is power.

Further questions

What was your idea of documentary photography before you worked on Part One? How would you now sum it up?

In reality I have never really thought or knew about documentary photography, so my opinion is perhaps one of enlightenment rather than subjective. I surmise that as someone with little knowledge of the different genres of photography that I perceived documentary images as just the work of a photographer. It is only through my research and undertaking of assignments that I have a greater depth of knowledge regarding how photographers specialise in a certain field. I knew little of the political issues that are encountered when photographing war, famine or poverty and I found this interesting and gave me a greater understanding of photography as a whole. I would also have found it difficult to separate documentary imagery from that of reportage, but can now see both the difference and the importance of both. I would define documentary photography as being at its core objective, yet this has become blurred as Liz Wells presents in her work, in the digital age in which we reside.

What are the differences between documentary, reportage, photojournalism and art photography?

Reportage

To my understanding reportage photography is an extension of documentary photography, but aims to rather document in a story like fashion rather than the gathering of fact from a particular event. Reportage photography is practiced largely in a more subjective fashion as opposed to objective.

Documentary

Documentary photography is a type of photography that aims to provide an accurate and realistic representation of events, but can also include the factual documentation of events as they actually happen. Also documentary images can represent people, places and objects.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism aims to cover news and events in an objective fashion representing facts from a politically and ethically unbiased viewpoint. The narrative is one of truth and realism documented in a neutral and impartial manner. Citizen journalism has become part of todays society with the advance of digital photography.

Art photography

Art photography is a form of expression where the artist aims to reflect their emotions, feelings and perceptions through their work and the medium of photography. The work in this medium can be both objective or subjective and has little boundary or limitation. The term “art” umbrellas a huge spectrum of styles, niches, characteristics and artists.