Social Documentary inspiration

whooshdemon

whooshdemon

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sue
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Hi All,

I'm doing a social documentary course with the OCA because I always avoid taking pictures of people and need to learn how to get better at it :help:

Looking for inspiration. Have lots of suggestions from the course, but need to see some good collections of pictures to give me ideas - street photos, portraits, documentary, days out, anything really except weddings, travel or children (no opportunities/inclination to photograph them).

So I'm asking for suggestions, links, webpages, books, your own galleries - anything you think is fun, pretty, astonishing, beautiful, disturbing but basically you really like and want to share.

Thanks

Sue
 
AliB said:
If you are doing something educational you should be expected to be able to do your own research instead of asking us to do it for you!

Google is your friend.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=social+documentary+photography&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
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I am doing my own research. I've already investigated, noted and written my log book up on the fifty photographic artists listed in my course, my tutor's suggestions and blog, all the entries on masters of photography and fine art photography websites that I've found of the acknowledged "greats", been to my local art galleries and the big Tate Modern exhibition on at the moment, obtained and reviewed National Geographic, Magnum and Life magazine compliations, as well as books like "best photos of the 20th Century"... oh and been delving through the shelves of my local copyright library.

Aside from all that, I have found some fantastic work on this site, for example http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=63716 by Messiah Khan. It was work like his that made me think how much talent is out there but not noticed. And frankly and didn't want to limit my horizons.

So I was hoping some people would be able to point me at galleries on this site of work they found really inspired them.
 
That's exactly what I mean, you are already finding it so well done and keep looking :)

Didn't wish to offend but another site I used to be a member of before I discovered this wonderful place was full of students who basically wanted their homework doing for them so please excuse my cynicism.

You are right not to limit your horizons. Have you tried a quick search under street photography or how about urbex? I know it doesn't include people in it but it's still social commentary?

Hope that's more helpful :)
 
foodpoison said:
I suggest you think of a theme.

Research to that theme, plan some ideas of shots you would LIKE to achieve, but obviously soc doc is all about the unplanned and unmanipulated :thumbs:
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Thanks foodpoison. That's a really good idea, and I am slowly putting together a list of thoughts of places to go. I know they have been heavily done already, like poverty, political demonstrations, gritty chaps at steam rallies and historic reenactments, but have found this to be a great way to learn... and from there move on to my own message and ideas.

Still a bit short of other places to go to "find" things going on so ideas on venues, events that work for people would be great too.
 
Not the right time of year yet but I'd suggest putting Novemeber the 11th (and the weekend nearest it) in your diary.
 
AliB said:
That's exactly what I mean, you are already finding it so well done and keep looking :)

Didn't wish to offend but another site I used to be a member of before I discovered this wonderful place was full of students who basically wanted their homework doing for them so please excuse my cynicism.

You are right not to limit your horizons. Have you tried a quick search under street photography or how about urbex? I know it doesn't include people in it but it's still social commentary?

Hope that's more helpful :)
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AliB - don't worry. Totally not offended. I've not done much on forums before so think I just phrased it badly.

I know what you mean about students wanting others to do their homework; the Open College of Arts forum had people who hadn't even looked up the big famous names like Ansel Adams, never mind more obscure like Latrigue or August Sander, but wanted advice for essays! In my first post I didn't want to name drop like famous photographers on forums can produce great work but are modest and hide away because they haven't studied and think that they'll be judged badly. Frankly I wish I had their natural talent, but am content that hard work will help people like me improve!

Vaguely heard of urban exploration but not realised that people photographed it. A whole new area of stuff top look up - brilliant! First google hits look stunning already...:thumbs:

Thanks for the pointer!

Sue
 
Good luck with the OCA Sue, I must admit it looks tempting! :)

I used to work for Olympus and going to head office was just a dream for me. The stairwell was covered in Bailey, Lartigue, Snowdon, Carlos Clarke.............. all originals, signed. There was a stock room full of framed prints that didn't fit on the walls so they had to rotate them. I'd love to have been able to rotate a few through my house! lol.

My apologies and thank you for the gracious response. :)
 
AliB said:
Not the right time of year yet but I'd suggest putting Novemeber the 11th (and the weekend nearest it) in your diary.
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That's a good thought for remembrance sunday. But I worry about intruding on people's grief. I still worry about taking anyone's photo in public.

Though grumpy badger just read your post upstairs and come down to suggest that the Chelsea Pensioners placing the wreath is a public event - which I feel more confident about covering.

Great ideas - keep 'em coming!
 
AliB said:
Good luck with the OCA Sue, I must admit it looks tempting! :)

I used to work for Olympus and going to head office was just a dream for me. The stairwell was covered in Bailey, Lartigue, Snowdon, Carlos Clarke.............. all originals, signed. There was a stock room full of framed prints that didn't fit on the walls so they had to rotate them. I'd love to have been able to rotate a few through my house! lol.

My apologies and thank you for the gracious response. :)
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Thanks so much for the good luck. The OCA does have a really good set of courses - this will be my fourth and officially half way to my degree! But still a daunting subject to tackle.

The Olympus office sounds wonderful - and I think I could live in their stock room quite happily. I am always fascinated by what photos other photographers pick as their favourites - especially of other people's work. Sometimes I don't share their taste. Othertimes its a treasure trove of wonderful images that haunt my dreams.

Thanks also for the suggestions and thoughts. Very helpful. Digging through google and adding reams to my notebook... and social documentary without having to talk to strangers - perfect for me!
 
Have you looked at the Luminous Lint website? I found this invaluable for research when I was studying. The best way to overcome your fear of photographing people is to get out there, preferably somewhere busy and just get snapping. I don't know where you are based, but any big city ie London where there are lots of tourists wielding cameras won't make you look out of place. Have you researched any upcoming events that may be taking place near to where you live? These are often great ways to get you out there taking people shots (good practice if nothing else!).
 
I had another idea last night. Went to see the new Batman film and I thought there is another genre you could look at, the influence of the media on society. It's still social documentary. As the range of the media has expanded over the last 50 years, more people are influenced by the images that they are presented with.

Once upon a time everyone wanted to look like Audrey Hepburn or Twiggy, then we had power dressing and supermodels, now young ladies want (for some odd reason) to look like hookers, or even worse Amy Winehouse! (just jesting)

It's a bit more abstract I know!
 
minimeeze said:
Have you looked at the Luminous Lint website? I found this invaluable for research when I was studying. The best way to overcome your fear of photographing people is to get out there, preferably somewhere busy and just get snapping. I don't know where you are based, but any big city ie London where there are lots of tourists wielding cameras won't make you look out of place. Have you researched any upcoming events that may be taking place near to where you live? These are often great ways to get you out there taking people shots (good practice if nothing else!).
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Hadn't come across luminous lint - wonderfully comprehensive - saves me fighting through google images everytime I need to look someone up - thanks!

you're right that best way to get over the fear is to just do it - promised myself to have a dedicated social doc day once a week. And is turning out much easier in better picked venues like tourist events. Good advice, all.
 
AliB said:
I had another idea last night. Went to see the new Batman film and I thought there is another genre you could look at, the influence of the media on society. It's still social documentary. As the range of the media has expanded over the last 50 years, more people are influenced by the images that they are presented with.

Once upon a time everyone wanted to look like Audrey Hepburn or Twiggy, then we had power dressing and supermodels, now young ladies want (for some odd reason) to look like hookers, or even worse Amy Winehouse! (just jesting)

It's a bit more abstract I know!
Click to expand...

Ohhh.... now thats a thought First idea from that is find a bunch of people dressed up queuing to get into a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. But then I think I'd love to have a hidden camera and photograph people watching a film (though cinemas get twitchy about cameras nowadays). But the local goth club (we must have one) could work out well. Maybe I'm too old but I just haven't seen enough girls looking like hookers - but I've heard that there is a good view at our local bus stop on a friday night!

And bizarrely somehow this triggered the memory of the Hitchcock film "The Birds" and whether I can get out to the coast can catch tourists running from seagulls stealing their chips.:woot:
 
Well, there's the biannual Whitby Gothic Weekend at the ends of October and April ....

Also, how about doing a project on a local women's refuge? As a female tog you are much more likely than a bloke to get access to a refuge and it's something which could be done over a period of time allowing you to build relationships with staff, volunteers and residents. However I would imagine that your subsequent use of the resulting photographs may be restricted for confidentiality and safety reasons. That is, submitting the shots for assessment may be fine but sticking them up on the web, where an angry (ex-)husband may see them, may not be permitted in exchange for access.

Proper social documentary stuff though.

Alternatively, how about a local animal shelter - again, opportunities for shots of staff, volunteers and residents and the work carried out, but with fewer restrictions on the use of your shots afterwards.

Both could be a bit emotionally gruelling though.
 
Yeah, I work in hospitals a lot and I can't take the pics that I'd love to. I'd need the permission of each and every Trust. I'd love to document the fantastic work that goes on but it's not rally possible.

But. You could apply to your local hospital and go toggin there if they let you. There's a lot you could do that need not invlolve patients too.
 
Hospitals, refuges and animals shelters - all really good ideas. My main concern is that my skill level is still so low that I couldn't do justice to the obviously important message that would need to go with it. Maybe when I've got more experience and improved some.

Now goth festival in whitby - if I can make it up there then I can just imagine the possibilities!
 
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