According to wikipedia, Documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle events or environments both significant and relevant to history and historical events as well as everyday life. It is typically covered in professional photojournalism, or real life reportage, but it may also be an amateur, artistic, or academic pursuit.
Documentary photography follows a topic or story over time, whereas photojournalists who cover real-time events such as breaking news. Documentary photography further deepens our understanding and emotional connection between unjust acts throughout the world. It can capture and sustain the public’s attention and mobilize people who are interested in important social issues such as human rights.
According toGeoff Harris, “a picture is worth a thousand words” The image below is from the Open Society Foundation. The person who took the image is called Christian Holst, who is a documentary photographer. He writes about the image in great detail, talking about who the man is, and a bit about his life.
“A novice monk puts on a clean robe in a monastery in Rangoon. Novices like this young man will study for 10 to 13 years before they are able to pass required tests and be ordained as monks….”
Christian Holst’s In the Quite Land: Life Under the Military Regime of Burma
Documentary Photography is very important because it has the power to highlight stories that aren’t gaining attraction. They create a diverse range of perspectives. Photography has the influence to inspire people, and tackle issues such as corruption and discrimination. Documentary photography does this.
Here are some more examples of Documentary photography.
surrealism – a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images. Surrealist artists use the unconscious to enhance the imagination as a tool for their artwork. They believed that the rational mind repressed the power of the imagination. Many Surrealists are influenced by Karl Marx. They hoped that they could reveal the contradictions in the everyday world and create revolution.
Surrealism grew out of the Dadaism movement, which was a also repelling middle-class ideas. The most influential character for Surrealists was Giorgio de Chirico.
Surrealism shared a lot of anti-rationalism of Dada. The original Parisian Surrealists used art as a get away from violent political situations. They used it to address the unease they felt about the world. They explored fantasy and dream
MAN RAY (1890-1976) ‘Cadeau (Gift)’ 1921 (Flat Iron with Brass Tacks)
According to wikipedia Dadaism was an art movement of the European avant-garde in the early 20th century. Also refereed to as ‘Dada’, it was a from of artistic anarchy born out of hatred for social, political and cultural values. It contained elements of art, music, poetry, theater, dance and politics. Dadaism was was more of a protest movement rather than a style of art.
Dadaism was a very large movement during WW1 because many artists , writers and intellectuals what extremely opposed to the war. They used their art as a way of creating confrontation and provocation. Many traditional art movements were attacked. They launched a full scale ‘assault’ on the art world. “Dada questioned the value of all art and whether its existence was simply an indulgence of the bourgeoisie.” People involved with Dadaism claimed to be anti-artists.
