Documentary Photography Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer; considered to be the father of modern photojournalism he coined the term “The Decisive Moment.” "There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative," he said. "Oops! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever."

Documentary Photographs Images that try to capture real events in daily life, usually involving people, while trying to tell a true, narrative story Considered to be a type of photojournalism Usually presented in essay format to tell the complete story; a photo essay

Introductory or overall Clincher or final chapter There are 7 categories of ‘shots’ used to create visual variety in a photo essay Introductory or overall Medium Close-up Portrait Interaction Signature Clincher or final chapter

Cover all aspects of an event Develop a theme Show variety Use the 7 types of documentary shots to: Cover all aspects of an event Develop a theme Show variety Show different perspectives Tell a story Capture the decisive moment

A photo essay is a set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or evoke a series of emotions in the viewer. A photo essay will often show pictures in deep emotional stages. Photo essays range from purely photographic works to photographs with captions or to full text essays with a few or many accompanying photographs.

Photo essays can be sequential in nature, intended to be viewed in a particular order, or they may consist of non-ordered photographs which may be viewed all at once or in an order chosen by the viewer.

A tradition passing The following is a photo essay about a religious order of nuns. The story is about how their way of life is dying out with them. How does the photographer show what life is like for the members? What does the photographer do to make you ‘feel’ for the nuns? Do they seem to enjoy living there? What are their relationships like? Can you imagine living this way?

Introductory or overall Usually wide-angle or aerial shot to establish the scene Introduces a story Gives viewer idea about topic photographed

Medium Focuses on one activity or one group Includes two or more people, small groups Usually has action involving something relevant to the story.

Close-up or Detail Zeros in on one element; like a person’s hands or intricate detail of a building

Portrait Often a dramatic or tight head shot Or, a person in his or her environmental setting

Interaction People conversing or in action

Signature Summarizes situation with all key storytelling elements in one photo – like your “one shot” images.

Clincher The end of the action shot Wraps up the action; summarizes the story A metaphor: The cowboy riding off into the sunset kind of thing

Things to remember… The most important aspect of documentary photography is that it tells a TRUE story. Never change or fake an image (or set up a shot or move things around) Keep ‘you’ out of the story Remember lens choice, perspective and composition can make or break an image