documentary

Photographing a State of Uncertainty: The Coronation of King Charles III

When I made images documenting the mourning period after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II there was a complexity to the situation that I wanted to convey. I wrote about navigating different manifestations of grief, as well as that grief in the context of the wider political relationship between the deceased and the citizens of the UK.

Can a Photograph Change the World?

Portraying injustices is not something novel. From the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day, many photographers have been concerned about leaving their mark. But can we try to change the world – even make it a better place – through a photograph?

Are You Really Starting a Conversation With Your Photography?

The social aspects of social media, the propagation aspects of propaganda, and the “logos” aspects of dialogue all depend on one thing: communication. A photograph can be a very powerful medium for communication, using visual symbols to represent what a photographer saw, or created, containing in part or in whole their message.

How I Documented the Making of a Wedding Dress

Having been a wedding photographer for the past fifteen years, I’ve seen my fair share of white wedding dresses, but before focusing on weddings, I was fortunate enough to gain a little experience in the fashion industry, shooting for magazines, working backstage at fashion shows, and covering both London and Paris Fashion Weeks.

A British Photographer’s View of Texas Hill Country in 2007

Photographer Edward Thompson, known for his documentary photo essays on various social topics, has created a body of work about the Texas Hill Country. Shot entirely on medium format film, he captured the curious and, at times, strange lives of local Texans at the time of George Bush’s political reign.

The Importance of Still Life for Documentary Photography

When I work on a blueprint for a potential documentary project most of my attention goes to unpacking whatever it was that drew my initial interest – usually a collection of themes, locations, and characters that I will visit in order to discover what direction the story will end up going in.

Observation and Investigation for Documentary Photography

If the intention behind a photograph is to produce something photographic, weighted by aesthetic merit, or artistic expression, then it is your observation via the camera that you are most likely going to share in that image.

How to Create a Photo Essay

The photographic essay, also called a photo essay or photo story, is a powerful way for photographers to tell a story with their images. If you are interested in creating your own photo essay, this article will guide you through the whole process, from finding a story to shoot to the basics of crafting your first visual narrative.

Blind Blake: A Photographic Journey with Blake Lindsay

I met Blake Lindsay in 2016 when I was working on my first photo series about blindness. I worked with Envision, formerly Dallas Light House for the Blind, to document the stories of 15 people with a variety of visual impairments. Blake was the first of the company’s employees I met who took me on his journey as a blind person, or rather “handi-capable” person as he likes to describe himself.​

Photos of One of the Last Remaining Pagan Rituals in Europe

In December of 2019, I decided to travel to Bulgaria. I went there to expand my ongoing photography project about the personal journeys of young individuals who will ultimately become the 'torch carriers' of ancient cultures and traditions.

Photographer Captures the Decline of the Church in Italy

Church buildings have been a mainstay feature throughout Europe for centuries. From quaint country chapels to luxurious and majestic cathedrals, the “Old World” is home or has been home to hundreds of churches. Some of them are maintained in pristine shape, highly regarded as national treasures, while others meet a rather different ending, being left in the hands of time and its relentless way of decaying things.

Father and daughter self-portrait project

Father and Daughter Shoot Daily Self-Portraits for Two Years

Photographer Joe Tobiason has been capturing daily self-portraits with his daughter for two straight years, amassing hundreds of photos that tell a deeply personal story of his family life and show the evolving relationship between a father and his young daughter.