I still haven’t finished my landscape assignment so was feeling a bit sheepish when I pitched up for my photography class this week.  Luckily we’ve started a new module – documentary photography – and with new people in the class I was able to set aside any feelings of failure and get stuck into a new topic.  Little did I know that within hours of talking about photojournalism that two photographers would be killed in Libya – Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros.  A human and professional tragedy given the contributions they’ve made through their work.

The more I study photography and photographers the more I am struck by the difference between the good, the bad and the indifference of photographs.  As time goes by I’ve come to realised that amongst the masses of people who profess to be photographers the ones that stand out as distinctive are the ones that are dedicated to their cause as much as their craft.

I’ve read copiously about how to take a photograph and also how you can use technique to project a certain look.  I’ve tested myself on a range of assignments and finally come to the realisation that what’s been missing a sustained focus on any particular topic.  Sure you’ll find plenty of photographs of vegetables, bassets and sunrises on this blog – mainly because those are the things that I can readily photograph that sum up day to day life.

As part of my documentary homework I’m going to set myself up with a couple of personal projects where I can explore in more depth things that interest me.  Inspired by an e-book Close to Home I’m planning to try and make more sense of my approach to taking daily snaps as more of a documentary on life here at Domestic Executive HQ.

But in the meantime, here’s a question for you.  Which type of photography do you generally like – colour or black and white?

 

blank