Mini & Main Documentary
Documentary
What is Documentary Photography?
Documentary photograph is a series of images that tell a story. In my mini documentary is came up with the idea that I wanted to capture a small part of someone with additional need's life. I was attending an event for work and thought this would be an ideal time to capture unique and natural photographs tat told the story of how a disabled man celebrated his 60th birthday.
Mini Documentary
My job is looking after and supporting adults of all ages who require a helping hand with life, whether that be full time care or just assistance. With the person I photographed I cannot go into too much detail for data protection purposes but this man requires around the clock care. The purpose in the celebration was to celebrate his 60th birthday. A massive achievement. I wanted to promote what it was like having friends and family gather to celebrate as normal as possible for those with additional needs. The person I have photographed drinks alcohol and plays darts just like any other 60 year old man might. This was all shot in one afternoon in a 3 hour period, my aim was to capture as many natural images style using a variety of techniques and compositions to complete my documentary.
In order to take these images I had to gain permission from my models family and notify my boss at work that I had gained permission and that I was bringing my camera. Because my models family were present they allowed this just this once on the grounds that they too could have a copy of the images as well as additional images to show my models mother, who unfortunately was too old and frail to attend her son's party.
Equipment used-
- Canon 2000d
- Canon 18-300mm lens
- Canon Speedlight
Location- Dunfermline The Yeoman
Budget- Zero
My Images
Image 1
- Black and white
- Rule of thirds
- Shallow dept of field
- Camera settings 1/20-4.5-200iso
Last Image showing Stevie Lawrie smiling
Image 2
- Black and white image
- Rule of thirds
- shallow dept of field
- camera settings 1/25-4.5-200iso
2nd image on movie board- shows balloons in background and gift in staff's hand, excitement in is face.
Image 3
- Black and white Image
- Fill the frame
- shallow dept of field
- close up
- camera settings 1/30-4.5-200iso
Reading a book, Stevie cannot read but e enjoys the smell of books and becomes relaxed wen e as one close to is face.
Image 4
- Black and white image
- Rule of thirds
- Shallow depth of field
- camera setting 1/30-4.5-200iso
Showing birthday card with Stevie itself in the background enjoying a drink for is birthday.
Image 5
- Black and white image
- Sallow dept of field
- fill the frame
- camera settings 1/30-4.5-iso 200
Stevie becoming overwhelmed by the amount of people at his party and ow busy it was.
Image 6
- Black and white Image
- rule of thirds
- shallow depth of field
- Camera settings 1/30-4.5-iso 200
Enjoy the company of other additional needs adults at the party.
Image 7
- Black and white image
- Rule of thirds
- Camera settings 1/60-5.0-100iso
Playing darts even though he has limited sight.
Image 8
- Black and white image
- Close up
- sallow dept of field
- Camera settings 1/60-5.0-iso200
Great example of his love for books, but because he cannot read he doesn't know it is upside down.
Image 9
- Black and white image
- Shallow depth of field
- rule of thirds
- Camera setting 1/25-4.5-iso200
having a closer look at his birthday cake and admiring it before he stuck his hands in.
For my main Documentary I think I will expand on my mini and incorporate the carers that I work with.
Main Documentary
The ideas I had in regards to me man Documentary are as follows:
- Rubbish on my doorstep
- Life in Care
- I am 5
- Holiday in Spain
- Life of a Single mother
I have decided to continue my mini project but incorporate what life is like for those who care for adults who need additional support. I have decided to try and portray the adults I care for through photography, not by using them themselves as models but objects that create their reality and best describe there adult life. for instance One of my vulnerable adults spent 3 years in a straight jacket and hasn't spoken since, another doesn't have the ability to chew because he was institutionalised most of his adult life and is fearful his food will be taken away so he swallows it whole, another refused to go into a wheelchair because he thinks he will never be allowed back out of it so he struggles on to walk unaided another who is petrified of the shower because of receiving cold water therapy daily as a teenager. I care for 8 grown men all of which have different traits which still remain with them because society saw them as a danger and a risk to other humans. when really they suffer from mental illness or are disable both of which we try nowadays to help rather than punish.
Ideas
- carer dressed in full PPE
- Close up of ID badge
- carer sitting on their own with head in their hands
- wheelchair or walker wheels close up
- hand in hand
- Mobility car
- carer with additional support adult
- carer with hand on shoulder of someone else
- I don't wish to include anyones face because of data protection
- PPE
- Emotions
Mood Board
Research Images
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
My Images
I have decided to use some images that I originally captured whilst doing my mini documentary as shown below. The first one is a blind man holding a book upside down. He loves books, he enjoys the smell and hold the book close to his eyes as if he is reading, usually upside down. Its fascinating to watch.
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