Surveyors & surveyed

I didn't realize I was to blog about reading this article as well as analyze the photo...so here it is....I tend to highlight an article as I read it, so I'll make comments on my highlights. Pg 69...I liked the description of "the Other" as an opposite, someone essentially the opposite of yourself. It's a good reference point for the first project, someone completely opposite of myself. I prefer not to document myself. Pg. 75...”One answer to the question is to define documentary in terms of its connection with particular kinds of social investigation”.....”a special relationship to real life and a singular status with regard to notions of truth and authenticity.” I do believe a documentary should tell the truth and be authentic. (Although these days that's very difficult to tell.) Page 77... “The genuine reporter - and by this we mean the rare phenomenon of the passionately committed photojournalist -- personally experiences what he captures on film...” “His alertness and his gift of observation distinguishes work from that of others -- not as an artist, but related to the artist by virtue of this talent of creative observation." I certainly agree with this quote, by combining a sensitivity to what you're filming and knowing how to frame your subjects should make compelling photographs. I also like the idea that a documentary photographer is working from an idea to improve the environment around them or the environment of others. I can also appreciate what Humphrey Spender said about feeling he was exploiting the people he was photographing when he was trying to help them. I personally find it very difficult to go out and photograph people I do not know. Just the other day I was photographing moving cars on the street and a woman got out of her car and asked me to delete pictures of her car, and I was only filming blurry cars! People do not want to be photographed these days… this incident and learning more about documentary and reading this article will make me more aware of how, who and what I am photographing.... NJO