Weird and Wonderful: Documentry (répertoire)

Documentary Photography

Below is an example mood board of Documentary photography.

Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange was born in New Jersey in 1895 and was an influential American Documentary photographer and photojournalist, best known for her Depression-era work for the Farm Security Administration.

Below is an example mood board of Dorothea Lange's documentaries.

Objectively, there is a scraggy looking woman and, maybe a mother too, two children buried in her shoulders. Subjectively, this could suggest that she is a single mother living in poverty, really struggling in life and can portray a powerful message to people who try and make a change. This could set the mood of encouragement because she can encourage people to donate money to help people like this. In my opinion, there is a medium-low contrast between colours. And, due to the composition and facial expressions, the focus is centred around the mother's way of living.

Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark was born in Pennsylvania in 1940 and is an American photographer known for her photojournalism, portraiture and advertising photography. She first began photography with a Box Brownie camera and then attended Cheltenham High School where she discovered a knack for painting and drawing.

Below is an example mood board of Mary Ellen Mark's documentaries.

Objectively, there is a paddling pool with two young girls in swim suites, one in the background sat down in the water and one standing in the foreground with a cigarette. Subjectively, this could be trying to bring to the forefront a big problem in society. In the last hundred years, the care and privacy of children has decreased dramatically, which has led to the indecent exposure and exploitation of young girls. This could set the mood of realisation because, at some point, people will have to realise what a terrible thing it is, and will change their attitudes. In my opinion, there is a medium contrast between colours. And, due to the composition and depth-of-field of the image, the focus is centred on the girl in the swimsuit with a cigarette.

Angelo Merendino

Angelo Merendino is based in Cleveland, Ohio, and does freelance work for both Corbis News and Getty Images. Angelo’s photographs have been exhibited in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Rome, Italy. His most famous Documentary, 'The Battle We Didn't Choose - My Wife's Fight With Breast Cancer', has received worldwide recognition and has been described as 'More than a story about loss, this is a story about love and life.'

Below is an example mood board of Angelo Merendino's documentaries, all of which are surrounding his wife.

Objectively, in the image below, Angelo Merendino is stood behind his wife with his arms hanging over her shoulders in a warm, comforting manner. Subjectively, this could portray the idea that true love has no obstacles. His wife has breast cancer and they both looks as happy as they would if she didn't. This could set the mood of hope because cancer is one of the world's most incurable illness, and you need hope to have a chance of progressing. In my opinion, there is a high contrast of colours. And, due to the composition and the use of leading lines of the image, the focus is centred around the Angelno Merendino's arm around his wife's shoulders.