Recent Documentary Articles

Leave No Trace: How to Be an Ethical Nature Photographer

After nearly 20 years of traveling and photographing the outdoors—both as an enthusiast and a professional—I’ve noticed a frustrating trend: people leaving behind their crap (both literal and figurative) and showing little regard for the environment.

Ringo Starr Discusses New Photo Book With Conan O'Brien

Ringo Starr, of The Beatles fame, had a recent interview with Conan O'Brien where he took a few minutes to talk about his photo book titled "Photograph". The book features never before seen images from his childhood as well as his time with the Beatles. Many of the images contained in the book are taken by Ringo Starr himself which offers an intimate and inside look into Beatles Mania and the boys that made history.

Photography and Death: A Major Taboo Explored

Dive into the intriguing world of photography's exploration of death and crime scenes, from Victorian post-mortem photography to modern-day coverage with documentary photography. Discover what drives this morbid curiosity and where the line between respectful documentation and exploitation lies.

The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival Kicks off This Week in NYC

A film festival dedicated strictly to wildlife conservation films kicks off its eighth year in New York City later this week. Over the course of ten days, the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival will screen over 100 documentary films from around the world, many of which are world premieres.

Dog Sledding: How the Races Helped One Photographer Come Back From the Dark

Documentary photographers have the opportunity to see the world in ways the everyday photographer may never understand. With the ability to chronicle events, they can tell stories from inside the action. However, this can also take a toll on the mind, making even the most hopeful person become cynical.

Bill Brandt: Illuminating the World

Bill Brandt, a notable photographer of the 20th century, left a lasting mark on the world of photography. This German-born photographer's contribution to photography was his ability to elevate the mundane and the ordinary into something extraordinary. Whether on the streets of London during the blackout of World War II or in the stark landscapes of northern England, Brandt had a keen eye for uncovering the poetic and the surreal in the everyday.

Do You Know Earth's Hidden Stories?

Photography, at its essence, is a pursuit that is more than the mere act of capturing images; it is a journey into the heart of the world's hidden stories. In landscape photography, the scenery before our lenses often serves as a subject for stories written not by pen but by the patient hands of geological forces. This exploration takes us beyond the actual beauty of landscapes, urging us to unravel the details of Earth's geological history.

Re-Committment to Forging One's Own Path: Suzanne Heintz' "The Vows"

Photographer Suzanne Heintz has spent the past fourteen years “playing house” with two mannequins-her fictitious husband “Chauncey” and their daughter "Mary Margaret". Her fantastically elaborate “Life Once Removed” series, featured previously on Fstoppers, stemmed from a frustration with the stigma she faced as a single adult woman. A continuation of Heintz’ series, “The Vows” was recently released, and features Heintz and Chauncey renewing their vows in a satirical-but very real- ceremony.

Inspiring Young Palestinians Through Film and Photography

A new feature-length documentary from American filmmaker Michael Rowley documents the experiences of a photojournalist living and working in the Aida Refugee Camp who uses cameras to educate and inspire a new generation of Palestinians.

Saul Leiter's Innovation and Timelessness

Saul Leiter, an American photographer and painter, is now widely regarded for his pioneering work in color photography. Although he initially pursued a career in painting, Leiter’s introduction to photography came in the early 1940s when he moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to New York City. Here, he befriended Richard Pousette-Dart, an Abstract Expressionist painter and an early adopter of photography. Encouraged by Pousette-Dart, Leiter began to explore photography, soon finding a passion that would redefine his artistic career.

What Surveillance Photography Alone Cannot Show Us

As a medium, photography is all about sight. If you can’t see it, you can’t really take a photograph of it. The alternative is, of course, things like art, music, or prose where you don’t need to see something to make something about it.

In 4 Minutes: A Must-See Short Film Introducing Simon Murphy's Photoautomat Project

In 4 Minutes is a captivating short film by filmmaker Adam Holmes of Focas Media, in collaboration with renowned photographer Simon Murphy. This thoughtful piece explores Murphy’s Photoautomat project, offering an intimate look at the creative process set amidst the vibrant and gritty streets of Berlin.

Many Saw Vandalism, She Saw Art

Photographer Martha Cooper has made a lasting impact on both the world of photography and the art world as a whole. Renowned for her documentation of urban street art and graffiti culture, Cooper's career reflects her deep passion for storytelling and her remarkable ability to capture everyday moments. Her work transcends photography, serving as historical records of cultural movements.

Born in Baltimore in 1943, Cooper began her career as a photojournalist, working for various news outlets. However, it was her groundbreaking book, Subway Art, co-authored with...

Projecting Into the Future: Anticipate Your Subjects

Photography is all about time. It's the only visual art that is able to hold a single moment and fix it for our lasting consideration. To make that happen we as photographers must be keenly aware of both the slice of time that we are capturing and the all the time which leads up to that important moment. To do this well we must look into the future.

What is a Selfie and Who Invented It?

Producer, director, writer, editor, actor, and researcher, Sarah Burton has to wear many hats while working for BuzzFeed Video, but can she answer the question, "Who Invented the Selfie?" Spoiler alert, she can't but as the adage goes, it's the journey not the destination. Watch as Burton humorously struggles to discover who took the first selfie, and struggles even further when the very definition of selfie comes into question.

The Power of a Video: Making the Chennai Children's Choir's Dreams Come True

Videos are the next big thing, and it is happening already. With the advent of social media, the power of a video to touch minds and influence decisions is huge. We recently did a fundraising video for a children’s choir and were amazed by the response. This post is a quick recap of what we learned in the process.

Uncovering California’s Quiet Beauty with Lukas Felzmann’s Across Ground

Set aside the rush of daily life to unwind with a photobook that invites you into California’s diverse landscapes. Lukas Felzmann’s Across Ground beckons photographers and art lovers to sit down, silence distractions, and immerse themselves in its poetic exploration of nature and culture. This article offers reasons why you might want to make a peaceful retreat into the pages of this photobook.

Documenting a Nation in Mourning

Queen Elizabeth’s passing has received quite a bit of coverage here in the United States. Millions of people turned out not only in London but all over the UK and the globe for various services held in her honor. The coverage has shown the sincere outpouring of respect and affection that the people of her country have for her, but there is a noticeable emphasis on the scale and spectacle of the event.

Photography Can Change the World: Farnaz Damnabi

Can photography change the world? Iranian artist and journalist Farnaz Damnabi's new exhibit, "UNVEILED," set to open at 29 ARTS IN PROGRESS, would seem to suggest yes, at least in part. I don't think it's a surprise to anyone that shifts in power structures can be turbulent. Even minor revisions in social identities can lead to conflict. Damnabi's exhibit is a document of the transformations in the identity, visibility, and recognition of women as equal and free participants in Iran, an unveiling of a new Iran, if you will.

In a Year of Political Turmoil and Change, What Do Our Documentaries Say About Us?

On virtually every front, 2017 was a year of change, turmoil, and upheaval. A year comprised of moments that affected our every day lives in ways that societal and political movements haven’t in recent years past. The tension that has defined this year has found itself mirrored in the art that we create, and in more obvious ways in the documentary subjects captured by filmmakers across the globe.

Conservation Photography in the Rainforest: A Must-See Documentary

In the heart of Ecuador's Chocó rainforest, a mission to save the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey unfolds. Led by conservation photographer Jonas Paurell, this gripping documentary captures the raw beauty and challenges of rainforest conservation.

Toy Shopping in Ukraine: War Toys Founder Brian McCarty Shares His Vision

Brian McCarty, a self-proclaimed toy geek and an incredible photographer, tells the stories many people don’t want to hear in a way familiar to the world. He depicts children’s accounts of conflict and loss through toys as an advocation against the horrors of war.