Recent Documentary Articles

Selling Stolen Images: Mango Proves Companies Can Do the Right Thing

It is getting pretty hard to avoid reading a story a couple times a month where a photographer's photos are stolen in some way. It has become, sadly, the nature of the internet. Sometimes photographers aren't even aware of it until the image spreads beyond containment, but others, like Swedish photographer Tuana, do their best to nip it in the bud and succeed with help from what many would consider to be an unlikely source: the company who was unlawfully selling the image.

Helena Christensen & Mary Ellen Mark Join Mark Seliger on Capture

In this episode of the (always) fantastic "Capture," supermodel Helena Christensen and photographic legend Mary Ellen Mark sit down with Mark Seliger and discuss their unique approaches to making their images. Mary Ellen Mark talks about what it was like to photograph Mother Theresa and how every circus in India was more imaginative than the last. Helena Christensen's love of photography began when she hitchhiked around the world as a teenager,

'Conversations' with Annie Leibovitz

In 2009, Annie Leibovitz was interviewed on PBS's "Conversations." As one of the top portrait photographers in the world, she talks about the beginnings of her career (and how she went to school to become an art teacher), her history with Rolling Stone and what it was like to photograph the Queen of England. She also speaks about how photographing John Lennon hours before his death had a massive impact on her life - and how she's never really gotten over it.

National Geographic Photographer on Assignment with Only His Cellphone

The Nokia Lumia 1020 was met with a lot of skepticism, and sparked yet another battle in the megapixel war. But for a cell phone, it's hard to deny that the photos look pretty darn good. Now when you think of National Geographic you think of incredible photographs of rarely seen places and people.

Watch BBC's 'Master Photographers: Ansel Adams' Right Now

In 1983, the BBC aired a documentary series called "Master Photographers" interviewing and showcasing some of the most influential photographers of all time - from Alfred Eisenstaedt to Bill Brandt to Andre Kertesz. In this episode, the great Ansel Adams and his penchant for cowboy hats and bolo ties. Adams was unquestionably brilliant. It's one thing to read his thoughts from a book; it's another thing entirely to hear them.

Judd Apatow & Matt Mahurin Join Mark Seliger on 'Capture'

The new episode of Mark Seliger's Emmy-nominated 'Capture' is out, showing once again that it's the best show on photography currently out there. In this episode, Mark sits down with director Judd Apatow and painter/photographer Matt Mahurin as they talk about the stories behind some of their most famous images.

Anton Orlov's Road Trip to Share Alternative Photography

Photography is the perfect counterpart to road travel. On a mission that seems to blend aspects of Ken Kesey, Robert Frank and Matthew Brady, fine art photographer Anton Orlov is traveling across the United States in a school bus doing wet plate collodion photography. You might’ve seen his Kickstarter video in 2011 that involved retrofitting a school bus into a mobile darkroom nicknamed “The Photo Palace.”

The Client Blog: A Look into the Mind of Clients

In the past week, here on Fstoppers, we've been talking a lot about blogs for your business. But recently Joey L sent us over one that caught our eye called The Client Blog. It has been started by Andy Baker, Group Creative Director for the National Geographic channels. Andy has been writing, editing, producing and Creative Directing promos and print ads for the last 19 years. Andy decided to start the blog as more of a personal creative project and it's starting to evolve into something much more.

Documentary On Fighting For Your Art In The Commercial World

Earlier this week, I stumbled upon Eskimo’s latest passion project “Wonderland”. At first, I expected a step-by-step guide to finding success with commercial work. But in fact, what I watched felt more reminiscent of a support group.

PBS's 'Off Book: The Art of Portrait Photography'

What draws us to portraits? In this video from PBS's 'Off Book,' photographers Matt Hoyle, Bex Finch, Jamie Diamond and Ethan Levitas offer their perspective on portraiture and why it is important to us as human beings. At the core of portrait photography, it is a documention of our existence, but it often surpasses that and becomes art.

Haunting Video About 'Photojournalists on War'

"Those of us that are lucky enough to survive, we get to come here and be at this museum and do this opening." 'Lucky enough to survive' is not a mantra that many photographers have to deal with - and yet these photographers have worked under this burden and have done so brilliantly. In this video, we get a small glimpse at some of the things they've seen - and it is powerful.

Five Inspirational Photography Books

There are many great photography books out there but this is a list of five of my all-time favorites, the ones routinely jockeying for space on my nightstand even though I’ve read or pawed through them numerous times. Each is a continual source of inspiration and provides welcome insight into the thought-process behind successful imagemaking at the highest level.

Winners of the 2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

Last night, National Geographic Traveler announced the winners of their 25th annual photo contest, and as you can imagine, the images are nothing short of amazing. The prizes weren't bad either - the winning photographer received a 10-day Galápagos expedition for two - so one could assume there would be a lot of competition. The contest received over 15,500 entries. Of those, here are the top 11...

"Brink" Gripping Stories Of Endangered Animals From Weather Films

The Weather Channel recently released "Brink" a series of gripping short films showcasing six stories of animals that are dangerously shrining in numbers due to poaching, development and hunting.

Each of the six stories are enraging and harrowing to see and hear each story unfold about the mistreatment of the animals. Due to graphic images, viewer discretion is advised.

'The Colourful Mr. Eggleston' - One of the Most Influential Photographers Alive Today

"40 years ago [William Eggleston] dragged color, kicking and screaming, into the world of art photography." In this fascinating documentary from BBC's Imagine, we get a small glimpse at a photographic icon. William Eggleston was born in Tennessee in 1939 and raised in Mississippi. Inspired by Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eggleston is credited with being the first photographer to give serious artistic credibility to color film.

Paying More Attention by Shooting Without Looking (Through the Viewfinder)

It’s very easy to get used to the option of being able to “spray and pray” – shoot a nearly obscene amount of photographs and hope for a few that meander over the line to above average. I know I can be guilty of this sometimes – modern shutters are both a benefit and a crutch. So I issued myself a challenge: go out and shoot without looking.

Brilliant Documentary About the Many Lives of William Klein

In what is another phenomenal documentary from the BBC program Imagine..., we are given the chance to view the world and lives of iconic photographer William Klein as he is preparing for a retrospective of his work. Klein is one of the pioneers of street photography (more raw, up-close and personal than Henri Cartier-Bresson) as well as the creator of some of the most iconic fashion images of the 20th century. He is an artist and a filmmaker - making over 20 films, including the first ever documentary of Muhammad Ali.

A Short Film About A Man Who Has Sold Millions Of Forgotten Personal Photographs

“Mark Kologi has collected and sold literally millions of forgotten personal photos of complete strangers.” That was the only tag line associated with the video. With curiosity, I entered Mark's world for a moment through the video. I was curious to know why he does this. Immediately, I got it and it brought out the fascination I have with photography.

Ed Drew's Wartime Tintypes from Afghanistan

Not since Matthew Brady’s work documenting the Civil War has the tintype photographic process been used on the battlefield. Staff sergeant Ed Drew, an aerial gunner in the California Air National Guard, brought tintype back to the theater of war to photograph his fellow soldiers during his deployment from April to June in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

15 Photos Showing The Largest Political Event In History

Only 2 years passed since the 2011 Egyptian revolution where president Mubarak was replaced by president Morsi, and this week the people of Egypt decided to make another change and oust the elected president in what is now known as the largest political event in history of mankind. Over 14 million people flooded the streets of Egypt this week to protest against President Morsi, and Tahrir Square came to life once again.

"Six Photographs"  Interview with René Burri

In this interview, Port Magazine sits down with Swiss photojournalist René Burri, to discuss the unbelievable stories behind six iconic photographs from his career including a very casual portrait Pablo Picasso in Cannes, and the reopening of the Suez Canal.

Look Again at the Look3 Photo Festival

The Look3 Festival of the Photograph was just held in Charlottesville, Virginia June 13-15 but the nice folks at Livestream have archived some of the best content from the weekend and you can stream it now for free for a limited time. In case you weren't able to attend, you can stream complete artist talks by National Geographic photographers Michael "Nick" Nichols and Tim Laman, Magnum photographer Susan Meiselas and art photographers Carrie Mae Weems, Gregory Crewdson, Martha Rosler and Richard Misrach.

Amazing Documentary - 'America in Pictures: The Story of Life Magazine'

"Set up in 1936, Life magazine believed that pictures could change the world."

America in Pictures: The Story of Life Magazine is a fantastic documentary from the BBC about the life of one of the most important magazines in American history. Narrated by acclaimed photographer Rankin, it follows the people who told the 'story of America' through its most dynamic decades - the 40s, 50s and 60s - and documented its growth into a world superpower.

Adobe Talks About the Method and Challenges of Creating Photo Software

Dream jobs are made where individuals labor in love, and passions are fostered. It is where “working” is hardly the right descriptor for they day-to-day. Seeing people who truly love their work and work for their passion is rare. I want to tell those stories, and I found one worth telling at a place where they produce the tools that make the lives of creative professionals possible- tools that often at first we never knew we needed, but now would find it impossible to live without.

1000 Miles, 100 Days: One Photographer's Journey

Photographer Carlton Ward Jr. doesn't want to save the world with his imagery but he definitely wants to try and save Florida. Specifically, a wildlands passageway that connects the Everglades of southern Florida to the Okefenokee swamp in Southern Georgia. For 100 days in 2012, he, along with a filmmaker, bear biologist and conservationist, crossed the entire state in a continuous path using kayaks, paddleboards, bicycles, horses and their own feet. The visual chronicle was recently published as a book and broadcast as a PBS special.

35 Powerful Images Of The Violent Protests Against The Leadership in Turkey

The protests against the leadership in Turkey are entering their 7th day today, and Flickr is flooded with thousands of images showing the violent clashes. The protests started when the government decided to destroy Taksim Square, one of Istanbul’s only public parks, and transform it into a development project - But the protests quickly became about much more than that. They escalated to those against the Islamisation of Turkey, the brutality of the police, and the autocratic behavior by PM Recep Erdogan.

Fstoppers Original: Success in Photography

This year Patrick and I were invited to Gulf Photo Plus in Dubai to film a behind the scenes look of what it's really like to go to this exotic workshop. The experience itself was one of the highlights of my life but the most memorable moment for me was the few minutes I had with each of the instructors. I decided to interview them about the pitfalls of their careers and what it takes to become successful as a photographer.

Insane Video Showing Storm Chasers Get Caught In a Tornado

A number of deadly tornadoes touched down around Union City, Oklahoma on Friday afternoon, killing at least 5 people. Storm chasers Brandon Sullivan and Brett Wright were hoping to get as close as possible to the tornadoes to shoot videos of it, but when they realized that the tornadoes are coming right at them, it was (almost) too late to run away. The mounted video cameras in the car caught this crazy video of their attempt to save their lives while the city collapses around them. INSANE.

Photographing A Collection Of Human Brains

Photographer Adam Voorhes out of Austin, Texas, has documented a collection of approximately 90 human brains that the University of Texas had amassed over the past 30 years.

The story goes that Voorhes found the collection a few years back after meeting Dr. Tim Schallert, while searching for a way to illustrate a Scientific American article.

Charlie Haughey - A War Photographer's Rediscovered Photographs From Vietnam

Charlie Haughey, a retired cabinet maker, was drafted to the US Army in 1967. While being stationed in Vietnam, Haughey was told by his commanding officer to document the war. The twist was that the photos were not to be shot of traditional combat, but as morale boosting photographs of the unit.

Photos Showing the Devastation of the Oklahoma City Tornado Aftermath

On May 20th, one of the deadliest twisters in known history touched down in Moore, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City. The Tornado caused catastrophic damage to homes (over 13,000 of them were destroyed), infrastructure, schools and a hospital. Take a look at these powerful images showing the aftermath of the deadly Tornado as found on (the new) Flickr.

Saudi Arabian Women Unveiled

I have always been a fan of documentaries and especially those that cover photographers and the story behind their photos. If you are like me, you'll enjoy watching this 15-minute film documenting Ziyah Gafic as he reveals interesting stories about a number of his projects including one that helps to lift the stereotype of Saudi Arabian women. This was the first time I have been exposed to Gafic's work but I was quickly drawn in by a lot of the things he had to share which he has learned over the years of being a photographer.

Tao Lin's 'Facedown Generation' of Taipei

We have all witnessed it, practiced it, you might be doing it now while reading this post. Sadly, seeing someone staring down at a mobile device in public has become such a common sight, that we might walk right past without even thinking about it.

While on a recent visit to Taipei, Tao Lin created photographs of strangers interacting with their mobile devices.

Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Teams Up With Leica

Motley Crue bassist, Nikki Sixx is a recovering addict. But cameras, he says, are his new drug. He has been a musician, a writer and a radio host. His new passion is photography. To be honest, I was pretty surprised by his images. They are empathetic, penetrative and incredibly personal. He has teamed up with Leica to photograph a two-part interview series.

Haunting Portrait from Bangladesh Tragedy

WARNING: GRAPHIC It's incredibly difficult for many people of the world to have a point of reference on this type of tragedy, but this image my be one of the most tragic images that I have seen in recent memory. It is both devastating and incredibly heartbreaking. The image is of a male and a female, embracing in their final moments. The couple hasn't been identified, nor is their story known. They were found about 2am buried under fallen concrete with blood coming from the man's eye like a tear.

The Life of a President - BTS Pictures of George W. Bush

When I imagine the president of the United States, what comes to mind first is the campaign trail and all the national decisions he's involved with. It's hard to picture what the day to day of the presidential life brings. This collection of pictures of former president George W. Bush does a fantastic job of capturing the in between moments that show how normal presidents are.

"The Quest For Inspiration" Documents Landscape Photographer's Journey

Seven months ago I shared the trailer for a documentary about French Landscape Photographer Alexandre Deschaumes, as he creates stunning landscape images all over the world. His travels have taken him to Patagonia, Iceland, Austria, and more, while the time he spends in nature is the time where he seems to get the most creative. The hour long documentary is finally available (for a small fee.)

What A Week Of Groceries Looks Like Around The World

It seems as a people, we have a fascination with photographing our food. From Henry's series of riders, to looking on instagram we cant help but document what we consume. Photographer Peter Menzel started this intriguing series of one weeks of groceries from around the world, taking traditional food photography to a much larger scale.

Jeff Bridges Honored for His Photography

Jeff Bridges has been nominated for six Academy Awards and has won once (for 'Crazy Heart'). He can now add another honor to his list of awards. This week at the 29th annual Infinity Awards, he is being nominated for his photography. 'The Dude' has been shooting on-set images of the films he has worked on since 1984, and his work gives us a peek at a world most people never get to see.

Documenting the Resurgence of Africa - 'The New African Photography' on Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera English just premiered the first episode of their new show, "The New African Photography." Following a time of great turmoil for Africa, the show centers on the changing image of the continent as told through the eyes of photographers. The goal is to ultimately replace the images of famine and war that often come to mind and with images that redefine what Africa is becoming today.

'Photos That Bear Witness To Modern Slavery' The Lisa Kristine Story

Lisa Kristine is an extraordinary activist who has documented the world of slavery in which we are currently blind to. Her story is very captivating and her images say so much. I highly recommend viewing the whole video and take in the stories behind each photograph. I believe we sometimes take our freedoms for granted without realizing that what maybe a privilege to us is a dream to others. Keep reading to watch the video.

And the 2013 Pulitzer Prize Winners for Photography Are...(NSFW)

...pretty outstanding and powerful photos. Every single image that was awarded the prize was taken by photographers covering the war in Syria. What's particularly unique about the winner of the "Breaking News" category was that there was not a solitary winner; the award was shared by five photographers.

"Punching Back Time" Photographs Of Senior Boxers

Photojournalist David Eulitt recently completed Punching Back Time, a series of photographs that features senior athletes who at seasoned ages, strap on gloves and spar in the ring.

The boxers were participants in the 2nd Annual Ringside Masters Championship boxing tournament, a competition for amateur boxers ranging in ages from 35 to 75.

Powerful Photos Document Daily Life Fighting Cancer

Over the last 48 hours I have looked at these photos time and time again. I have shared them with my wife and daughter. I have been touched tremendously and my water-filled eyes have been opened to the daily struggles and emotions those face who are fighting cancer. I have been incredibly grateful to the photographer Angelo Merendino, who took the time to document his wife's journey through photos and share them with all of us to help "humanize the face of cancer." In Merendino's words, "these photographs do not define us, but they are us."

Capturing 20 Years of China Through Their Negatives

An interesting documentary that Emiland Guillerme filmed about collecting photographs from all over china and putting them together which you can see at 9:45 in the film. "Beijing Silvermine is a unique photographic portrait of the capital and the life of its inhabitants following the Cultural Revolution. It covers a period of 20 years, from 1985, namely when silver film started being used massively in China, to 2005, when digital photography started taking over. These 20 years are those of China's economic opening, when people started prospering, travelling, consuming, having fun."

Portrait Of A Photographer: Beautiful Video Tells The Story Of Marty Knapp

While many aspiring photographers work for a long time to reach their goals, it's often the journey to get there that is the most interesting story of all. This short video from Vertical Online reveals a thoughtful and inspirational tale of one landscape photographer's experiences from going broke to making amazing images.

Short Film on Seattle Grunge Photographer, Steve Gullick: 'Punk As F---' (NSFW)

Steve Gullick, one of rock music's most prominent photographers of our time takes us into his darkroom and talks about the short time he spent capturing Seattle's Grunge scene during 1990-1993. Steve shot bands like The Screaming Trees, Soundgarden and Nirvana for Melody Maker and Sounds.

Bert Stern: Original Mad Man Trailer

Bert Stern's career started in the mailroom at Look Magazine and soon became sought after by Hollywood and Madison Avenue.

Bert Stern: Original Mad Man directed by Shannah Laumeister, follows Stern's career through the golden age of the ad world and the iconic Marilyn Monroe "The Last Sitting" series.

Stern is notably well known for his 3 day photo shoot with Marilyn Monroe for Vogue