Recent Documentary Articles

Andrea Bruce Documents an Iraqi Family's Journey West

Publications allowing individual photographers access to their Instagram accounts is an increasingly common practice, and helps to foster a more intimate look at a photographer’s process. For example, Time Magazine allowed several photographers access to its Instagram account after Hurricane Sandy, enabling the magazine to update its almost 600k followers in real time.

George Tice: Seeing Beyond the Moment

Fine art photographer George Tice is a master craftsman of the medium and the documentary "George Tice: Seeing Beyond the Moment" explores his rise from family portraitist to accomplished artist and educator. The film, which is available on IMDB in its entirety, was successfully funded through director Bruce Wodder's Newstreetfilms via a Kickstarter campaign. It is an evocative look at the American landscape through the lens of one of the 20th Century's greatest photographers.

(Graphic) National Geographic Live! : Photographing Africa's Wildest Beasts

Photographer Michael "Nick" Nichols is a National Geographic veteran and one of the best wildlife photographers working today. In this episode of National Geographic Live!, his imagery and stories about Africa's elephants and lions will both break and warm your heart. In his own words, Nichols tells his stories behind the already fantastic magazine stories - ranging from the disgusting aftermath of ivory poachers to the cute and cuddly playfulness of lion cubs

Gritty Film Causes Controversy Over America's Youth

Back in October 2013, I went to the Philadelphia Film Festival and was lucky enough to catch the documentary film 12 O'Clock Boys, by Lofty Nathan. After the film debuted, Nathan answered some of the audience's questions. One of the most controversial questions asked was how race played a factor while shooting in a predominantly black neighborhood.

Patrick Brown's "Trading to Extinction" Project

Black bear bile, rhino horns, shark fins and other endangered wildlife and their illicit trade account for more than $10 billion annually. For the past ten years, documentary photographer Patrick Brown has explored this story, shooting from the jungles of Cambodia to the markets of Guangzhou. The work is now collected in the book “Trading to Extinction,” published by Dewi Llewis and released to coincide with this week’s global summit on illegal wildlife trade hosted in London.

Back In The Day – The New York City Subway In All Its Former Glory

In 1985 there were approximately 40 recorded felonies on the New York City subway system. Every single day. It's a wonder how young photographer Chris Morris mustered the courage to set off on to the mean (subterranean) streets and begin months of personal project work documenting the New York subway.

Ex-Drill Sergeant Travels The Country Finding And Photographing Homeless Veterans

Photographer Jerry Tovo has spent the better part of the last 2 years pursuing a personal project around the USA called "They May Have Been Heroes." The project is dedicated to raising the Nation’s awareness to the plight of the hundreds of thousands of homeless Veterans, by photographing, videotaping and otherwise recording their stories. The photos and stories are both captivating and heartbreaking.

Watch How This Photographer Successfully Interacts With People On The Street

We have featured Brandon Stanton and his Humans of New York Project a couple times here on Fstoppers (here, and here.) However, after watching the latest video of him produced by the team at Facebook I just had to share. What I love most about this video is watching Stanton have genuine conversations with people on the street before and after photographing them.

The Shortest, Most Insightful Interview Of A Photographer I’ve Ever Seen

“There was a sniper, he was trying to kill me, and he hit my camera which was by my face, and I still have that Nikon camera with a bullet hole in it". So begins one of the most compelling interviews I’ve ever seen. Welcome to a rip-roaring three minutes and twenty seconds of a wonderful journey into the mind of Don McCullin.

Watch "DUFFY: The Man Who Shot the Sixties"

Anyone interested in fashion photography owes it to his or herself to watch this documentary. In the 1960s, three photographers dominated the British fashion scene - David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Brian Duffy. "DUFFY: The Man Who Shot the Sixties" is a fantastic film that follows the rise, the (literal) flameout and the comeback of an iconic photographer.

Can The 'Selfie' Redefine Beauty?

Just couple of months ago 'Selfie' was chosen as the word of the year by the Oxford English Dictionary. Now that pretty much everyone have a camera in their pocket, taking self portraits is easier than ever. It seems like everyone are doing it, and you can see it all over social media. The thing is - because the subject controls everything about the creation of the image - from posing to angle of shooting, it's easy for them to hide things they don't like. In this beautiful short film, Dove shows girls how including their insecurities in their selfies can change their opinions about their own beauty.

True Lifestyle Photography and How to Get the Most Out of Your Session

According to Wikipedia lifestyle photography is "a style of portrait / people photography which aims to capture and document real-life events, situations, or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday." Photographers every day are advertising sessions as lifestyle photography, but in reality, are totally missing the mark.

Photographer Abe Van Dyke Documents His Mother's Passing

We often look at photojournalists and think, how could you do what they do. How could you stand around taking photos while people are suffering or could benefit from your help? On the other hand, we rarely think about transfering that realm into something tragic that happens in our own eyes, but that is exactly what Abe did.

Ingenious Camera Work Allows Photographer To "Time Travel" In Self Portrait Series

I’m always intrigued by those photographers who shoot self portraits, particularly when they bring something new to the mix. Chino Otsuka used her camera and some skillful Photoshop work to not only carry out a self portrait series, but to transport herself back in time, into photographs featuring her younger self - sometimes from almost three decades in to her past. The results are both thought provoking and mesmerizing.

Martin Schoeller Discusses His Work for National Geographic Live!

Martin Schoeller is undoubtedly one of the premiere portrait photographers in the world. In this episode of National Geographic Live! Schoeller talks about shooting for National Geographic (including the images found in the most recent issue) as well as several of his other projects. Shooting for the magazine took him to Tanzania where he shot his signature style of portraits as well as some epically beautiful environmental pictures.

Photojournalist David Guttenfelder Talks About His Regular Experiences In North Korea

David Guttenfelder is the only western photojournalist who has regular access inside North Korea. With this opportunity, he has the ability to show the human side of the country. He wanted to showcase the truth, both the good and the bad. You empathize with the people of the country when you see the hardships they are going through. You're also fascinated with how they operate behind closed curtains.

100 Year Old Negatives Found In The Antarctic

A group of conservators restoring one of the century old supply depots established by Robert Falcon Scott during his expedition to the South Pole found more than they bargained for. In the corner of one of the huts lay a solid block of ice containing 22 negatives that have been quite well preserved for an entire century.

Lynn Goldsmith Shares Her Stories Of Working With The Biggest Stars In The World

Lynn Goldsmith is considered to be one of the best music photographers in the world. She was one of the only female photographers in the scene in the 70s and 80s, and photographed pretty much all legend we can think of. From Michael Jackson to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley and The Beatles. In this interview with CBS she shares some of the stories and experiences she had as a rock and roll photographer.

Robert Capa's Unseen Color Photos

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Robert Capa, the iconic war photographer and Magnum Photos co-founder whose life, documented in the autobiography Slightly Out of Focus, is the stuff of legend. Capa's centenary has brought with it a number of undiscovered treasures from his life including his only surviving audio interview from October 1947 but also a rich collection of slide film taken on assignment from 1938 until his death in 1954.

Photojournalist Helps to Make Impact on the War in Africa

Photographer Marcus Bleasdale spent a great deal of time from 2003-2004 covering the exploitation of natural resources in Eastern Congo. Children were either used to mine gold for the rebels that was sold to finance the war or to pick up a weapon and fight as soldiers. Human Rights Watch, with these pictures, pressured the company buying all of this gold ($150 million dollars worth) to stop.

Michael Shainblum: The Art Behind The Time Lapse

San Diego based photographer, Michael Shainblum, is not only a great photographer, he's also an incredible time-lapser. When Michael was young he was diagnosed with Dyslexia and learning disabilities, and got discouraged when he saw that other kids succeed and do well while he struggles. He quickly realized he can excel in art, and decided to take this route to succeed in life. For the past few years Michael has created some of the best time-lapse videos ever created. VICE filmed this very interesting documentary about him and his work - sit back and enjoy!

Remembering (And Learning From) Saul Leiter

Most people haven’t heard of Saul Leiter, yet he was one of the great photographers of the 20th Century. The reason you might not know him or his work is because he simply didn't care about pursuing recognition or a particular career path. With his passing last month, let’s use this opportunity to reflect back on his stunning work, and see what we can all learn from his artistic vision, his philosophies and his razor sharp eye.

Stunning Graffiti Artwork Video “Limitless” BTS And Interview With Creator, Selina Miles

I’ve just had Selina’s answers back for this interview and feel sick. Some numbers - 80 hours shooting, 7000+ stills, 40+ hours of rendering, sleeping in shifts to meet deadlines. I thought my current project was tough - compared to her's, I feel like I'm sat on a beach drinking a piña colada. Her video “Limitless” has had 6+ million views in 2 weeks, so all her hard work paid off. Read on to find out how she put this beautiful video together.

Film VS Digital – The Documentary “Side By Side” Nails It

You know that moment when you start to watch a documentary, not knowing if it will be any good, and then walk away with your jaw on the floor as the credits roll? That was me last night. If you're interested in the film VS. digital debate; the progression of technology; where things are going for visual media; cinematography; how the media we use to create images affects how we feel about what we see or watch (and why), or how changes in the photographic industry have influenced cinema, you positively, absolutely need to check out Side By Side. Like, now.

Peter Turnley's Love Letter to Paris

There are photo books and then there are photo books that you go back to repeatedly over time. Peter Turnley's new self-published collection "French Kiss: A Love Letter to Paris" is one such publication that begs to be savored. A monochromatic study of Paris captured over 40 years on the streets, the 138-image hardcover is an homage to the romance of the City of Lights captured with a reverence for the aesthetics of famous French street photography.

Everybody Street Documentary Now Available Online

Cheryl Dunn’s visceral documentary of New York street photographers “Everybody Street” is now available for rental or purchase online via Vimeo. The 90-minute film debuted in April at Toronto’s HotDocs International Documentary Film Festival, traveled to several international festivals and continues to be screened. Featured photographers include Boogie, Bruce Davidson, Bruce Gilden, Elliott Erwitt, Jamel Shabazz, Jill Freedman, Mary Ellen Mark and Joel Meyerowitz among others.

Photographing The World's Remotest Tribes Before They Pass Away

Watch this early cut of a potential series about Jimmy Nelson now. Getting past the overly-dramatic-action-movie intro, this is a show you will want to watch. "Before They Pass Away" follows Nelson around the world on his journeys to photograph indigenous tribes before they go extinct. In the first episode, Nelson and his team travel to the Vanuatu Islands where they photograph five different tribes that live on the 83-island chain.

14 Tips For Shooting Your Next Chaotic Event

In my filmmaking career, I’ve had the opportunity to film some pretty unique events. While shooting I often come across other event shooters and realize that we’re a unique breed. Essentially, we're people willing to sacrifice food, rest and comfort to tell an amazing story. Even though we accept the stresses that comes with event shooting, there are a number of ways we can plan ahead and minimize headaches.

The Strangely Beautiful Photographic World Of GTA 5

GTA 5 is not just a successful video game, it’s the highest grossing entertainment product of all time. Part of it's success is down to it’s beautiful, immersive virtual environment. This environment has inspired a number of keen eyed photographers out there to bring us some beautiful street and landscape photography. It beggars the question – is this really photography and if not, well, what is it?