Below is a glossary article post in the category D which discusses the explanation of the meaning, definition and meaning of the acronym, term, jargon, or termonology of Documentary Photography based on summaries from various types of sources (references) that are relevant, related, and trustworthy.
Understanding Documentary Photography
So, what is actually meant by Documentary Photography?
Documentary photography is a photographic style that gives a representation of people, places, objects, and events that are directly and accurate, and are often used in reportage.
Explanation of Documentary Photography
Until the middle of the twentieth century, documentary photography was a vital way to witness the world events: from photos of Spanish civil war by Robert Capa to portraits considered from poor farmers by Dorothea Lange.
Social documentary photography
During this period the documentary photography tradition was created again. Artists begin to see the camera as a tool for social change, using it to explain injustice, inequality and aspects of the absent society. However, social documentary photography is often a subjective art and not all photographers in this category intend to help their images to help maintain better society.
Close-up Lisette’s view of people on people on the streets of Paris, New York and Riviera France is often taken without awareness or subject permission. Since 1949 and so on, Robert Frank began to take pictures that reflect his search for artistic freedom, shooting stories that revolutionize the medium expressive potential.
Contemporary artist
With the emergence of television and digital technology, there is a slight demand for photography that is published and began to decline but since then finding a new audience in the art gallery and museum. Placing these works in the gallery settings place work at the debate center around photography and photographer motivation. Their work raises questions about the role of today’s photo documentary and offers alternative ways to see, record, and understand events and situations that shape the world where we live.
Moreover, as we have seen above, this term is one of a collection of dictionaries, acronyms, terms, jargon, or terminology in the field of arts that begins with an alphabet or prefix D, as well as terms associated with D.
Meaning of Documentary Photography in the English, Indonesian (Including Javanese and Sundanese), and Malaysian Translation Dictionary
Apart from discussing the meaning and discussion of the definition, to deepen it further, here we also need to know what the word means in the English, Indonesian (including Javanese and Sundanese) translation dictionaries, as well as Malaysia (Malay).
For easy understanding, in this glossary post, we will explain it in the form of a list of translations of terms from various types of languages as follows:
- English; Terminology = Documentary Photography.
- Indonesian (including Javanese and Sundanese translations); Terminology = Fotografi Dokumenter (Indonesian), Fotografi dokumenter (Java), and Fotografer in Sundanese.
- Malaysian; Terminology = Fotografi dokumentari.
Closing
OK, above there is the discussion and explanation of what is the meaning of Documentary Photography.
Hopefully this article post that we have shared can be useful and can broaden our insight and literacy, especially in Art.
See also ours other articles related to the field of Art on the main blog page of our website.
Footnotes
This glossary post was created by referring to the conclusions of the meaning of definitions from various authoritative relevant references such as Wikipedia, Britannica and several other sources such as MoMA, Tate, ModernArts, and so on. This word is one of a collection of terminology in the field of Art which begins with the alphabet or prefix D. This article wasupdated in Dec of 2025.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity
- https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=documentary-photography
- https://www.britannica.com/search?query=documentary-photography
- View example images of documentary-photography through Google here
- View example images of documentary-photography on Bing here
- View example images of documentary-photography on Yandex here
