Student Photo Documentary

[zakhiel]

I can't believe I'm asking this here... but I've been trying to think up an idea for over a week and 1/2 now, and I'm desparate and seeking help from all avenues.

I'm in Photography 1 at university, a b&w class, and our current assignment is a Photo Documentary Project. Basically, we must take pics of a particular situation, person/people, object(s), or environments in an "informative, artistic and provocative way". We have to document something in a way that brings a new understanding of it, or brings to light a place or situation that might otherwise go unnoticed. And as the artist we must stay neutral on the subject.

Now, I live in Nowheresville, MISSISSIPPI. What the fizuck am I going to photograph that's informative and provocative?? Trees trees and more trees! We can't document "news story" type things, like a sports event, either.

So... basically I was wondering if there are any photographers here that might can offer some assistance. I'm a total n00b at photography and this project is due on Halloween. ;_; Any help = much appreciated...

[miokomioko]

When I first started in my first 101 class at this photography institute, we had this pretty boring but very similar project called "A Day In The Life" which was pretty much identical, but it had to show something boring and 'everyday' that gets unnoticed but photographed in an interesting/original way about something that goes on in Santa Barbara, CA.

Lucky for us, this is a ritzy, spanish architectured, tourist, 'southern' California beach town, home to celebrities, huge expensive mansions, and pretty ridiculous bums. However, all that stuff is pretty cliche` and the more interesting images came from getting into the lives of the blue-collar residents. Couldn't get any more 'everyday' than a group of elderly mexican guys sitting around playing their daily game of cards. However, no one (at least no one who is into the arts) really sees that every day. It's another world in comparison to your target audience.

If I were to recommend something for your assignment, I'd go to the most down-and-dirty physical labor site there might be, a slaughterhouse or whatever might be in Mississippi... lol, and take shots of the gnarly characters that might work in a place like that every day of their lives. In a place that most people would avoid. It's mostly about exposing everyday events that are usually intentionally ignored, or even behind closed doors but are part of the structure of your local economy, government, or society.

Or something.

[GraveRobberX]

Not trying to be an ass or racist

Use your surroundings

Poverty is always "informative, artistic and provocative way"

Find some Homeless people and show how they suffer thru everday life

You just have to be candid, not Pulitzer Prize winning right angle, right shadow/sunlight, right optic lens and all the bs

Almost like a sneak peek into someone elses life w/o them knowing it and making the picture show what that person is about at that moment of time

[solsovly]

Are there any local events near you? Local concerts, university events etc. I think you might be misunderstanding the word "provocative" for risque. If you want to tie it into halloween, you could find local halloween scenery. Maybe even compoare "traditional" Halloween images to modern day kids and candy Halloween. Any local industries? I used to have a ton of trees around my area but they are being cut down for industrial space. There can be a number of things that while may bore YOU because you have been around them, may interest someone else.

[zakhiel]

Hey thanks for the responses.

So far the only ideas I've had are 'hands' and 'guts'. Basically for the hands I was thinking I'd just photograph different people's hands doing things - cooking, eating, typing, writing, drawing/painting, etc. Though I thought I could take it a step further too and maybe include like the hands of a clock or something. The guts thing, I was thinking of photographing the 'inner workings' of things, like taking apart my laptop or something. Kind of playing on the idea of things people don't think about I guess. Like you use your hands without really noticing them, and many people use their car, computer, whatever without really knowing what is inside/what goes on inside them. That's all I could come up w/ so far, lol. Lame?

Btw I've never seen a homeless person in this town so that's kinda hard. I'd be kinda afraid to go to impoverished areas, might get shot. >_> I do thank you for the suggestions tho.

Also, I can't take pictures of news events like concerts/sporting events.