Favorite Photo Documentaries

karateisland

karateisland

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In a desperate attempt to stay sharp during my stay-at-home period, I've started watching a bunch of documentaries related to my interests.

I just watched Everybody Street, and wondered--do any of you have a favorite photo documentary? A thread of good educational resources like this could be a really great resource when everyone is stuck at home.
 
Iif you're talking about a book, it's got to be Nick Waplington's "living Room". If you talking about the documentary movie, it's got to be "True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Adams", or "Devil's Playground (2002). I love both of these.
 
William Eggleston In the Real World is a classic. Worth watching even if you've never picked up a camera.


The Eugene Smith one about the jazz loft is also fantastic.
 
https://www.ted.com/talks/james_nachtwey_my_wish_let_my_photographs_bear_witness?language=en

War photographer James Nachtwey did an award winning TED talk that is superb. He well illustrated his talk with his photos. Note: his photography is strong, maybe not suitable for squeamish.

Also the movie "War Photographer" by Christian Frie was nominated for an Academy Award. It is not by Nachtwey but about him. Some of the footage was shot from a helmet cam Frie fit on Nachtwey's hat. It tells a great story about him, and shows his work. If you think war photography is adrenaline junkies, this will change your perception.

His bio and the order in which he lists his honors tells about him:

He has received numerous honors such as the Common Wealth Award, Martin Luther King Award, Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award, Henry Luce Award, Robert Capa Gold Medal (five times), the World Press Photo Award (twice), Magazine Photographer of the Year (seven times), the International Center of Photography Infinity Award (three times), the Leica Award (twice), the Bayeaux Award for War Correspondents (twice), the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award, the Canon Photo Essayist Award, and the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Grant in Humanistic Photography. He is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and has an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts.
 
I second Bob's recommendation of "War Photographer" about James Nachtwey.
Even if photojournalism or street photography is not your thing, it shows a great insight into his editing process, and how he thinks while he's shooting, editing contact sheets and printing. The "on-camera" video footage while he's shooting really reveals a lot about technique and being selective in your shooting.
 
“Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable” American Masters series on PBS for folks in the States and cable in Canada. I watched it on Amazon Prime, now that it’s opened up for wider free viewing. however you find it, it’s a good one.
 
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