Prior to embarking on this module, my view of documentary photography was that it was as a way of depicting the real world and representing themes of importance, whether that be of a personal level to the photographer or relating to wider social concerns, events or place. To me documentarists were photographers such as, Lewis Hind, Paul Strand, Robert Frank, Chris Killip and the photographers of Magnum. After looking at work of contemporary documentary photographers such as Jack Latham, Max Pinkers and Alex Soth and working through the part one of this module, I understand it to be much more interpretive and as long as it relates to the real, ranging from place to events, there is no limit to creative interpretation.
Reading through the course notes, reportage is more closely concerned with a more subjective way of relating stories, implying the point of view of one person, whereas photojournalism is supposed to be a more objective form of relating to news imagery, although many factors can put a more subjective spin on fact, such as the complexities of political leaning of publications in which the work is seen or text accompanying the images. Art photography by far holds more ambiguity and allows a greater sense of creative licence from the image maker. There is much more freedom for the viewer to derive their own meaning from art photography.
Context and Narrative 