Photo Documentary

[markjass]

I have no idea how to go about this 'autophotgraphical' documentary. I see this as part of my journey, any pictures are just for me. On 22 Feb 2011 we were hit by an earthquake. I am not sure why but I just did not take photographs of how it impacted on my life. Since then life has been an emotional roller-coaster. Anyway a month ago my insurance company has decided that my house is not repairable (from a photograph point of view it looks ok). I want to do a documentary of my house as it is now to how it is rebuilt. How should I go about this (I am a novice photographer). Some how I want to convey the emotional feelings. When I bought the house I 'loved it' and enjoyed living here. Now I feel detached from it, it is functional and I do not give a stuff about it; I am so over it. Having said this I do feel excited and yet apprehensive about the rebuild.

How should I go about doing the documentary. Should pictures just involve the physical process? I want to involve the people who are involved, my case manager, my banker, my lawer. How do I get them to agree to be in the pictures. How do I take pictures of the people involved. Are there any articles, photographers that I should google etc.

How should I start? Where shoild I go? should I do it in colour?

[Mike Buckley]

So sorry that you're having to go through the trouble of losing your home. So glad that apparently you weren't hurt.

This is such a wonderful topic and I'm sure you're going to get some great suggestions.

You didn't mention whether you're comfortable taking photos of people. (Some people aren't.) If you're not, it's a matter of practice. You could begin today by walking up to people and asking them to allow you to take photos. You could even explain why you're doing it.

As for photographing the house itself, Google "house construction photos" and review the many examples of photography. You'll get good ideas about compositions for close-ups of tools, parts of the house, the entire house, and the house with people included in the photo.

Regarding the people to include, you mentioned only the behind-the-scenes people, not the people actually building your home. If you build relationships with them very early on in the process, they'll likely develop more personal pride in their work and do a better job of building your home.

As for asking everyone to participate in your project, simply let everyone know about it and that you hope they'll participate. Offer to provide them prints or even a copy of a book made of your project. Have the prints made as you go along. If you decide to print a book, begin formatting it from the very beginning adding photos as you progress through the project. At the end of the project add the last few photos, get the book printed (that takes only a few days), throw a party inviting everyone to attend, and give them their copy of the prints or book.