LOCATE YOUR TOPIC

The importance of research and writing in making engaging documentary work

Undertaking a long-term documentary project requires a different level of commitment than simply going out on a Sunday afternoon and shooting images. Long-term projects require a potent mix of persistence and patience complemented by a hefty dose of creative stamina. You need to ensure that you enjoy the topic and are ready for unexpected hurdles.

But how do you decide on your topic, especially if it’s your first long-term project? How do we fully invest ourselves into a multi-year project? It’s important to come prepared; having done your homework, you should arrive at a topic that is not only timely, but that lies at the intersection of what is important to you, and secondly what is important to others.

The research and writing phases are important. You need to be able to convey your attitude, knowledge and sense of the project effectively. The motto that images speak for themselves is problematic and not always self-evident. Can images alone tell the story? Yes. Can it be told better with thorough research and writing? Likely so. You need to become an expert on the subject. Start with online research, but don’t be afraid to visit your local public or university library. Seek the help of a librarian and start looking up and down the stacks.

Conducting research has more utility than simply informing you about the project; it can tell you if a topic has been covered before. If the answer is no, then you have full creative range to express it. If the answer is yes, then you need to ask yourself, “How can I do it differently? How can I apply a new angle?”

A common failure of photographers is that they are unable to express themselves through text, often failing to see the synergic possibilities offered by the combination of text and image. Conducting research early can help improve your ability to execute a project statement, a related essay, a grant application, or your ability to interact with your subjects.

Opposite above BUILD A CONNECTION Talk to your subjects and learn their story, as this also forms an important part of the research process

Opposite below A NEW PERSPECTIVE If a topic has already been explored before, try to take a fresh, new approach to documenting it

Below GRAIN ELEVATOR, AB, 2015 Always keep your project’s ‘big picture’ in mind, and let that dictate your choice of shots

Above SHOOT A STORY Kyler shot this image of a man looking for dinosaur bones in Alberta, Canada, 2015