One more thing I mentioned last time. This is the
way Russell Lee approached the assignment to
document a study of "Health in the Bitumenous Coal
Regions" that was conducted by the Department of
the Navy under the direction of Admiral Joel Boone.
Does a methodical (methodological) approach make
for ethnographic photography?
RUSSELL LEE'S CHECKLIST FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
The following is a checklist which I found useful
during the Boone report:
- Setting
- Housing
- Main Street
- Religion
- Education
- Transportation - movement of goods and people
- Architecture
- Social centers - interchange of ideas
- Everyday living - family relations
- recreation - saturday and Sunday
- Work
- Day and night
- Effect of weather
- Age groups of people
- Health and medical care
- Signs and symbols
- Sanitation
- memorabilia - particularly in the house
Note: Full and accurate captions are necessary.
Direct quotes are very effective. Photographs
should contain as much visual information as
possible.