104819 - DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY I

Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Jorge Oter Gonzalez

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

Academic year: 2025

Teaching course: 4

• Catalan

Teachers:

Maria Luna-Rassa and Eva Parey Reyes

The subject can be taught in Catalan or Spanish. The readings are in Catalan, Spanish, and some in English.

Catalan will be the main language used for presentations and submissions.

Questions formulated in either of the two co-official languages will be accepted.

The subject reflects on the use of the photographic image to represent social, political, economic, environmental and cultural challenges of our current society. Both at a practical level, and from the reading of texts within the field of creative documentary photography, the subject proposes the development of photographic exercises outdoors and on set, as well as the presentation of a documentary photographic series that demonstrates the development of one's own perspective and the rigor in the care of technical, narrative and photographic composition aspects in relation to the environment.

The practical work is structured around the individual, the immediate and general environment, and the social environment. 

The activities involve taking high-quality photographic images and discussing them, reading texts related to practical and theoretical aspects of photography, photo editing and the curation or selection of photos and texts as well as their graphic arrangement for exhibitions or publications.

The classroom (physical and virtual) is a safe space, free from sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and discriminatory attitudes, whether towards students or teachers. We trust that together we can create a safe space where we can make mistakes and learn without having to suffer prejudice from others.

History 

• Documentary photography and its authors.
• Pioneering photographic trends: Direct photography, New objectivity.
• Ethnographic photography and the photographers of National Geographic
• Street Photo and The Magnum Agency.
• Image rights and code of ethics.
• Birth of graphic reporting. Photo editors
• Collage, photomontage and other avant-gardes.
• Postphotography and New documentary photography.

Reflection and analysis

• Reading of different texts by photographers, editors or philosophers, related to documentary photography.
• Watching documentaries that show the work of different photographers. 
• Visit to exhibitions.
• Author analysis.

Photographic technique

• Practical photography exercises outdoors and on set. Topics: portrait, environment and nature. Use of studio flash.
• Laboratory: Delivery of works in triptych format, user-level use of Photoshop/Lightroom, Collage and photomontage, graphic review, cover design and interior pages of a photo book.
• Concept and development of a documentary theme for the final project: photographic series.

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Continuous assessment (70%):

• Mandatory practicals: Exteriors (photographs in the environment), set and laboratory (Collage, photomontage, cover and interior pages of photo book) (20%) individual
• Readings and participation in seminars (10%) in group
• Presentations by individual author(s) (5%).
• Visit to exhibitions and review with graphic presentation (10%) in group
• Final Project - photographic series - (25%) - individual

Final Exam 30%:  

Individual. To access this weighting it is essential to have achieved an average of 5 in both the continuous assessment and the final exam.

(!) If the student has a lower average in one of the parts, they will not be given this weighting and will fail with the grade of the failed part.

The continuous assessment part is not retaken. The exam part is retaken in the retake exam. To access the weighted calculation of the grade, it is necessary to obtain a grade of 5 in the retake.

The statements of the different exercises will be provided throughout the course. 

Identification of plagiarism is considered a serious circumstance that may lead to a failing grade in the subject. In case of detection of plagiarism, the coordination of the degree will be informed so that the corresponding disciplinary measures can be taken. 

Any form of academic fraud will be sanctioned in accordance with the center's assessment regulations. If signs of fraud are detected, including the improper use of generative artificial intelligence tools, the subject's teaching staff may call the student for an individual interview with the aim of verifying their authorship.

Cartier Bresson, Henri. (2003). Photograph nature. Gustavo Gili.

Freund, Gisele. (2002). Photography as a social document. Gustavo Gili.

Newman, Cathy. (2001). Women behind the camera. National Geographic.

Baig, Xavier and Rovira, Jordi. (2022). Behind the instant Ana Turbau Documentary. RTVE. 

Bouvereuse, Clara. (2020). Women Photographers. Thames and Hudson

Cape, Robert (2015). Slightly out of focus. The Factory

Fontcuberta, Joan. (2010). Pandora's Chamber. Gustavo Gili.

Frank, Robert. (2022). The Americans The Factory 

Friedelad, Boris. (2018). Women Photographers: from Julia Margaret Cameron to Cindy Sherman. loan

García Rodero, Cristina. (2024). Hidden Spain Revised Edition. The Factory 

Klein, William. (2021). Painted Contacts. loan

Lowe, Pau. (2020). The rules of photography. Know the maxims of every great teacher. Gustavo Gili. 

Lubben, Kristen. (2022). Magnum. Contact sheet Blume. 

Magnum Photos. Magazine. https://www.magnumphotos.com

Moon, Sara and Ikhlef, Roger. (2004). Contacts: The best photographers reveal the secrets of their profession. Original idea: William Klein. art 

Moreno, Óscar and Rovira, Jordi. (2015). Joana Biarnes. One among all. Nonfiction. Documentary. TV3-CCMA. 69 min. 

Morris, John G. (2013). Get this photo! A personal history of photojournalism. The Factory

Nelson, Charlotte. (2023). The hidden look. Documentary. Indispensable RTVE. 60 minutes 

Parr, Martin and Badgett, Gerry. (2004). The Photobook. A history. Phaidon.

Rodriguez, Francisco. (2014). What is photography? Lunwerg.

Rouillé, André. (2017). The photograph. Between document and contemporary art. heir 

Sontag, Susan. (2010). About photography. Random House Mondadori

Steiner, Otto. (1981). Art and photography. Gustavo Gili.

Szarowski, John. (2007). The photographer's eye. The Factory

VVAA (2003). Photographic aesthetics. Gustavo Gili.

Wenders, Wim and Ribeiro Salgado, Joao. (2014). The salt of the earth. Documentary. 110 minutes.