Towards a More Equally Representative Visual Field : Research into the Social and Ethical Nature of Ethnographic Documentary Photography

Abstract

This paper addresses the nature of ethnographic documentary photographic practice concerned with goals of equal representation among the observed and the observer. Using examples from indigenous communities to reflect the relationship between a historically marginalized party and the photographer, I attempt to find a place beyond good intentions where a commitment to ethnographic documentary photographic work on, about, and with indigenous and minority communities can be done progressively and fairly. This paper confronts the dis-ease with which a nonindigenous photographer approaches work in communities in which she is not a member. I describe how collaborative engagement can become a tool for social advocacy and recognition through photography. Using photographs that I have taken, I critically analyze the effectiveness of my past photographic techniques, and how they can be improved for future projects.

Dát dutkkus váldá bajás etnográfalaš govvadokumenterema mas ulbmil lea ovttadássásaš ovddasteapmi sihke sis geat gehččojuvvot ja sis geat gehččet. Ovdamearkkaiguin álgoálbmot servvodagain reflekteret oktavuođa gaskkal historjjálaččat marginaliserejuvvon oasseváldi ja govvejeaddjis, mun geahččalan gávdnat saji meattá buriid áigumušaid gos lea beroštupmi álgoálbmogiid ja unnitlogu servvodagaid etnográfalaš govvadokumenterenbargui sin birra, sin mielde ja movt govvadokumenterenbargu sáhttá dáhkkot progressiiva vugiin ja vuoiggalaččat. Dát dutkkus deaivida movt okta olggobealde álgoálbmogiid govvejeaddji lahkonaddá bargui birrasiin maidda son ii gula. Mun govvidan movt ovttasráđálaš beroštupmi sáhttá leat gaskaoapmin sosiála mearrádusváikkuheapmái ja dovddastussii govvema bokte. Govain maid lean govven, mun analyseren kritihkalaččat man beaktilat mu ovddeš govventeknihkat leat leamaš, ja movt daid sáhttá buoridit boahttevaš prošeavttaide.