Documentary / Social Realist
The body as it is, in its environment, without idealization. Dignity through honesty.
Historical Context
The documentary tradition in figure photography prioritizes truth over beauty. Associated with photographers who turned their lens on marginal communities, private moments, and the unidealized body.
Defining Characteristics
- Candid or natural posture
- Environmental context
- Non-idealized bodies
- Available light
- Empathy as primary mode
Reference Artists
- Nan Goldin
- Sally Mann
- Larry Clark
- Wolfgang Tillmans
Works in this style