Topics for Social Photography

Homelessness
Recycling
Urban decay
Consumerism
Heritage Preservation
Racism
Representation
The environment
Law and order




What is Social Photography?
Social photography is a subcategory of photography. Social
photography focuses on the technology, interaction, and activities of
individuals who take the photographs.
Styles for Social Photography

Artistic
An artistic approach to social photography is when the photographer is
persistent with how they take the photo. The photo taken is intentionally
put together to give an ambiguous meaning for the viewers. The
photographer aims for a certain style and will also edit the image to their
preference.


Documentary
A documentary approach to social photography is when the photographer
makes very little edits and doesnt use models for the image. They strive to have
a majority of authenticity brought to the image by taking a photo of social
issues while they are occurring in their natural environment. They can be more
emotional and overwhelming for viewers because they can be personal and
thought provoking.



Racial Micro Aggression
Photographer Kiyun photographed her friends at Fordham's Universitys Lincoln centre to write
down an instance of racial micro aggression they have faced. Two of these included a man
holding a sign that said, So, like, what are you? The other was a woman holding a sign that said,
What are you? She responded with, HUMAN. Being biracial doesnt make me a what. Kiyun
wanted these people to be heard and for people to realise that they are being prejudiced towards
these people without knowing it.
The key thematic element used by photographer Kiyun is discrimination. Fordham University
students have voiced their opinions on discrimination using white pieces of paper with messages
on them. The messages include racist comments that have been made to them by their peers. The
intended messages in these photographs are that people pull the race card but dont perceive it as
being discriminative. The students want people to comprehend that it is not fair to ask people
where they come from or assume theyre a certain way because of their background. The style of
photography used in the images is artistic. Photographer Kiyun used Fordham University
students as models to discuss racial micro aggression and what they have to go through.
Homelessness- Dick Loek
The image above is a photograph taken by Dick Loek. It is a photograph of a
homeless man named Edmond Yu.
Dick uses common thematic elements in most of his images that deal with similar
social issues such as homelessness and poverty. The thematic elements used in
this image include black & white. This creates a dramatic vibe to the image. The
subject in this image Edmond Yu is eating at a homeless shelter for Christmas. He
appears to be leaning over and praying over a tea light. The intended message in
this image used by photographer Dick Loek is to capture the pragmatic aspect of
it. It advises the viewers to grasp the seriousness of the situation and understand
that homelessness is a pressing issue and society and many people still suffer
from it. The style of photography used in this image is documentary.
Rick Collins
The image above was taken by social photographer Rick Collins. It represents
poverty as the photographer captured a young Afghan girl in an outdoor
classroom. After September 11
th
2001, president George W. Bush opted to
support the families of the firefighters and police killed in the attacks. Families in
Afghanistan also received help from Bush after the 9/11 attacks. The use of black
and white in this image helps display raw emotion. The children in this image
have a look of desperation on their faces. This conveys the idea that they have
hope for a better future. Collins wanted the viewers to perceive the environment
that the Afghan children live in, which is why he opted to take a documentary
photograph.