The last few years have some tremendously good documentary movies about photography and photographers released on DVD. Here’s my pick of the best 10. Click on the cover to see the film in Amazon.co.uk:
Visual Acoustics: Modernism of Julius Shulman [2010]
Essential if you are interested in one of the masters of architectural photography or modernism in LA from the Case study Houses onwards. Very poignant to see Shulman’s archive been shipped to the Getty centre a year before he passed away.
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye [2006]
If you are a cartier-Bresson fan like me this is a real treat and goes well beyond the surface in exploring his his oeuvre and plenty of interviews of the man himself discussing his iconic and lesser known work.
The Genius of Photography [2007]
The best filmed introduction to the magic of photography. The BBC at its best in six episodes. Interviews with some of the world’s greatest living photographers including William Eggleston, Nan Goldin, William Klein, Martin Parr, Sally Mann, Robert Adams, Juergen Teller, Andreas Gursky and Jeff Wall.
War Photographer [2002]
A study of James Nachtwey on assignment in Kosovo, Palestine and Indonesia using a movie camera attached to his SLR its enlightening how the subjects in these harrowing situations are wholly complicit in the image making process. (It should be noted there are no subtitles for the German and Albanian parts in the DVD)
Manufactured Landscapes [2006]
Follows Edward Burtynsky at work in China and Bangladesh and the USA. Filmed by Jennifer Baichwal in a complimentary refined aesthetic to Burtynsky’s work. Beautiful.
Annie Leibovitz – Life Through a Lens [2006]
A documentary about Annie Leibovitz, directed by her sister, Barbara. I wasn’t expecting a film about celebrity culture to have so many intelligent insights.
National Geographic’s The Photographers [1996]
Looking a little out of date now, but fascinating never the less, this documentary follows veteran photographers for National Geographic on assignment.
What Remains: The Life and Work of Sally Mann [2008]
Enlightening on many levels as a good documentary film should be and shows footage of her actually taking some of her most famed photographs
Contacts, Vol. 3: Conceptual Photography (2001)
Features Thomas Struth, Wolfgang Tillmans, Roni Horn, Bernd and Hilla Becher, and other contemporary photographers told in their own words.
William Eggleston in the Real World [2005]
I find Eggleston like Tilmans a difficult photographer to appreciate but this film me understand where he’s coming from.
Please add your suggestions to add to this list in the comments below…..
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How about “Strand, Under the Dark Cloth?”
Excellent list of must-see stuff. Thanks for posting.
Many thanks. Do post any suggestions you think are missing below. Since is posted this I’d add “The Wonderful World Of Albert Kahn” for the colour autochromes from 1910-20 including WW1 some of which have a very modernist aesthetic
And Eggleston is shown completely drunk.
Quite an experience…
Yes I quite agree! I most enjoyed seeing him on location and then viewing the resulting image he made.
10 Best Documentary Movies About Photography & Photographers
I saw a great doc once about a small town newspaper photographer in the U.S. that was so inspiring. Can’t remeber the name of the film or the name of the photographer. Anyone have any thoughts?
Was it Bill Owens – “Suburbia”?
Helmut by June is amazing. Also Born Into Brothels is a must see!
Great suggestions thanks, I’ll check them out…..
I’ve recently gotten into photography and saw this fantastic (and long) documentary about various photographers. It was probably on PBS. I remember they did a story about an Asian woman who photographs herself nude in various industrial settings. Another about a man who started to photograph his sick father. Another segment about an old man who goes out into the street of NYC and photographs people seemingly all day long. And many more. It aired a couple years ago. It was brilliant and I’m sorry I’m being so vague, but I would love for any leads on these people or HOPEFULLY more info on this show. I believe it was aired over several days.
Glad you are enjoying getting into photography. I think its Ovation TVs “Close Up Photographers at work” the asian artist is Miru Kim, not sure about the other guy unless its Robert Frank, there are a lot of clips on youtube & Vimeo here
THAT’S EXACTLY IT! Wow, thank you so much!!! I gave such vague information and you answered me within hours! I will do some online searching for more on this program.
Again, thank you so much.
The bang Bang Club is Missing , the work of Kevin carter and all.
Good call – thats a brilliant film
The version of War Photographer I have has subtititles, I show it to my photojournalism class. Also the Bang Bang Club and National Geographic are excellent as well. There are a couple new ones that I haven’t seen yet that look good:
Bill Cunningham New York and Deadline Every Second: On Assignment with 12 Associated Press Photojournalists.
Jill, thanks for the additions
here’s a documentary movie about the Russian photographer Oleg Videnin. He’s a member of the Magnum affiliate in Russia.
http://www.amadelio.org/oleg_videnin_gate.html
Thanks for the addition Thomas
Good list! I contribute with a small Swedish film production about the legendary Latvian portrait photographer Inta Ruka.
“The photographer from Riga” (2009) follows Inta Ruka with her Rolleiflex, shooting portraits of ordinary people in the older areas of the Latvian capital. A “small” but truly heart warming documentary film about the passion of photography (b/w-medium-format in particular).
I think this one is hard to find for downloading, but it seem to be possible to order it from the following adress:
http://folketsdvd.se/fotografen-fran-riga
Great additions, thanks Erik
I want to contribute with a small but truly heart warming documentary about Latvian portrait photographer Inta Ruka. “The Photographer from Riga” (2009) follows Inta taking shots with her Rolleiflex of ordinary people in the old parts of the Latvian capital.
Trailer:
Hard to find online, but i think it’s possible to purchase it from here:
http://folketsdvd.se/fotografen-fran-riga
I like that outside bath!
I have seen a documentary about David LaChapelle and his work. “if you want reality, take the bus”.
Good addition thanks
Marwencol is a must see & is on Netflix. Also, the new documentary on Alec Soth titled Somewhere to Disappear is nice.
Thanks for the additions Shannon
There is an album for films in photography on DEVELOP Tube Vimeo that may be of interest – DEVELOP Tube is an educational resource which features videos in photojournalism, fine art and documentary photography.
DEVELOP Tube on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/channels/developphoto
Thanks for this addition
This 1983 documentary on Andreas Feinenger (from a series on photographers) was an inspiration to me as someone who loved graphics and photography
nice – I agree very inspiring
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“LA CIUDAD DE LOS FOTOGRAFOS” THE CITY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS a real nice documentary of photographers in Chile in pinochet´s dictatorship…
Thanks for your addition
I’m currently working on a documentary about the creativity, skills and talents of photographers who photograph models. Would love any advice from everyone. HeadshotDocFilm.com
” The Bang Bang Club “
its a good one, thanks
Liked that move…
Great list! Must see:) looking for some free time to watch it? I would add two more https://vimeo.com/15686678
Greetings from Poland.
Thanks Zuzanna
McCullin. You MUST watch McCullin. It’s a mixture of brilliant photographs and enlightening interviews with the photographer.
Thanks I always liked his work, i’ll check it out
McCullen – the life and work of Don McCullen…..
Thanks for the list.
Documentary on Shelby Lee Adams ” The true meaning of pictures” is great. Very provoking and food for thought. Another great one is on Sally Mann, available on documentarystream.com. “Everybody’s street” was just premiered at Hotdocs in Toronto and is another one not to miss. I’m sure most of readers here have seen the one on Bill Cunningham, if not, you should because it’s great.
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Round up on the best documentaries related to photography in general as curated by Quintin Lake on his blog 🙂
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nice list….thanks. I want to share my list about photograph and films;
http://www.serkanmutan.com/2014/05/fotograf-ve-fotografcilik-ile-ilgili.html
Hi Serkan, great addition of feature films featuring photography – I love Blow Up!
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I really enjoyed Bill Cunningham New York
Good addition thanks
Finding vivian mayers??
Good call Eric. Here’s the trailer for anyone interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o2nBhQ67Zc