VRMISR Chapter 2 Observing Culture and Social Life: Documentary Photography, Fieldwork, and Social R

The emphases of chapter 2 is field work and social research. Jon Wagner challenges the images through social sciences and documentaries. Wagner questions what makes an image practical and or trustworthy? Social sciences research normally provides sample size, site selection, interview questions, and the preparation for the surveys. However, social science research has its drawbacks. This research is known to leave probable challenging components out of the research project. Thus, leaving the researcher to dominate the participants.

Wagner introduces us to, “photographic faux-realism”. The data may be real, but there are possibilities of misrepresentations. The material introduced may present judgement that take away from the natural setting and or representation of the material introduced. Secondly, posed photographs reflect how the participants would like to be viewed rather than how they really are. Social documentary photographers as well as social science field researchers, feel that photographs without agency create false impressions. Keeping the material as raw as possible is key in providing realistic representations of the data collected.