VRMISR Chapter 6 Using Photography in Studies of Immigrant Communities

Chapter 6 helps with identifying how the photographer uncovers the patterns and behaviors of immigrants. Photographic methods and visual data assist in gathering data by following gaining orientation, developing rapport, communication with respondents and improving analysis. At the start of the study photographs provide a wide range of useful data. For example, how the scenery is presented, how the community interacts with one another and who is in attendance. It is important during this process that the photographer get out of his or her comfort zone and get closer to the subjects being studied. When developing a rapport with the community it is suggested that providing the community with copies of the photographs taken provide an excellent insight on how the community is regarded. In this current age of digital technology photographers have the luxury of creating an abundant of images that require little effort. Photographers have the ability to email their respondents the photos that were taken thus allowing for continued communication between the photographer and the participant(s). The images taken provide visualization of labor practices as well as gendered relations. To conclude analysis of the photographs allows the images to assist with previous literature review and previous fieldwork.