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The Lens of Humanity: Documentary Photography
August 01, 2024
Ivanhoe Donaldson (For Look magazine), Douglas R. Gilbert,
Photographic Print, 1965, 2018.48.2000.
Ground Zero, New York City, Sept, 12, 2011, Peter Turnley,
Archival Pigment Print, 2001. 2020.46.52.
Myth America Protest Against the Exploitive Representation of
Women In Beauty Pageants, Los Angeles, California, Donna
Ferrato, Archival Pigment Print, 1986, 2020.47.16.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, Walter Iooss, Archival Pigment Print, 1966, 2020.47.37.
Documentary photography is a style of photography that gives a candid and authentic representation of people, places, objects, and events. Before the popularity of television and the rise of the internet, documentary photography was an important way for people to learn about world events or see what life looked like across the globe. As digital technology advances, the demand for professional photography has diminished. In contrast, many contemporary documentary photographers are putting their works in galleries versus newspapers to shed light on injustice and inequality.
As an art form, documentary photography has the profound ability to transport the viewer into unfamiliar environments, activities, and viewpoints. It captures images of humanity and of individuals whose lives and backgrounds may be drastically different from our own. The photographs show us new perspectives, cultivating empathy and compassion. These images challenge assumptions or stereotypes the viewer has about other cultures and they evoke emotional responses.
The real-life moments presented through documentary photography give the viewer a look into the life of the subject being photographed. From joy and excitement to sadness and anger, these images portray real moments and real emotions. Authentic and relatable, documentary photographs create deep connections to their viewer and audience, providing a lasting impact.
From scenes of war and protest to celebratory sports events, from images of raw heartbreak to elated joy, the GVSU Art Collection includes several examples of documentary photography. The images in our collection record events and situations that have shaped the world in which we live.
Douglas R. Gilbert
At the age of twenty-one, Douglas R. Gilbert joined the staff of
Look magazine in New York as the second youngest
photojournalist in the magazine’s history. From a young age, Gilbert
was attracted to cameras and photography and could be found taking
pictures of his local Michigan neighborhood and friends. After
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
Look magazine sent Gilbert to Alabama to photograph Ivanhoe
Donaldson, a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, championing voting
and registration rights for Black Americans. The GVSU Collection has
several photographs from the time Gilbert spent with Donaldson as well
as other Look magazine assignments and personal projects.
Explore more photographs by Douglas R. Gilbert.
Peter Turnley
Peter Turnley began photographing in 1972 in his hometown of Fort
Wayne, Indiana. He and his twin brother, David, photographed the life
of the inner-city, working-class McClellan Street, working to give a
voice to the heart of America. Since this early project, his
photographs have drawn attention to the plight of those who have
suffered great hardships or injustice, while finding that many aspects
of life are also beautiful, poetic, just and inspirational. Turnley’s
photographs have been on the cover of Newsweek magazine 43 times.
Explore more photographs by Peter Turnley.
Donna Ferrato
Donna Ferrato is an internationally recognized photojournalist best known for her documentation of the hidden world of domestic violence. Her first book, “Living with the Enemy,” documents her time in New York City in 1970 photographing the heady nightclub culture at legendary establishments such as Studio 54 and Xenon. There she met and began documenting the life of prominent swinger couple known as Garth and Lisa. One night she witnessed Garth beating Lisa, a night that would forever change the path of Ferrato’s life and career. For the next decade, she rode in police cars, slept in shelters, and stayed at the homes of battered women, traveling the country photographing domestic violence.
Explore more photographs by Donna Ferrato.
Walter Iooss
Walter Iooss Jr. is an American photographer best known for his award-winning images of sports’ greatest athletes, like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Scottie Pippen, and Muhammad Ali. His career began with Sports Illustrated, a magazine Iooss has contributed to for over 50 years. Over the years he also worked with Atlantic Records to photograph performers like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. He also photographed an extended study of the Olympic athletes during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which resulted in the book “Shooting for the Gold.” His photographs have appeared in numerous magazines, advertising campaigns, and even baseball cards.
Explore more photographs by Walter Iooss.