Documentary photography projects
These documentary photography projects cover subjects that range from life on Britain’s waterways to armed protest in the USA, and from South African women’s football teams to wildcat miners in the Forest of Dean.
Personal Work Journal is dedicated to exploring the best new photography projects, and sharing the personal projects of photographers, film makers and creatives.
We showcase documentary photographers from around the world, who share their personal work and passion projects.
Photographers featured include verteran photojournalist Michael von Graffenried, Lagos based photographer Andrew Esiebo, and legendary documentary photographer Homer Sykes.
Featured Documentary Photography
KC Nwakalor
“My photography is mainly journalism and editorial and I focus on social economic, environmental and health issues. My aim is to humanise stories.”
KC Nwakalor is a photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Abuja, Nigeria. His work has been featured in newspapers and magazines world wide and he regularly works with international NGOs and humanitarian organisations.
KC is also the co-founder of No Wahala Magazine, Africa’s first contemporary photography magazine championing visual stories by African creatives.
Aino Väänänen
“I try to take pictures that somehow portray the person’s essence, that brings out something they might not have seen themselves.”
Aino Väänänen is a documentary photographer based in Finland
Her debut project, True Citizens, told the story of second-generation immigrants in the UK & Finland, and was widely exhibited. She’s currently working on a long term project, Dandelions, documenting the lives of women at high risk of HIV living in Bucharest.
Latest Documentary Projects
Documentary photographer Debby Besford finds community & personal connections at a model boat club.
NAME Debby Besford JOB Documentary photographer WEBSITE Debby Besford PROJECT The Great Yarmouth Model Boat ClubDebby Besford has been featured on Personal Work Journal before, with her charming and very personal photography project about the renovation of the...
Anna Fox shares images from 2 of her new photography projects & discusses collaborating with Karen Knorr
From The Village, 1991NAME Anna Fox JOB Photographer & Prof Photography WEBSITE Anna Fox PROJECT U.S. 1 & CabinetUsually when you ask a photographer to describe their practice you get a short, sometimes terse, answer but not with Anna Fox. As befits an...
With her portraits of autistic women, Rosie Barnes gives voice to an under represented community.
NAME Rosie Barnes JOB Documentary Photographer WEBSITE Rosie Barnes PROJECT No You're NotPortraits of autistic women Rosie Barnes is a documentary photographer who has a particular interest in what she terms disability/difference. She has produced work that looks at...
A family connection opened the door for Nick Hodgson’s personal project & literally took him deeper into the subject.
NAME Nick Hodgson JOB photographer WEBSITE Nick Hodgson PROJECT Free Mines, Coal Faces You can purchase a copy of Free Mines, Coal Faces on Nick's website.Although he describes himself as a documentary landscape photographer, taking inspiration from Chloe Dewe...
By taking his street photography inside, Paul Harrison has created intriguing relationships between art & the real world.
NAME Paul Harrison JOB London Tour Guide WEBSITE Paul Harrison PROJECT National GalleryI first met Paul Harrison at a protest march that had brought part of central London to a standstill. He rushed up to me and asked if I knew where he could buy another SD card as...
Michael von Graffenried has made the Widelux his own, producing intimate & unsettling images of the ordinary
NAME Michael von Graffenried JOB Photojournalist WEBSITE Michael von Graffenried PROJECT Our TownMichael von Graffenried is a widely published and highly regarded Swiss photojournalist. Graffenried works in series of long-term documentary projects and his photography...
Documentary photographer Ryan Thomas’ self published photobook contrasts protests from the USA, UK & France.
NAME Ryan Thomas JOB MA Graduate WEBSITE Ryan Thomas PROJECT Everything Will Kill YouRyan Thomas is an early career documentary photographer and has just completed an MA in Photojournalism at Swansea. Ryan’s work focuses on protest and he’s recently self-published...
Documentary photographer Aino Väänänen launches a new photography Magazine, We Shall See
NAME Aino Väänänen JOB Documentary Photographer WEBSITE Aino Väänänen PROJECT We Shall SeeI try to take pictures that somehow portray the person’s essence, that brings out something they might not have seen themselves.Aino Väänänen is a documentary photographer based...
Legendary documentary photographer Homer Sykes draws on his archive of colour work for his new book,
HOMER SYKES. Blackpool, Lancashire. 1980s. From My British Archive: Colour Works 1980's & 90's © Homer SykesNAME Homer Sykes JOB Documentary Photographer WEBSITE Homer Sykes PROJECT My British Archive: Colour Works the 1980s and 90s SELF PUBLISHING PHOTOGRAPHY...
We publish new personal photography projects each week, so join our mailing list to get a regular update on the latest artists and their works.
New documentary photography projects
Michael von Graffenried
Today everybody knows when there’s a photographer around so they start to act. With the Widelux, nobody knows what you’re doing.
Michael von Graffenried is a widely published and highly regarded Swiss photojournalist.
He works on long-term documentary photography projects and his work is distinctive for its use of the Widelux: a panoramic camera with an ultrawide, 140 degree view. Read his interview.
Ryan Thomas
My personal interest is in photographing things that are intense in power or scale.
Ryan Thomas is an early career documentary photographer and has just completed an MA in Photojournalism at Swansea.
Ryan’s work focuses on protest and he’s recently self-published “Everything will kill you so choose something fun proactive”
Andrew Esiebo
My photography is not about being commercially successful it’s about using photography to tell what I see: photography is my personal empowerment.
Andre Esiebo is a Lagos based photographer and film maker, who’s work focuses on themes such as sexuality, gender politics, football and migration.
His work has been exhibited worldwide at a host of prestigious institutions including the Sao Paulo Biennial, Dak’Art Biennial in Senegal and Photoquai biennial in France.
Homer Sykes
I’m still looking for another perfect picture that sums up in 21st Century way, what English village life is like.
For anyone interested in British documentary photography, Homer Sykes is one of the most important and influential people working today.
His photobook, Once A Year: Some Traditional British Customs is highly collectable and its publication in 1977 marked the start of a successful career examining British rural life and traditional customs. Read his full interview.
About Personal Work Journal
PWJ is a photo journal dedicated to searching out and showcasing the latest personal photographic projects.
We believe that personal work allows photographers to explore their true passions and interests, to try new techniques or simply to shoot for the pleasure of taking pictures.
All good work is personal.
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