The Difference Between Documenting and Documentary in Photography

When it comes to photography, the terms documenting and documentary are often used, but they have distinct differences. This article aims to clarify these distinctions based on personal understanding and experience, without formal education in communications media or journalism.

Documenting

Documenting is the strict, factual, and technically correct recording of events and situations through various means, such as photography, voice recording, and stenography. The aim is to capture events without any input from the operator, who is the person handling the equipment necessary for documentation. This term emphasizes the notion that human beings, even witnesses, can be wrong in their recollection of events, especially traumatic ones.

A fair witness as described in Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land is a concept where a person undergoes extensive training in objective observation techniques. The task of a fair witness is to describe a view, such as a house, using only the information that is physically available. For example, if a witness sees a house from an oblique angle and only half of the roof, they would accurately describe it as having two walls rather than four, despite the logical conclusion. This illustrates the strict adherence to fact and avoidance of subjective bias.

Inforensic crime scene photographers take this process a step further. Their primary purpose is to document the scene with absolute precision and ensure that no additional elements are introduced, whether unintentionally or intentionally. This is why crime scene photographers often wear full-body suits to avoid touching or contaminating any evidence.

Documentary

A documentary, on the other hand, is a story that is not based on fiction, but about an event, a situation, a person's life, a probability, or an extrapolation of current facts or data. The documentary is narrated with a personal take on the subject matter, allowing for creativity and flexibility in how the story is told.

The documentary process often involves recreating scenes from witness accounts or merging real people's testimonies into fictional characters to explain complex or lengthy facts simply. This method helps to maintain the viewer's interest and comprehension. While the core principles of a documentary are based on facts and evidence, the narrative can include subjective opinions and viewpoints, which are woven into the storytelling.

The intent of a documentary can range from educational to political, but it always has a clear purpose. PBS's popular series NOVA is an example of an educational documentary, aiming to educate the public about science and technology. Documentaries by filmmakers like Errol Morris and Michael Moore have sought to effect social or political change. Morris' The Thin Blue Line highlighted issues in the criminal justice system, while Moore's Bowling for Columbine criticized the gun control debate in the United States.

The Nature of Documenting and Documentary

Documenting is about gathering and presenting facts, whereas a documentary is about presenting those facts through a narrative lens. The latter involves interpretation, perspective, and potentially subjective opinions. Just as matter approaching the speed of light cannot reach it, a documentary can come close to capturing raw data but cannot fully achieve objectivity due to the inclusion of personal viewpoints and narratives.

The key difference lies in the intent and process. Documenting is a rigorous, factual process, free from subjective bias. A documentary, while still grounded in fact, incorporates personal interpretation, emotion, and storytelling to engage and inform the audience. This highlights the subjective nature of a documentary and the importance of maintaining objectivity in the process of documenting.

Why Eyewitness Accounts Can Be Unreliable

Science has demonstrated that eyewitness accounts can be unreliable due to memory distortions and biases. Various studies have shown that human memory is susceptible to a wide range of influences, from leading questions to prior information, which can alter the recollection of events. For this reason, the term just the facts is often used in law enforcement, as documented in television shows like Dragnet.