What is Documentary Photography to me? 

You can google this term and find an answer on wiki, but this is my take on what documentary photography is.

I think of it as creating a body of work on a particular subject, story or topic and convey a story through a series of pictures.
Some people think traditional Documentary Photography isn't in demand as much as it might have been 30 years ago and I guess to a certain extent this is true. The traditional printed magazine with these photo essays are fewer and fewer... Especially now with the internet, people can just google a place, group of people etc and its all there for them to see.

So is it relevant in 2018?  I think so....  I can only comment personally on this but your project or body of work can be on your own doorstep... Document your town, your family... Local workers... Anything...
The Internet is a great place for your work to get exposure and be seen. An email to an online magazine, Newspaper website, gallery is only a click away! Documenting now is as important as it has ever been... Your project might not be the first on a certain topic but its your take on how you see the world.

Typically a project can take years to be completed... Sometimes months depending if it is an assignment with a deadline but a lot of the time it is personal work that they aim to publish in a book or maybe have displayed in a gallery.

Often it is confused or mixed with street photography... Now although both are slightly different they are also very similar... They both aim to document, either the human condition or a particular subject. So to me they are almost one in the same if done right (This might cause a stir between the purists)

So if you are interested in Documentary Photography I recommend you to find a project... Something that means something to you, or that you have an interest or passion for and figure out how you would like to picture it.

I have a blog post here about project idea's... Check it out and have a read!

Cheers!