PhD by Publication

By Michael Coyne

Griffith University Australia March 2008

This paper provides an overview of my work in the field of documentary photography and examines the contribution that work has made within this field in terms of the characteristics, impact and limitations attributed to documentary photography by theorists and practitioners.

The paper constitutes a survey and discussion of methodology in photographic documentary practice. It discusses the nature of this genre, the debates about its potential and limitations and utlines the reasons why I have devoted my life's work to pursuing this practice. The paper discusses what I consider to be worthy goals and criteria for documentary practice, what issues beset their achievement and how the obstacles to achieving desirable goals have been negotiated by practitioners I admire.

I explain how I have negotiated these issues in my own practice, citing case studies. It outlines my development as a photographer and documentarian. I discuss the discoveries and opinions I formed in the course of my practice and in consideration of the work of significant practitioners in my field. The paper argues that the synthesis of what I have learned from other photographers and from my unique experience in the field enabled me to convey important documentary evidence about significant events and institutions into the public arena.