Welcome to Fieldwork Frames: Adventures in Documentary Photography
Welcome to Fieldwork Frames, a newsletter dedicated to the art and practice of documentary photography. This space celebrates the stories, challenges, and unexpected magic that emerge when photographers venture into the world with curiosity.
In this newsletter and on the blog, we’ll cover:
Documentary projects that capture the human experience
Field notes from photographers working in communities worldwide
Practical insights about tools and techniques that serve the story
The ethical questions and human connections that shape documentary work
Posts appear when there's something meaningful to explore - sometimes in clusters, sometimes with quiet gaps between. No pressure, no schedule - just honest discussions about the craft of witnessing and documenting life as it unfolds.
Who Is This For
If you grew up with piles of National Geographic and Life magazines, absorbed in the stories and pictures, if you still keep boxes and albums full of photos of your life, if you document your commute like it is an epic adventure, then you just found your people.
We are all documentary photographers gathering notes for the anthropologists of the future. They will ask, “How did people of the past celebrate birthdays?” and, “What did the dashboard inside a car that didn’t drive itself look like?” We are collecting those answers for them with every family get-together, every trip to the gym, each road trip, and every outdoor festival.
Free and Paid Subscriptions
Currently, there are two subscription types: free and paid.
While the free plan gives readers access to all articles, the paid subscription is for people who would like to contribute to the longevity of this project. It is $8 monthly, and the yearly plan is $96.
Becoming a paid member makes you part of the Fieldwork Frames Collective, meaning you will help shape the evolution of this community over time.
One immediate benefit of becoming a paid member is the ability to comment on blog posts. You can pose questions to me or any other contributors, and you may also have the chance to become a contributor yourself. Additionally, you'll have access to ongoing discussions here on Substack.
Of course, you can subscribe for free now and upgrade later if it is right for you.
About Me, the Writer/Photographer
Hello, I'm Barbara. I'm what you would call a generalist. I've been taking photos since the early 90s with various cameras, and I've even experienced the thrill and terror of shooting an entire wedding on 35mm Kodak 800 film.
