Documentary Distinctions
RPS Documentary Distinctions Advisory Day In February of this year, the Western Region hosted the first Documentary Distinctions Advisory Day at RPS HQ in Bristol, organised by Michelle Whitmore ARPS and Suzanne Johnson LRPS. Leading the day were Simon Leach FRPS, Documentary Distinctions Panel Chair, and Steve Smith FRPS, one of the Documentary Distinctions Panel Members. As well as many photographers seeking advice and observers, the day was attended by the Documentary Group Chair, Mark Phillips ARPS and DM Editor, Dave Thorp. The Royal Photographic Society launched its new Documentary genre distinction at the end of 2019, defined as ‘Photography which communicates a clear narrative through visual literacy’. This feature aims to expand on the key points raised during the first dedicated Advisory day. It is intended to supplement, not replace, the definitive guidance published by the RPS Distinctions team and highlights additional sources of information that may be helpful to those aspiring for a distinction in Documentary. The Documentary Special Interest Group aims to support members achieve RPS Distinctions by helping members undertake high-quality documentary photography projects generally. Specific advice on distinctions is provided by the Distinctions Team and we aim to continue to work with them to help you in your journey. Our 2020-2021 Plan, through its goals to Promote, Educate and Encourage, includes a range of activities intended to assist photographers as they develop their practice and showcase highquality photographic work and thinking. A series of workshops and features are planned, covering the lifecycle of a project from initial idea and intent, developing narrative, conducting research, through execution, to editing, sequencing and ‘getting it out there’.
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