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10 Must See Photography Documentaries to Watch Over A Weekend

If you are looking for something to do over a rainy weekend, why not check out some of these amazing photography documentaries.


Bill Cunningham New York (2010) – Available for rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “A profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.” – IMDB


Finding Vivian Maier (2013) – Available on Netflix Canada

IMDB Summary: “A documentary on the late Vivian Maier, a nanny whose previously unknown cache of 100,000 photographs earned her a posthumous reputation as one of the most accomplished street photographers.” – IMDB


Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids (2004) – Available for rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city’s notorious red light district.” – IMDB


Tales By Light – Seasons 1 & 2 – Available on Netflix Canada

IMDB Summary: “Behind every powerful image is a powerful story. Uniting exploration, photography and the natural world, Tales By Light follows photographers from Australia and around the world as they push the limits of their craft.” – IMDB

Season 1 Trailer

Season 2 Trailer


Everybody Street (2014) – Available for rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “EVERYBODY STREET, directed by Cheryl Dunn, illuminates the lives and work of New York’s iconic street photographers – including Bruce Davidson, Mary Ellen Mark, Elliott Erwitt, Ricky Powell and Jamel Shabazz – and the incomparable city that has inspired them for decades. Shot by renowned photographer Cheryl Dunn on both black and white 16mm film and color HD, the documentary pays tribute to the spirit of street photography through a cinematic exploration of New York City, and captures the visceral rush, singular perseverance and at times immediate danger customary to these artists.” – IMDB


Harry Benson: Shoot First (2016) – Available on Netflix Canada

IMDB Summary: “What we know today about many famous musicians, politicians, and actresses is due to the famous work of photographer Harry Benson. He captured vibrant and intimate photos of the most famous band in history;The Beatles. His extensive portfolio grew to include iconic photos of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King. His wide-ranging work has appeared in publications including Life, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Benson, now 86, is still taking photos and has no intentions of stopping.” – IMDB


Manufactured Landscapes (2006) – Available to rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “Photographer Edward Burtynsky travels the world observing changes in landscapes due to industrial work and manufacturing.” – IMDB


Hondros (2017) – Available to rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “HONDROS follows the life and career of famous war photographer Chris Hondros by exploring the poignant and often surprising stories behind this award-winning photojournalist’s best-known photos. Driven by a commitment to bear witness to the wars of our time after the events of 9/11, Chris was among the first in a new generation of war photographers since Vietnam. HONDROS explores the complexities inherent in covering more than a decade of conflict, while trying to maintain a normal life. It also examines the unknowable calculus involved in making split-second life and death decisions — before, during and after his photos were made. Chris was killed in Libya in 2011, but he left a lasting impact on his profession that is still felt today.” – IMDB


Which Way Is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington (2013) – Available on Netflix Canada

IMDB Summary: “Documentary about deceased photojournalist Tim Hetherington directed by Sebastian Junger. Together with his friend and long-term collaborator Sebastian, Tim had travelled the world documenting conflicts in Afghanistan, Liberia and Libya among other locations. Best known for their 2010 film ‘Restrepo’ which was nominated for an Academy Award, the two strived to capture the humanity within conflict situations and with their images they focused on the individuals involved and their experiences of the violence surrounding them. Unfortunately, in 2011 Tim was killed by a mortar blast and this film is a tribute and celebration of the legacy he has left behind and includes Sebastian conducting interviews with those who knew Tim best.” – IMDB


Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters (2012) – Available to rent in the iTunes Store

IMDB Summary: “A documentary shot over a decade with unprecedented access to photographer Gregory Crewdson that bares the artist’s process.” – IMDB

http://www.gregorycrewdsonmovie.com/