Interdisciplinary Studies in Media and Culture

Studying the role of documentary photography in the representation of culture with ethnographic approach in Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : .

Author

ZOHREH SEHAT

Institute of Higher Education in Art, Shiraz Branch, Iran

10.30465/ismc.2026.51511.2939
Abstract
Documentary photography, with the implication of being there, is one of the main branches of photography that records and represents various objects, events, and scenes in the world around us. The purpose of the research is to study the role of documentary photography in the representation of culture with an ethnographic approach in Iran, and it answers the question of how documentary photography can represent culture with an ethnographic approach. The research methodology is qualitative with an interpretive ethnographic approach to description-analysis, documentary photography in the representation of culture in Iran. The type of qualitative data in the research includes images (photos). The method of purposive sampling is mixed and the research population includes Iranian documentary photographers. From the 30 selected photos, 6 photos that were most consistent with the research criteria were selected. Qualitative data analysis was carried out by Thematic content analysis using MAXQDA software, and as a result, documentary photographers in Iran have explained, described, and represented culture in three ways: realistic description, confessional description, and impressionistic description.

Keywords

Documentary Photography
Ethnography
Cultural Representation
Realistic Description
Confessional Description
Impressionistic Description

Subjects

Interdisciplinary Studies in Media and Culture

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 February 2026

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