Documentary Photography: A Creative Guidebook guides photographers through creating well-informed and creative documentary projects. Author Cindy O’Dell considers the historical development of the practice of documentary photography, addressing definition of documentary photography and its problematic and tenuous relationship with "truth."

Documentary Photography demonstrates how photographers over time have created and employed a variety of photographic methods, engaged with their subjects, chosen their locations, and focused their topic. Readers will learn to edit and focus their imagery, build a series and evaluate their projects. Taking care to consider the ethical dilemmas within the field, this book discusses what it means to develop a career in documentary photography.

With an appendix of additional resources and student and instructor exercises, this is the first guide for the student, instructor, professional and amateur documentary photographer.