notes from the book

UNPACKING; Essential reading

Doing visual ethnography, Sarah pink, Second edition

My main aim is to try and find out; what ethnography is? What is visual ethnography? How can I do
visual ethnography? What next?

Please note * before text means it is my own words, if it is in italics then it is words from the book

Page 40
“It is impossible to predict, and mistaken to prescribe, precise methods for ethnographic research
similarly, it would be unreasonable to require that visual methods be used in all contexts”
*there is not defined means of starting ethnographic research that even the research may not be
visual

“In practice, decisions are best made once researchers are in a position to assess which specific visual
method will be appropriate or ethical in a particular research context therefore allowing researchers
to account for their relationships with informants and their experience and knowledge of local visual
cultures”
*You should use minimal or no technology until you now the subject and the local context to make
sure that it is appropriate – ethically and visually correct in the way it represents the person or
people.

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Page 40-41
“banks has divided visual research methods into three broad activities: ‘making visual
representations (studying society by producing images)’: ‘examining pre-existing visual
representations’ (studying images for information about society)’; ‘collaborating with social actors in
the production of visual representations’.”

*1 – studying them in an interview situation. When they are sitting there. When they are doing
things at that precise point of time
*2 – study pictures or film of his past. I.e. face book, pictures that the subject took pictures other
people took.
*3 – talk to the person about the first two things what’s there re-actions are

*understand them – before commenting
*start with an open mind
*sensitive to research subject
*the media – may not be appropriate for the subject

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Page 42
“in a study they asked twelve homeless people to photographs... of key times in their day, of typical
activities and spaces, or anything else”
“they also report that ‘ the participants said that they enjoyed making the pictures”
*Observation may change their behaviour a solution around this maybe is to hand over the research
camera ect – make sure it doesn’t make you subject unhappy

“considering how visual methods, image and technologies will be interpreted by individuals in the
cultures where research will be done”
*Ethics will affect results (would it be different in different situations)

“turn their back on her”
*example of what would happen if not done correctly

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Page 43
“In some situations photographs or videos of informants may put them in political danger,”
*Media used can cause political danger (be aware of limits and what I can do to stop this)
“Decisions about the particular methodologies and modes of representation to be used should pay
attention to intersections between local visual cultures the ways in which the visual is treated by
wider users or audiences of the research”
*must assure that the material I produce cannot be miss interpreted as being something else

Pages 47 - 48
“Individuals constantly re-situate themselves and construct their self-identities in relation to not only
other individuals but also to material objects and cultural discourses.”
*he may act different in different places and situations

Page 48
“people construct their identities and thus impact on their social relationships and experiences”
*what ethnographies is all about

“Different technologies impact on these relationships and identities in different ways.”
*i must account for the response to the technology I’m using

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