Research Methods for Photography

Research Methods for Photography: Critical and Practical Approaches bridges theory and practice for anyone using photography as a research tool, o­ffering accessible guidance for developing rigorous, theoretically informed visual research.

Spanning subject matter from architectural ethnography to medical humanities, participatory visual research to eco-critical documentary, this book demonstrates how diverse theoretical frameworks and research methods enrich both creative practice and academic inquiry.

Through detailed case studies, you’ll see how these approaches work in real-world contexts and learn about theories and methods, as well as how to find and develop your own method and methodology – whether you’re a practitioner, theorist, or working at the intersection of both.

Dr Liz Drew is a published writer and educator in cultural and art histories; including as an award-winning course leader including for pre-sessional course design, and for research methods in BA and MA Art History, Film, English and Humanities programmes at University of London, Birkbeck College. Her PhD Constructing visibility, British social documentary photography and eco-criticality circa 1970–2020 reflects her interest in aesthetics and politics, about which she has spoken at various international conferences. Previous experience involved working in art studios, libraries and galleries whilst she currently contributes as a Further, as well as Higher Education Humanities lecturer for Lowestoft 6th Form and University of Suffolk at East Coast College . Liz also teaches History of Art in Suffolk and London and produces visual work as part of her own research methods and outputs.

Dr Sukey Parnell Johnson is an award-winning visual artist and Research Associate in Medical Humanities at King’s College London. She holds an MA (2010) and PhD by practice (2019) in Photography from the University of West London with her thesis, Hagging the image: challenging the role of photographic images in contemporary narratives of ageing femaleness in Anglo American culture (2018). Twice a finalist in the annual Photographic Prize, her portraits feature in the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection. Her visual work spans commercial photography for leading publications to participatory research projects. Recently, she has contributed to the Leverhulme Trust project, The Ageing of British Gerontology, the APPLE-Tree exhibition and subsequent publications in The Gerontologist and other academic journals. She is also a professional actress and singer.

Dr Annalisa Sonzogni is a visual artist and Senior Lecturer in Critical and Historical Studies at Kingston University. She holds an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art (2008) and a practice-based PhD from Kingston University (2015) titled Reconfigurations of interior spaces: an investigation through photography, architecture and site-specific installation. She has previously taught at the University for the Creative Arts. Her research in visual cultures investigates modern architecture with a focus on photography as a representation of space and a spatial intervention. She creates participatory installations in historic buildings, using public sites as spaces for critical reflection and collective engagement. Previous installations include projects at the Casa del Fascio in Como, Italy, and the former Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, London, UK. Her work has been published in C20 Magazine, Afterimage, and Camera Austria.