Visual Methods in the Field Photography for the Social Sciences

The use of images, particularly photography, has been steadily gaining popularity in academia, but there has not yet been a book that deals with the act and process of photo-taking in the field. Drawing upon 21 years of photographic experience and sociological research, Terence Heng?s immersive and narrative style will:

1. introduce photography as a qualitative method;
2. discuss the intricacies of, challenges in and opportunities for using a camera in the field;
3. explore common themes and topics in social science research, including photographing rituals, space, people and objects;
4. advise on navigating the always evolving technological landscapes of traditional, digital and mobile photography.

Visual Methods in the Field: Photography for the Social Sciences is a photography guide written for researchers by a researcher. Using in-depth ethnographic case studies from research done in various urban environments, this book will act as a crucial bridge for students in geography, sociology, education, media studies and other social sciences to incorporate photography into their research repertoire.

1. Introduction
2. Equipping Yourself in the Field
3. The Visual Researcher’s Workflow – Pre-Fieldwork
4. Photographing Space and "Scapes"
5. Photographing Everyday Life – Action and Interaction
6. Photographing Everyday Life 2 – Ritual
7. Photographing Social and Cultural Inventories
8. Photographing People
9. Photographing in Challenging Lighting Situations
10. Smartphone Photography
11. The Visual Researcher’s Workflow (Basic Digital Darkroom Techniques)
12. Technical Aspects for Ethical Visual Research
13. Final Remarks and an Annotated Photo Essay

Terence Heng is an Assistant Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology, and received his PhD in Visual Sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London. Working on the intersections between creative practice and sociological research, Terence investigates the making of ethnic identities amongst Chinese individuals through everyday rituals and geographies, and was the inaugural winner of the International Visual Sociology Association’s Prosser Award in 2015. His research has been featured in journals like The Sociological Review, Geographical Review, Cultural Geographies and Visual Communication.