Using the Photographic Walk Technique in the Field Work of Probation Officers

Abstract

Using the potential of the photographic walk the authors studied the organization of field work of probation officers. The main area of interest is the manner of perceiving, naming, familiarizing oneself with places, and place making by the respondents. The aim of the study is to 1) verify the usefulness (potential) of the photographic walk method in the suggested project and 2) describe the field work organization of probation officers, based on collected data. In the article we reached two key conclusions, encompassing 1) the perception and description of field work conducted “in progress,” and the connection between the physical space of the city and the professional work of probation officers, and 2) subjective, emotional and transcendental perception, including ascribing symbolic meanings to “the route” traversed in the course of work.

Keywords

• visual methods
• mobile methods
• investigative/exploratory walk
• photography in social studies
• mobility and place
• field work of probation officers