An Ethnographic Study on Ethnographer’s Using Photography Experiences and Working Practices in the field

In this study, participants consisting of ethnographers are provided to make a photo-ethnography research in Hacı Bektas Veli Festival organized annually by Alevis. Researcher has done an ethnographic research as well on ethnographers by observing them in the field. Thus, ethnography of ethnography is done by it is revealed ethnographer’s using photo experiences and working practices. In this research, data gathering techniques such as ethnography and photo-ethnograpy, participant diary, indepth interview, photo elicitation has been utilized. In the analysis, commonalities and differences have been found in ethnographers’ and photographers’ occupational practices. Occupational, gender, ideological and religious identities have affected their point of view and this has been reflected in the field. The value of photographic data in social sciences has been revealed and methods have been discussed developed by the participants in the field as well. Fundamental findings have been searched out such as occupational practices, difficulties encountered in the field, situations affecting motivation in the field, taking photography and experience of using other data collection tools, communication with informants, definition of photography and ethnography. Inclination of ethnographers to take photography has been determined. Thus, at the end of the research fundamental information has been listed both for photographers and ethnographers in order to guide them.