When I watch documentaries now I am starting to break the programmes down and see how they are assembled and what techniques are used.
One programme I watched recently was a rerun of the documentary Art Deco Icon: London Transport on BBC4. The programme told of the iconic buildings built for the London Underground, particularly the headquarters at 55 Broadway above St James Station in Westminster.
The programme began with establishing shots of the building and a voice over giving information about the history, this was followed by a presenter speaking directly to camera. It was obvious from the start that he is an expert on art deco (plus there was an on screen caption confirming this). As the presenter guided the viewer around the building the handheld camera followed. I think this was intended to make the viewer feel as they are on a guided tour and therefore part of the experience. Too be honest I wasn't too keen on this approach as it didn't seem to work. Other documentaries that have presenters talking direct to camera work much better, for example, Dallas Campbell in presenting Supersized Earth seemed more involving because he was a lot more active and didn't rely on an unsettling camera movement.
Art Deco Icons also had a segment style that is often used in documentaries. The presenter introduced a new idea / topic to the show and departed the shot he was in, and the programme then went into an archive material; footage and photographs with a voice over.
I'm finding it useful to look more closely at documentaries and identify what segments and techniques build up a programme. This is useful as I am putting together the storyboards and shot lists for our documentary films.
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