Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Capturing the moment: a snapshot review of contemporary food environment research featuring participatory photography methods Christopher Turner1, Leah Salm1, Mark Spires2, Amos Laar3 and ]]]]]]]] ]] Michelle Holdsworth4 This snapshot review captures recent advances in the use of Introduction participatory photography methods within food environment Participatory photography is becoming an increasingly research, featuring 28 peer-reviewed articles published between popular method within food environment research, 2020 and 2022. Records were retrieved from a systematic search providing a novel approach to capture and explore con- of the databases PubMed and Scopus. Studies featured high- textualised lived experiences of food acquisition and income (64%) and low- and middle-income countries (36%). Local consumption practices. Grounded in the use of photo- and school food environments were common focal sites, with graphs and photo-elicitation techniques from anthro- studies typically investigating how food environments influence pology and sociology [7–9,18], participatory photography food acquisition and consumption practices among adult and was first applied to public health research by Wang and adolescent consumers. Photovoice was the dominant Burris [44] in their seminal work developing the Pho- methodological framing (71%), although we found substantial tovoice method, a community-based participatory action variation in study designs, camera devices and degree of research strategy applied to women’s health [44,45]. As a participation. Going forward, we encourage researchers and visual method, participatory photography is, as the name practitioners to revisit the roots of participatory photography as a suggests, based on the basic premise of having research participatory action research strategy, to engage participants as participants document their lived experience of a parti- agents of change in their food environment in support of the cular subject or phenomena through the medium of sustainable transformation of food systems and improved diets, photography. Photographs are typically curated by par- nutrition and health. ticipants for inclusion in follow-up dialogue, such as in- depth interviews or focus group discussions, with the Addresses 1 aim of eliciting contextualised narratives that not only Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Food and Markets Department, Chatham Maritime, United Kingdom explore the visual subject matter, but also wider per- 2 Centre for Food Policy, School of Health & Psychological Sciences, ceptions, interpretations, meanings and understandings City, University of London, London, United Kingdom associated with the photographs. In this way, participa- 3 Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, School of tory photography provides a methodological and analy- Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana 4 UMR MoISA (Montpellier Interdisciplinary Center on Sustainable Agri- tical lens to explore lived experience with participants, food Systems), University of Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, through their eyes and from their perspectives, offering INRAE, Institut Agro, French National Research Institute for grounded insights that extend beyond what might be Sustainable Development (IRD), Montpellier, France unveiled through more traditional qualitative interview Corresponding author: Turner, Christopher (c.j.turner@greenwich.ac.uk) approaches [18]. Visual methods such as participatory photography allow Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 for the investigation of natural, built, social and symbolic This review comes from a themed issue on Sustainable Food environments, and how connections between these en- systems vironments shape public health-related beliefs, prac- Edited by Maria J. Darias, Mafaniso Hara, Israel Navarrete and tices and outcomes [6]. Within food environment Eric O. Verger research, participatory photography enables a compre- hensive qualitative investigation into external and per- sonal food environment domains (Figure 1) and the ways Available online xxxx in which people interact with food sources to acquire and Received: 18 January 2023; Revised: 11 August 2023; consume foods as part of daily life [27,40]. Accepted: 29 August 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101364 In this review, we aim to capture current advances in the use of participatory photography methods within food 1877–3435/© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// environment research. In line with the remit of the creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Current Opinion journals, we provide a timely and www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 2 Sustainable Food Systems Figure 1 Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability A globally applicable food environment conceptual framework [40]. concise systematic review and commentary on the con- search concepts and 2) included a participatory photo- temporary literature, focusing on peer-reviewed articles graphy method whereby participants were actively in- published from 2020 to 2022. Five annotated references volved in the photography and qualitative follow-up are provided to guide readers to articles of special (•) and process. Articles were excluded if 1) they did not include outstanding (••) interest. To the best of our knowledge, both search concepts; 2) they did not feature primary data this is the first review to explicitly address this rapidly collection (i.e. included only secondary photographic da- emerging body of global literature. tasets); 3) participants were not actively involved in the photography process during data collection (e.g. auto- Methods mated cameras were used); 4) they did not include follow- As a point of departure, based on our existing knowledge up qualitative dialogue with participants following the of the literature, we compiled an a priori listing of participatory photography stage. All records were fourteen food environment research articles featuring screened independently by two authors according to participatory photography. This listing informed the eligibility criteria. Title and abstract screening were fol- development of systematic search terms for articles lowed by the retrieval and screening of full-text articles. containing ‘food environment’ and ‘photo’ in either the Inter-rater agreement was high, with only six referrals that title or abstract. The search period was restricted to re- were subsequently resolved through discussion between flect the contemporary literature from the past two years screening authors. Data charting was completed by three — as per the guidelines for Current Opinion journal authors with key information extracted into an excel file, reviews — capturing records from 1st January 2020 to 1st including study aims, location, research design, popula- November 2022. The systematic search was conducted tion and sampling, food environment typologies studied, in November 2022 in the databases PubMed and study outcomes and findings, as well as key aspects re- Scopus. These established databases were selected lated to the methodology (e.g. types of methods used, given their relevance to research on food and public type of camera used, degree of participant training, de- health. Sixty-one records were retrieved once duplicates gree of participation in the research process and whether were removed. photos were used for advocacy purposes). The extracted information was analysed descriptively, we also identified Peer-reviewed published articles were considered for in- common and divergent themes within the twenty-eight clusion if they met the following criteria: 1) included both studies. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 www.sciencedirect.com FE research featuring participatory photography. Turner et al. 3 Figure 2 Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability A flowchart detailing the review process. In the next section, we present our findings and critical participatory photography methods have been applied reflections on this body of literature. The key char- (Table 2). acteristics of included studies are synthesised to provide an overview of the field before we address methodolo- Geographical distribution gical considerations in more detail. Geographically, eighteen articles (64%) featured studies located in high-income countries, of which the majority Findings and discussion (n = 12) were from North America. Ten articles (36%) In total, 28 articles were included after screening (Figure featured studies located in low- and middle-income 2). An overview of key study characteristics is provided countries (LMICs), of which the majority were from (Table 1), along with a curated vignette of four photo- Africa (n = 8), with two studies from Asia, both located in graphs and supporting captions illustrating the diverse India. The considerable proportion of studies from food environments and contexts within which LMICs is a welcome addition to the food environment www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 4 Sustainable Food Systems Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 www.sciencedirect.com Table 1 Characteristics of studies. ID Lead author Aim Country/ FE type Framing of Additional mixed Camera type Population Degree of participation region methodology methods (if applicable) 1 Almughamisi et al.[1] Informing obesity Saudi Arabia School FE, retail Group concept Informed Not described Adolescents Research design (yes), intervention FE and home FE mapping (with concept maps (n = 15) and adults data collection (yes) adults); (teaching staff, analysis/ themes Photovoice- parents) (n = 19) (yes) and advocacy (no) enhanced concept mapping (with students) 2 Auma [2] Understand Uganda Neighbourhood FE Photovoice Mixed method — Not described Adult (women) Research design (no), factors influencing (transitioning settings) qualitative (n = 18) data collection (yes) dietary practices photovoice, analysis/themes quantitative diet (yes) and advocacy (no) practices survey 3 Browne [4] Methodological Ireland School FE Photovoice and Mixed method — Disposable Adolescents (in Research design (yes), evaluation peer-led focus PP, peer-led focus secondary school) data collection (yes) groups, groups and (Photovoice analysis/themes alongside food anthropometry participants, (yes) and advocacy (no) diaries and n = 14; FGD, anthropometry n = 54) 4 Cueva [10] Describe a United States School and cultivated Photovoice PP main method Disposable Children (n = 44) Research design (yes), community-based (school garden data collection (yes) obesity prevention programme) FE analysis/themes initiative (yes) and advocacy (no) 5 Gangemi [12] Understand FE United States School FE Photo- PP main method Digital Adolescents Research design (no), perspectives and elicitation or disposable (urban) (n = 20) data collection (yes) impacts on dietary analysis/themes behaviour (yes) and advocacy (no) 6 Gravina [14] Understand Spain Local FE Photovoice PP main method Digital or Adults (residents Research design (no), the influence of FE smartphone of 3 different SES data collection (yes) on dietary neighbourhoods) analysis/themes behaviours (n = 23) (yes) and advocacy (yes) 7 Gravina [15] Describe Spain Local/ community FE Photovoice PP main method Digital or Adults (residents) Research design (no), narratives smartphone of Madrid (n = 24) data collection (yes) about FEs and Bilbao (n = 17) analysis/themes (yes) and advocacy (yes) 8 Hanemaayer [16] Perceptions of and Canada Local FE Photovoice PP main method Digital Adolescents/ Research design (yes), experiences with camera young data collection (yes) traditional foods adults (n = 5) analysis/themes (yes) and advocacy (yes) 9 Hanemaayer [17] Understand Canada Local FE Photovoice PP main method Digital Adolescents/ Research design (yes), the determinants camera young data collection (yes) of dietary adults (n = 5) analysis/themes behaviours (food (yes) and advocacy (yes) choice) and FE research featuring participatory photography. Turner et al. 5 www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 Table 1 (continued ) ID Lead author Aim Country/ FE type Framing of Additional mixed Camera type Population Degree of participation region methodology methods (if applicable) opportunities for actions 10 Hines [19] Explore features of United States Neighbourhood FE Photovoice PP main method Not described Adults Research design (no), the FE, (although (hypertensive) data collection (yes) determinants of must be (n = 24) analysis/themes dietary behaviours digital) (yes) and advocacy (yes) (barriers and facilitators) 11 Hopkins [20] Understand United States Urban PP PP main method Not described Adults (caregivers, Research design (no), the perceptions of neighbourhood FEs (and geotagging) low-income data collection (yes) the FE, barriers neighbourhood) analysis/themes and facilitators of (n = 10) (yes) and advocacy (no) health eating (dietary behaviours) 12 Anna [21] Explore Denmark Local FE Photo- PP main method Smartphone Adults (residents) Research design (no), the experiences elicitation (although (n = 10) data collection (yes) of FE given analysis/themes the choice to (yes) and advocacy (yes) also use digital) 13 Kamdar [22] Experiences of United States Home FE Photo- Mixed method PP Digital Adults (low- Research design (no), food insecurity elicitation and food camera income caregiver data collection (yes) insecurity- scale veterans) (n = 17) analysis/themes survey (yes) and advocacy (no) 14 Kitching et al., [23] Explore Ireland Neighbourhood FE Participatory Participatory Not described Adolescents Research design (no), the experiences of photomapping mapping (urban, working- data collection (yes) desire for healthy class analysis/themes and unhealthy neighbourhood) (yes) and advocacy (no) foods and the role (n = 39) of FE 15 Liguori [24] Understand Ghana Urban Photovoice PP main method Not described Adolescents and Research design (no), the influence of neighbourhood FE adult women data collection (yes) individual factors (n = 64) analysis/themes on dietary (yes) and advocacy (yes) behaviours 16 Lindow [25] Explore United States Community FE, retail Photovoice PP main method Smartphone Adults (caregivers, Research design (no), the experiences of FE, cultivated (adapted) low income) data collection (yes) food insecurity and FE and home FE (n = 17) analysis/themes (limited impact on — no validation the ability to session) and advocacy provide food to (limited) family, and management strategies 6 Sustainable Food Systems Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 www.sciencedirect.com Table 1 (continued ) ID Lead author Aim Country/ FE type Framing of Additional mixed Camera type Population Degree of participation region methodology methods (if applicable) 17 Malova [26] Understand United States School (university) FE Photovoice PP main method Not described Adults (graduate Participants are the the determinants students) (n = 6) research team research of dietary design (yes), data behaviours (food collection (yes) analysis/ choice) themes (yes), and advocacy (yes) 18 O’Halloran [28] To profile home, South Africa School, Photovoice Mixed methods — Disposable Adolescents Research design (no), community and home and community photocapture as camera (primary school) data collection (yes) school FEs FE well as KII, tuck (n = 25 for photo analysis/themes shop purchase taking); (no) and advocacy (no) observations and quantitative quantitative surveys household and (households) student survey (n = 102), students (n = 152); key informant interviews (school principal) (n = 1) 19 Osei-Kwasi [29] To develop, Africa Urban Photovoice Evidence Digital Adolescents and Research design (no), validate and neighbourhood FE synthesis, expert camera adults (urban, low data collection (yes) evaluate a consultation and income across 3 analysis/themes framework of PP evidence — African cities, (yes) and advocacy (yes) factors influencing integrated to build Accra, dietary behaviours a conceptual Ho and Nairobi) within FEs to framework (n = 142) inform research and intervention 20 Pradeilles [32] Understand Ghana and Urban neighbourhood Photovoice PP main method Digital Adolescents and Research design (no), physical FE Kenya FE (physical FE) camera adults (urban, low data collection (yes) influence on income across 3 analysis/themes dietary behaviours African cities, (yes) and advocacy (yes) Accra, Ho and Nairobi) (n = 142) 21 Prowse [33] Explore awareness Canada Sports and Reflexive PP main method Not described Adults (caregivers, Research design (no), and reactions to recreation FEs photo- enrolled in physical data collection (yes) food and beverage interviewing activity analysis/themes marketing around programme) (yes) and advocacy (no) public sports and (n = 17) recreation areas 22 Sandha, Holben [35] Understand United States Community FE Photovoice PP main method Digital and Adolescents (in Research design (no), the perceptions of (summer) disposable summer school data collection (yes) summer FE programme) (n = 5) analysis/themes (yes) and advocacy (no) FE research featuring participatory photography. Turner et al. 7 www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 Table 1 (continued ) ID Lead author Aim Country/ FE type Framing of Additional mixed Camera type Population Degree of participation region methodology methods (if applicable) 23 Simpson et al. [36] Document United States School FE, community Photovoice PP main method Digital Adolescents (low- Research design (no), the difficulties in FE and home FE (with camera income families) data collection (yes) healthy food measurement of (n = 63) analysis/themes (yes), access and youth and advocacy (yes) measure youth empowerment) empowerment 24 Spires [37] Understand South Africa Community FE, Photovoice PP main method Digital Adults (type-2 Research design (no), the perceptions of cultivated (home food- camera diabetic) (n = 17) data collection (yes) FE and how these growing) FE analysis/themes impact dietary (yes) and advocacy (no) behaviours 25 Srinivasapura Explore India Community FE (UPF Photovoice PP main method Digital Adults (women, Research design (yes), Venkateshmurthy [38] the experiences environment) camera self-help groups) data collection (yes) of UPFs (n = 22) analysis/themes (yes) and advocacy (yes) 26 Trübswasser [39] Explore the factors Ethiopia School FE, home PP PP main method Digital Adolescents Research design (no), influencing dietary FE and neighbourhood camera (n = 26) data collection (yes) behaviours FE analysis/themes (yes) and advocacy (no) 27 Turner [42] Understand India Community FE Participatory PP main method Smartphone Adults (peri- Research design (no), drivers of dietary photomapping (with geotagging urban) (Q-GIS and data collection (yes) behaviours (food and participatory analysis/themes acquisition) photomapping) photomapping, (no) and advocacy (no) n = 22); in-depth interviews, n = 18; focus group discussions, n = 94 28 Wanjohi [46] Explore Ghana and Community FE Photovoice PP main method Digital Adolescents Research design (no), community Kenya (social FE) camera and adults (urban, data collection (yes) perceptions of low income across analysis/themes social FE on 3 African cities, (yes) and advocacy (yes) dietary behaviours Accra, Ho and Nairobi) (n = 142) Abbreviations: Q-GIS, qualitative geographical information systems; SES, socio-economic status. 8 Sustainable Food Systems Table 2 A curated vignette of four photographs and supporting captions from included studies. Lead author Location Caption Photograph Isaacs Copenhagen, This store has no et al. [21]a Denmark packaging and is all organic. This is the only place in Vesterbro that allows this kind of purchasing (Karla). Kamdar Houston, Strategies: Ramen et al. [22]b Texas, USA noodles are fast, filling, and affordable. Stocking up on a 10 for $1 sale. Pradeilles Ho, Kenya ‘When you get to et al. [32]c the school, this is at the roadside and we buy from there. There is one on the school compound but I don’t buy from there because they have not kept the place well. And the place I thought was good and I have been buying food from, this is how to looks. It is even worse than the one on the school compound.’ [Female, 18 years, low SES, H4] Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 www.sciencedirect.com FE research featuring participatory photography. Turner et al. 9 Table 2 (continued ) Lead author Location Caption Photograph Spires Rural South ‘Distance’ (rural). ‘It et al. (2023)d Africa is difficult for me to eat healthy because the stores are far. So I have to spend money on transport. The spaza shop do not sell healthy food. Even the distance to fetch water is too far’. a Copyright license obtained from Taylor & Francis (www.tandfonline.com); b Copyright license obtained from Taylor & Francis (www.tandfonline.com); c Creative Commons CC-BY licensing — copyright permission not required by Elsevier; d Copyright license obtained from Oxford University Press. literature, with recent systematic reviews having called informed by evidence from a participatory photography for the prioritisation of low-income and lower–middle- study [29]. income countries, given the paucity of evidence from these settings and the pressing public health nutrition challenges at hand [41]. This finding reflects the wider Research foci trend towards the use of participatory research methods Most articles aimed to understand how various dimen- within development and public health research, as well sions of the food environment influence individual food as the ability of participatory photography to capture the acquisition and consumption practices (n = 14; 50%). A complex and dynamic nature of food environments and select few articles were more targeted in their approach food acquisition and consumption practices in these and were concerned with how experiences of food en- settings [40]. Several of the included articles demon- vironments influence food insecurity [22,25] and obesity strate how participatory photography enables people to interventions [1,10]. Others focused on specific food voice and visualise their lived experience of diverse food types (e.g. ultra-processed foods (UPF) or traditional sources in LMICs — including formal and informal foods) [16,38] or food environment dimensions, such as markets, own production, wild food harvesting and food marketing [33] and desirability [23]. Only one study transfers — and further reveal how tacit forms of con- measured dietary intake [2], suggesting that the poten- textualised knowledge and understanding related to tial to triangulate qualitative lived experience data from these food sources drive food acquisition practices participatory photography with quantitative data from [2,32,39,42]. more traditional assessments remains underutilised at present. Five articles took a broader exploratory ap- Publication journals proach, seeking to capture narratives around the lived Articles were predominantly published in public health experience of food environments, without necessarily (n = 13; 46%) and nutrition- (n = 9; 32%) focused jour- being tied to impacts on dietary behaviours or other nals. Almost all articles (n = 26) primarily sought to re- nutrition and health outcomes [1,14,21,35,36]. The port on empirical findings. Two notable exceptions broad range of research foci explored within the litera- included one article reflecting on the merits of multiple ture showcases the utility of participatory photography as participatory methods [4], and one conceptual article a methodological approach. www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 10 Sustainable Food Systems Food environment typologies studied catch-all term for participatory photography featuring Collectively, this body of literature spanned a range of photo-elicitation techniques, with adaptations of this food environment typologies. Categorising by primary approach typically more common than strict adherence focus, eighteen articles (64%) addressed the local scale, to the Wang and Burris [44] approach. using terminology such as the local, neighbourhood or community food environment, whilst eight articles Methodological designs (29%) focused on school food environments, one (4%) Participatory photography was found to be the primary addressed the sports and recreation food environment, method of data collection in most studies (n = 20). and one (4%) addressed the home food environment. However, several studies incorporated participatory Within these broad-based typologies, several articles photography as one component of broader mixed featured a more specific focus, for example, on cultivated methods approaches. Amongst these, four studies in- food environments such as school, community or home cluded the integration of a participatory mapping ele- gardens (n = 3) [10,25,37], retailing environments (n = 2) ment, whereby participants’ photographs were [25,32] or UPF within the food environment (n = 1) [38]. geotagged and mapped, creating various forms of geo- Whilst most articles primarily focused on a particular narrative maps for inclusion along with photographs in food environment typology, in practice, many addressed follow-up interviews [1,20,23,42]. Two studies com- multiple typologies and scales when unpacking and bined participatory photography with quantitative sur- presenting findings, reflecting both the inherent com- veys that captured demographic and food insecurity data plexity of food acquisition and consumption practices as [22], or dietary intake data [2]. Others combined parti- part of daily life, as well as the ability of participatory cipatory photography with direct observations, sur- photography to capture these experiences. veys and key informant interviews [28]. In addition, one novel approach included the use of participatory pho- Populations of interest tography data as part of an evidence synthesis and expert Adults were featured in thirteen articles (46%), adults consultation designed to develop a conceptual frame- and adolescents in seven (25%) and adolescents only in a work for urban food environments in Africa [29]. These further seven (25%), with just one article including diverse study designs demonstrate how participatory children. Most studies included sample sizes of twenty photography is particularly suited to mixed methods to thirty participants, broadly in line with what might research, allowing participants and researchers to trian- typically be expected from this type of in-depth quali- gulate multiple sources and types of data and thereby tative research. A few notable exceptions featured larger build a comprehensive picture and in-depth under- numbers of participants [10,36], including several arti- standing of the lived experience of food environments cles from a large multi-country study that drew from a and food acquisition practices. total sample of 142 participants across food environ- ments in three African cities [24,29,32,46]. The use of Camera devices and participant training participatory photography to engage harder-to- reach or Most studies provided participants with digital cameras marginalised groups was a common theme, building on (n = 14), whilst others provided smartphones (n = 5) or prior instances from the wider literature disposable cameras (n = 3). Eight articles did not de- [3,11,13,30,31,34,43]. Examples included those on low scribe the type of camera device used — an oversight in incomes, caregivers, veterans, those with pre-diagnosed the reporting of methods. Almost all articles reported the health issues such as hypertension or type-2 diabetes, provision of participatory photography training for par- and those enrolled in self-help groups or physical activity ticipants, with most providing one training session interventions. (n = 18), whilst fewer (n = 5) held multiple sessions. Training typically involved introducing participatory Methodological considerations photography as a research method, practicing taking photographs, discussing interpretation skills and tech- Terminology niques as well as briefing participants around the ethical ‘Photovoice’ was the dominant methodological framing considerations related to taking photographs, including (n = 20; 71%). Other terms included ‘photo-elicitation’ safety precautions and the need to obtain informed (n = 3), ‘participatory photography’ (n = 2), ‘participatory consent. Four articles did not describe any form of photomapping’ (n = 2), and ‘photo interviewing’ (n = 1). training, and only one reported providing no training to The popularity of the term ‘photovoice’ reflects the participants. We would like to call for more detailed importance and influence of the seminal works by Wang reporting and critical reflection on camera devices, par- and Burris [44] and Wang [45] that set out ‘photovoice’ ticipant training and ethics given the fundamental im- as a methodology for applied action research, and which portance of these aspects to participatory photography featured practical guidance for research design, data methods and the opportunity for collective learning from collection and analysis. However, it is worth noting that best practices and lessons learned from fieldwork. in practice, many studies referred to ‘photovoice’ as a Bespoke reporting guidelines should be considered for Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 www.sciencedirect.com FE research featuring participatory photography. Turner et al. 11 participatory photography methods to ensure more ro- of publications from all regions; 3) the identification of 5 bust and consistent reporting that would increase the articles of special or outstanding interest, including an- transparency, replicability, reliability and validity of notated references to guide further reading. We ac- findings. One potential approach would be to adapt es- knowledge several limitations. First, the remit of the tablished standards such as the ’Consolidated criteria for Current Opinion journals is to provide concise and reporting qualitative research’, informed by the most timely reviews of the literature published within the recent ethical frameworks designed to guide practice on previous two years, thus limiting the scope to only the the use of imagery in global health [5]. Capturing and most contemporary publications. Second, although we reporting participants’ experiences of the research pro- did not set any restrictions regarding publication lan- cess would be particularly insightful and encourage re- guage, our search terms were written in English, po- flexive practice in the design and implementation of tentially excluding articles written in other languages. participatory photography methods. Third, we did not conduct a quality assessment as this was beyond the scope of this type of short review, al- though we did restrict the search to peer-reviewed lit- Degree of participation in the research process Overall, there was substantial variation in the degree of erature, providing a degree of quality assurance. participation in the research process beyond the criteria of inviting participants to photograph their food en- Conclusions vironment. Seven articles reported the involvement of This snapshot review captures current advances in the participants in the research design, typically through use of participatory photography methods within food consultations to understand the challenges faced by environment research, providing a synthesis and critical communities, although in one notable study, participants commentary on the peer-reviewed literature from 2020 were also the research team [26]. Most studies (n = 25; to 2022. The 28 included articles demonstrate the in- 89%) involved participants in the analysis process, typi- creasing popularity of participatory photography as a cally by inviting them to generate themes in groups or method of capturing lived experiences of food environ- by captioning their own photographs. In other instances, ments and drivers of food acquisition and consumption themes were generated by the research team and sub- practices globally. Whilst much of the literature shares a sequently reported back to participants for validation. common grounding in the seminal work by Wang and Less than half of the studies (n = 13; 46%) explicitly Burris [44] and the photovoice methodology, this review reported the use of participatory photography for ad- highlights the heterogeneity in terms of study design, vocacy purposes. Those that did typically showcased reflecting both the utility and adaptability of this ap- participants’ photographs, captions and thematic narra- proach as well as the emergent nature of its application tives in follow-up photography exhibitions held with within the field of food environment research. This re- stakeholders (including community members, local view has shown how participatory photography is well- government and media) in the local community positioned to study a broad array of food environment [2,24,32]. Other advocacy activities involved presenting typologies and scales, either as a stand-alone metho- findings to community groups, leveraging findings to dology or as part of wider mixed methods approaches. inform local resources and interventions [16]. No studies Consumers have been the focal point within the litera- evaluated the degree to which participatory photography ture to date, whilst the potential to widen the aperture to had led to interventions or changes in the food en- cast light on other actors remains untapped. Future vironment. However, one notable article measured studies with diverse actors involved in food production, youth empowerment as a core aspect of the methodology storage, transformation, transportation, provisioning and [36], demonstrating how participatory photography has waste may offer novel perspectives on food environ- the potential to not only draw attention to the lived ments and broader dimensions of sustainability within experience of a particular food environment, but also the wider food system. Going forward, we recommend help foster the skills and agency of participants as agents that researchers and practitioners revisit the roots of of change within that food environment. participatory photography as a participatory action re- search strategy, so that future studies may engage par- Strengths and limitations ticipants as agents of change in their food environment This snapshot review is, to the best of our knowledge, in support of the sustainable transformation of food the first to address the rapidly emerging body of food systems and improved diets, nutrition and health. environment literature featuring participatory photo- graphy methods. The strengths of this review include: 1) Funding the focus on the most contemporary studies from the This research did not receive any specific grant from past two years, providing a timely and concise snapshot funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for- of the recent literature in the field; 2) the global scope of profit sectors. C Turner’s time was supported by the the systematic search strategy, allowing for the inclusion Food and Nutrition Security Initiative (FaNSI), funded www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2023, 65:101364 12 Sustainable Food Systems by Research England’s ‘Expanding Excellence in 8. Collier J: Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method. England’ (E3) Fund. Rineheart and Winston; 1967. 9. Collier J: Visual anthropology’s contribution to the field of CRediT authorship contribution statement anthropology. Vis Anthropol 1987, 1:37-46, https://doi.org/10. 1080/08949468.1987.9966459 (Available at). 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