Description: AimThis paper describes a visual ethnography. The study investigated the usefulness of reflexive photography for studying how a group of white male academics in the College of Human Sciences at a South African distance education institution construct their world in the university. The investigation took place during a time of great changes in institutional culture, especially with regard to the position of white males. Methodology: The research approach was qualitative. It took place within an interpretivist framework in the sense that it was a communal process, informed by participating practitioners and sensitive to the role of context. A sample of eight white male academics from the human sciences was purposefully selected. Participants were provided with a camera each, preloaded with 12 exposures of film and requested to take pictures of what they felt represented the highs and the lows of their everyday work experiences. After film processing, photo-elicitation interviews were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed. The themes that emerged gave insight into how the academics experienced various aspects of their work. The transcripts also revealed how participants experienced the data-gathering technique, whether there was anything they wanted to capture but could not and what the advantages and limitations of the technique were. In a second level of analysis, the content of the pictures was analysed. Conclusions: The findings revealed that, although some limitations were identified, the participants experienced the technique positively. Content analysis of the photographs proved useful. For example, the number of photographs with a positive or negative theme was indicative of overall satisfaction or frustration. Regarding the various facets of a lecturer's work, the following was determined:Regarding teaching, photographs of various objects were taken to illustrate negative feelings related to work overload, poor quality of students' work and lack of autonomy. Positive experiences were illustrated by photographs of completed dissertations, course material that was creatively developed and diverse working environments, among others.Regarding research, photographs of various objects symbolised a lecturer's sense of his own inadequate research skills and irrelevant dissertations. Positive experiences of research projects were illustrated by, for example, photographs of numerous tapes of recorded interviews.Only a few photographs were taken of work experiences relating to community service. This showed that most participants felt relatively neutral about this aspect of their work.Twelve pictures taken in the category of administration were all used to illustrate negative feelings. These included photographs of agendas of what was experienced as long, frustrating meetings. As regards compensation and job security, photographs of travel documents indicated appreciation for opportunities to attend overseas conferences. Lack of job security and dissatisfaction with low salaries were visually illustrated, for example, by photographing a purse. A picture of a billboard sign with "Research" as the heading was used to vent feelings about promotion criteria that emphasised research only.Various photographs symbolised feelings about management. For example, a picture of the nameplate on a door of a department head illustrated respect for her leadership. Other photographs symbolised dissatisfaction with university management. A significant number of 11 photographs of colleagues were taken to illustrate satisfaction with interpersonal relationships. Thirteen photographs of the institution's library and of offices and their facilities illustrated how the participants appreciated their physical surroundings. Pictures were also taken to indicate discontent with perceived declining standards. These included a photograph of broken office furniture stacked in the corner of a small kitchen.ConclusionVisual ethnographies can enhance insight into the lives of different cultural groups. Images inspire conversation and have unique potential to determine different viewpoints and experiences.