Documentary Articles

Documentary photography mainly refers to the form of photography that emphasizes authenticity and objectivity. Simply put, it is the field that news photographers should focus on. And humanistic photography may be true, but in fact there are many poses. For photography lovers, our most common documentary humanistic photography may be what we saw and heard on the trip.

It is difficult to have any definite rules for documentary humanities, because you don't know what you will encounter. Even if you know this, you can't predict the specific situation at that time. So we should always remember what will infect you in an instant and how to record it and convey this feeling through photos.

1/ The content framework is the key.

In fact, this is the most basic and difficult part of humanistic photography.

For the humanities, I think many beginners may have a big misunderstanding, that is, no matter what is in the frame, taking pictures is victory.

So unless you are extremely poor, the photos you take look like "humanities" films. But on closer inspection, it looks bland and I don't know what to shoot.

Always look around when shooting. The background is good, just wait for the right theme. Go and see the corner where no one has seen it. When you have a good scene, you must go further and wait for a good opportunity. A work that combines the nodes of the times to think.

Look at the glass, look at the reflection. (Refer to Wong Kar-wai's fascination with mirror glass)

2/ Take a bold view, at least dare to shoot people.

People are often the key to cultural photos. Remember not to be embarrassed when shooting people, be bold and shoot when you should.

Most people are friendly, so when you raise your camera to photograph him, he happens to see you. Let him put it as he likes. Take one. It is definitely a good photo to record the characteristics of the characters through the characters and the environment.

There is always a lot of psychological pressure when shooting people. In fact, once someone finds you and shoots him, most people stare at you. The rest should go their own way, and some people will avoid it (then don't shoot). If you find yourself being discovered, smile at the other person and you will often get a smile.

3/ Never waste time on exposure.

The most difficult hurdle in learning photography is exposure. This really needs to be studied hard. But when you are really proficient in shooting, you will find that if you are still wasting time on exposure, continue to learn the basics of operating the camera.

When shooting, we often take snapshots, so in outdoor natural light, we usually use 0EV. Of course, if the scene changes, remember to add white and black.

Indoor shooting requires scene light. Then, after entering the scene, you must first adjust the exposure of the camera to the appropriate state. So you don't have to think about it when you shoot.

Sometimes, if you have an epiphany and a better exposure expression, then hurry to operate the camera. This often leads to better exposure.

In short, exposure in humanistic photography must not be delayed.

4/ The combination of reality and reality makes the picture more visual.

Humanistic photos should not only explain the humanistic elements, but also explain the humanistic environment. So it is obviously different from portrait photography. The difference is that when we shoot portraits, we often pursue blurred background, while humanities must explain the background.

However, explaining the background does not mean that the picture should be clear. The combination of reality and reality often makes the picture more impressive and memorable.

5/ The slow door makes the theme clearer.

When shooting humanities, we often use the slow door to realize the combination of reality and reality. For example, in this scene, pedestrians on the platform are in a hurry, and a slow door is vividly displayed. The clock on the platform is a perfect element.

It is a very common method to take pictures, locate and slow the door, and realize the combination of people flow and environment.

6/ Look for scenes with good composition

Just like some people are good-looking, they are born with bright eyes. Some scenes have the feeling of sky composition.

Such as our common railway station. From near to far, from big to small, this gradual composition often makes our eyes sweep the extension line and look into the distance. Wait a little on the platform, there is always a good film.

Square and steps are another good scene you should pay attention to. I always say don't take pictures on sunny days. The square with steps may be one of the few scenes that can be taken on sunny days. Because there will be a unique light and shadow effect. It must be empty. There must be someone. What if people are in the dark? It doesn't matter. The outline is good.

If the above three are difficult to satisfy, then the following photo is easy. We can often see empty places. If there is someone in the picture at this time, you can take a smaller one and press it. It is easy to highlight the contrast between the empty environment and the small role. The feeling of silence and even loneliness comes. Perfect for shooting a person. ...

7/ Find a theme and keep shooting.

Some people like to shoot street lamps, some people like to shoot knockers, and some people like to shoot artists. In short, there are many themes that you can see everywhere. Then take photos of this theme all over the world.

For example, I like to film people kissing. There are also people painting beside the scenic spots. I don't know why I just like it. I think it's great that they can draw. Accumulate bit by bit, when there are dozens, it will be very shocking to take it out together.

8/ It doesn't hurt to pose.

Posting is obviously not a documentary, but it can be very humanistic. This reminds me of casting nets in Jiang Xiaodong and herding cattle under the big banyan tree. These are typical postures. Will we stop filming when we get there? No, it's time to shoot.

In addition, when you are in a good mood in a certain scene, you can also take a picture yourself. It doesn't have to be a bad movie.

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