Six feelings of humanistic documentary photographers

Lead: After taking photos for many years, I finally found that good photos are actually taken by feeling. The feeling of taking pictures is a special feeling, a feeling that seems difficult to explain in words. It seems too mysterious to say so. If you think about it carefully, it is nothing more than six feelings.

First, the feeling of the camera

When you can't take good photos, you will complain that you don't have a good camera. With a good camera, you can't shoot well and complain that you don't have time. I have time, a good camera, and I can't take good photos. I can only complain that I haven't taken them for a long time and I can't feel them. In fact, the feel of the camera is really important. The camera is familiar, like an old friend. If you know its temper, you can know its existence with one hand. I used Canon 550D for many years, and then I changed it to 5D3. 5D3 has been used for almost a year, but it always feels less comfortable than 550D, including the sound of the shutter, and it feels more comfortable. So at present, two machines are basically taken out at the same time, and 550D is used more.

At that time, I was wandering around the village, and I heard the laughter of the children. I reacted quickly and took this photo. If we slow down, they will run to one side.

Second, the feeling of focal segment

When I first started taking pictures, I always wanted all the focal lengths. I think, if all the shots are in focus, there is always no escape for good photos. Of course, the focal length will limit the way we watch the scene, but it is not necessary to have a lens with each focal length to take a good photo. To really take a good photo, it is necessary to cultivate the feeling of a certain focal segment, and it is really not a one-off event to cultivate the feeling of a certain focal segment. If you shoot people, the focal length of 130MM is more comfortable. I have been using a 55-255 Canon lens for several years, and I feel a little bit about the focal length of 130MM. I feel that the distance is moderate, and it is no problem to sneak shots. 35MM is the focal length commonly used in documentary photography. At this focal length, it is basically impossible to sneak shots, so the photos have a sense of closeness. 50MM, the most commonly used focal length in documentary photography, is equivalent to the standard of human eyes. Wu Jialin said that after playing 50 mm for more than ten years, he finally found a little feeling. It took more than ten years to find a little feeling for a burnt joke. God, we are still far away!

To tell the truth, this one was taken with a 16-35 wide-angle lens, with a focal length of 35 and an aperture of 2.8. You must be very close and have great courage.

Third, the feeling of composition

A photo is not a video, so you can't continue telling a story. Just for a moment. Therefore, composition is very important. Some people say that the photos are all lies. What do you mean? In fact, photos are just a fragment of the world, and this fragment may not necessarily present the truth, but may be just an illusion. For example, a person wears a suit above and shorts below. How we compose pictures and convey information is completely different. Taking the upper body is a professional photo; Take photos with humor all over your body; Taking pictures of yourself is a rogue photo. The information conveyed by a photo is closely related to the composition. Humanistic documentary photography, in the final analysis, is the relationship between people and the environment. How to integrate people and the environment organically and take pictures with flavor is a feeling that needs to be cultivated. I wrote "Nine Methods of Composition of Humanistic Documentary Photography", and you can have a look if you are interested.

When you took this photo, you took it from above. The most important thing is that people and ships press the shutter as soon as they get to the light. Of course, human movements are also very important.

Fourth, the feeling of the characters.

Some people can't forget it at a glance, and some people still can't remember it after watching it a hundred times. Humanistic documentary photography is definitely about shooting people, but it is estimated that we are all exhausted to shoot 6 billion people all over the world. So choose someone who has something to watch. This requires us to cultivate a feeling. There is a trade-off between who I should shoot and who I won't shoot. Read thousands of books, not as good as Wan Li Road and Wan Li Road, not as good as reading countless people. When you meet someone who wants to shoot, you have to shoot his inner world. This feeling needs to be cultivated. Someone asked: How long has this good photo been taken? The answer is to press the shutter for one second? Not exactly. This is a feeling that we have lived for so many years. The so-called kung fu is outside the poem, which is the reason.

This is the last photo taken at the end of the day, but it is my favorite one. At this time, I saw my grandmother leaning against the door and looking around. I feel very kind. I quickly took pictures, only one. When she found out, she retreated behind the door.

Fifth, the feeling of light

With light, you can take pictures. Without light, of course, you can't take pictures. Being particularly sensitive to light is a necessary skill for photographers. It is common sense that the light is soft in the morning and evening, which is suitable for taking pictures. It is also possible to take pictures on cloudy days, especially the faces of the elderly. Cloudy days are more textured. Interesting combination of light and shadow is what photographers pursue. People see things in the light, so we might as well observe them in the back light. All these and so on are basic things. Humanistic documentary photography is basically natural light, so it is very important to be good at capturing it. For example, it's dark around, only a beam of light, which will definitely attract people. Light makes the world wonderful and photography full of fun. We shoot too much, so we can know how many apertures, shutters and sensitivities we need in a certain situation through our feelings, and our response will be quick, so that we won't spend a lot of time adjusting these things when we miss the opportunity to grab the shot. Even less like a novice, I saw a good scene and filmed it. Overexposed.

Backlight, two aunts whispering, smiling faces when they found me.

Sixth, the feeling of hue.

The world is colorful, but eventually we have to form our own shooting style, and it is estimated that we should also focus on a certain tone. Focus, you will be professional, professional and have your own style. If you watch too much and shoot too much, you will naturally approach a certain sound. For example, when I photographed the ancient village, I was fascinated by the color of the small blue tile and the color of the old house. In addition, the bronze faces of the villagers are also charming. Of course, everyone plays different things and has their own preferences, so we don't insist on unity.

The roof of Lishui street can't be copied for the time being, because the tiles have been changed, and the overhead pavilion for the elderly has been demolished because of disharmony. Author: slow life and free travel