What does documentary photography mean?

Documentary photography is a kind of photography with the main appeal of recording the reality of life. The material comes from life and reality, and truthfully reflects what we see. Therefore, documentary photography has the value of recording and preserving history and has the unique qualification as a social witness.

Up to now, although there are different opinions on the exact concept of documentary photography, there is basically a * * * consensus on the main core issues, namely:

1. When it was born, westerners named it DocumentPhotography. According to the most basic meaning of "document", it should refer to a type of photography that plays the role of proof, evidence and document.

2. It was finally named "Documentary Photography" in China, which also expressed the significance of literature and historical chronology and emphasized the value category of authenticity.

3. Documentary photography should be a true record of human society according to its name, and its subject matter has certain social significance and historical document value.