Understanding the characteristics of the photo

Published on : 05 October 20205 min reading time

Visual communication, photo reports, wildlife photography, aerial photography, art photography, contemporary art, fashion photography, digital images or reflex cameras, the field of photography is very broad.

Whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, all genres are open to you in order to express your creativity through pictures that are each more beautiful than the next.

Press photographer, wedding photographer, photo reporter, retouchers, aerial photographer, culinary photographer, portrait photographer, photojournalist, fashion photographer or others…

The professions of photography are now accessible to all thanks to training to become a professional photographer.

But are you a master of what is considered as the 8th art?

Because making photos or learning photography is also knowing the history of art in order to know everything that was done before.

Contemporary photography, photojournalism, humanist photography, digital photography, film photography, landscape photography or culinary photography, there is something for everyone!

What is contemporary photography?

Throughout the history of photography, artistic styles have varied greatly. From the creation of photography at the end of the 19th century, to the publications on Instagram in recent years, photographers have come a long way.

So what is contemporary photography?

Often wrongly called modern photography by amateur photographers, contemporary photography corresponds to a period defined precisely by dates.

Contemporary photography therefore includes all photographs taken from 1980 to the present day.

Enough to enjoy a large collection.

Sandro Miller, Sabine Pigalle, Thomas Ruff, Terry Richardson, Richard Avedon, many artists photographers have enriched the catalogue.

But it is also important to know that contemporary photography is itself subject to several different currents.

There is notably visual photography.

This current defines photographic works that are more graphic than documentary. In fact, this trend is different from the photos used in the press.

The photos of visual photography are notably recognised as works of art by the Fine Arts.

Other currents are part of contemporary photography such as pictorial photography or the subjective photography of Raymond Depardon. The latter allows the author to give his own view through the photo.

Fashion photography is also part of contemporary photography. This type of photography takes an extremely important place today.

In any case, contemporary photography still has a bright future ahead of it.

What is humanistic photography?

A few decades before contemporary photography, modern photography included artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson or Robert Capa.

But it is above all at this time that humanist photography was born.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, France was devastated.

The finances went bad and everything had to be rebuilt. The horrors of the war left their mark on everyone’s mind and shocked even the smallest children.

Among all this, several photographers decided to capture the simple joys of life.

Thus Robert Doisneau photographed a couple kissing in the street. A photo which then became the symbol, throughout the world, of the very French current of humanist photography.

The favourite subjects are men, children and women in everyday life. Schoolchildren, workers, housewives, everyone is photographed.

The trend gradually gained momentum and other artists joined Doisneau’s style: Izis, Willy Ronis, Edouard Boubat, Henri Cartier-Bresson,…

Many photographers decided to photograph the society of the time.

A photographic style close to war photography and press photography.

It was also at this time that the first photo agency was born: Magnum.

Photographers were then independent and had the opportunity to choose their subjects themselves. Most of the photos were then published in the press in magazines such as Life or Paris-Match.

Even today, many photographers continue to perpetuate humanist photography.

This documentary photography is widely used in the news and the magazine press, but also exhibited in art galleries, for example the works of Steve MCurry.

Landscape photography: our tips for becoming a pro!

Another kind of photography: landscape photography.

Landscape photography has always been done. Throughout the history of photography, landscapes have fascinated both professional and amateur photographers.

But what are the best tips to make the most beautiful pictures?

There are several elements to be taken into account in order to take the best pictures.

First of all, it is necessary to choose the right equipment. And choosing the right equipment does not mean buying the best quality and therefore expensive equipment. Above all, you need to know what you need as a photographer.

I personally advise you to use a tripod. This allows you to stabilize the photos and to give effects when using long exposure.

It is also necessary to work on the composition. For this, you need to be able to practice several times to choose the right framing and work on the rule of thirds.

As an amateur photographer, the best advice I’ve heard is: get up early or go to bed late.

Indeed, the lights are much more beautiful at sunrise or sunset. These particular lights give originality to the pictures and make them stand out.

Just like the weather.

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