Photography is an expansive art form that includes more than
just portraiture, landscape or glamour photography. Both professional
and amateur photographers may favor specific types of photography over
others. While a professional photographer may work in photojournalism,
an amateur may be particularly interested in macrophotography. Read on
to learn more about the various types of photography.
Photojournalism
Although
amateurs may break into this field without formal training,
photojournalism is often limited to professionals. One reason
photojournalism is generally practiced by professionals is that serious
photojournalists must be sure that their shots maintain the integrity of
the original scene.
Photojournalism requires the photographer to shoot only the facts: no
alteration or embellishment of the photo is permitted. Photojournalism
pictures are often powerful images that engage the viewer with the news
story. Knowing how to take such shots to capture the original emotion is
often learned only through years of practice and experience.
Documentary Photography
Documentary
photographs tell stories with images. The main difference between
photojournalism and documentary photography is that documentary
photography is meant to serve as a historical document of a political or
social era while photojournalism documents a particular scene or
instance.
A documentary photographer may shoot a series of images of the inner
city homeless or chronicle the events of international combat. Any topic
may be the subject of documentary photography. As with photojournalism,
documentary photography seeks to show the truth without manipulating
the image.
Action Photography
While
professionals who take action shots may specialize in a variety of
different subjects, sports photography is one of the fastest and most
exciting types of photography. As with any action shot, a good sports
photographer has to know his or her subject well enough to anticipate
when to take pictures. The same rule goes for photographers taking
action shots of animals in nature or of a plane taking off.
Macrophotography
Macrophotography
describes the field of photography in which pictures are taken at close
range. Once restricted to photographers with advanced and expensive
equipment, macrophotography is now easier for amateurs to practice with
digital cameras with macro settings. Macrophotography subjects may
include insects, flowers, the texture of a woven sweater or any object
where close-up photography reveals interesting details.
Microphotography
Microphotography
uses specialized cameras and microscopes to capture images of extremely
small subjects. Most applications of microphotography are best suited
for the scientific world. For example, microphotography is used in
disciplines as diverse as astronomy, biology and medicine.
Glamour Photography
Glamour
photography, sometimes confused with pornography, may be sexy and
erotic but it is not pornographic. Instead of focusing on nudity or
lurid poses, glamour photography seeks to capture its subject in
suggestive poses that emphasize curves and shadows. As the name implies,
the goal of glamour photography is to depict the model in a glamorous
light. Consequently, many glamour shots carry flirtatious, mysterious
and playful tones.
Aerial Photography
An
aerial photographer specializes in taking photos from the air. Photos
may be used for surveying or construction, to capture birds or weather
on film or for military purposes. Aerial photographers have used planes,
ultralights, parachutes, balloons and remote controlled aircraft to
take pictures from the air.
Underwater Photography
Underwater
photography is usually employed by scuba divers or snorkelers. However,
the cost of scuba diving, coupled with often expensive and unwieldy
underwater photography equipment, makes this one of the less common
types of photography. Similarly, if an amateur has the equipment and the
scuba know-how, taking shots underwater can be complicated, as scuba
goggles are magnified and distort the photographer’s vision.
Art Photography
Artistic
photography can embrace a wide variety of subjects. While a nature
photographer may use underwater photography to create an art show based
on sea life, a portrait photographer’s show may feature black and white
artistic portraitures. In all cases, the photographs must have aesthetic
value to be considered art.
Portraiture
Portraiture
is one of the oldest types of photography. Whether the subject is your
family or your pet, the goal of portraiture is to capture the
personality of the subject or group of subjects on film.
Wedding Photography
Wedding
photography is a blend of different types of photography. Although the
wedding album is a documentary of the wedding day, wedding photos can be
retouched and edited to produce a variety of effects. For example, a
photographer may treat some of the pictures with sepia toning to give
them a more classic, timeless look.
In addition, a wedding photographer must have portrait photography
skills. He may also have to employ glamour photography techniques to
capture the bride and groom at their best.
Advertising Photography
Because
photography plays a vital role in advertising, many professional
photographers devote their careers to advertising photography. The need
for unique and eye-catching advertising copy means the photographer may
work with multiple types of photography, including macrophotography and
glamour photography.
Travel Photography
Travel
photography may span several categories of photography, including
advertising, documentary or vernacular photography that depicts a
particularly local or historical flavor. A travel photographer can
capture the feel of a location with both landscapes and portraiture.
