Understanding Documentary Photography
Documentary photography is a form of photographic storytelling that provides a straightforward and accurate representation of people, places, events, and cultures. This genre of photography aims to highlight social and environmental issues, but can also serve to document everyday life. It captures the reality in front of the lens and thus, tells the story of what happens across the globe in a visually engaging manner.
Gearing up
Choosing the right equipment is crucial. While professional photographers may lug around multiple cameras and lenses, travellers looking to capture documentary-style photos can opt for a more streamlined setup.
• Camera: A mirrorless camera or a DSLR is preferable for their image quality and versatility. However, high-quality compact cameras can also be excellent for more inconspicuous work.
• Lenses: A good range involves having a wide-angle lens (like a 24mm or 35mm) for expansive scenes and landscapes, and a faster lens (50mm or 85mm) for portraits and details.
• Storage and Backup: Always carry extra memory cards and a portable hard drive or cloud storage solution to back up your photos daily.
• Accessories: Invest in a sturdy, comfortable camera bag. Additional batteries, lens cleaning supplies, and polarizing or neutral density filters can also be essential.
Planning your journey
The more you know about your destination, the better your documentary photography can be.
• Research: Learn about the place’s history, culture, and current social issues. Understanding these can provide a deeper context to your images.
This story is from the May 2024 edition of Asian Photography.
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This story is from the May 2024 edition of Asian Photography.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Ethics of Wildlife Photography: Shooting and Editing
Wildlife photography is a captivating art that brings us closer to the beauty of nature and its inhabitants. However, it comes with a significant ethical responsibility. Wildlife photographers have the power to shape how the world perceives animals and their habitats, but this power also comes with the need to act with integrity, both in the field and during the editing process. This article explores the ethical considerations in wildlife photography, focussing on two critical aspects: shooting and editing.
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Wildlife photography offers a unique and exciting opportunity to capture the beauty of animals in their natural habitats. However, it also comes with risks, both to the photographer and the wildlife. Proper precautions must be taken to ensure that both parties remain safe. Here’s a guide on how to stay safe while photographing wildlife.
Mastering Animal Behaviour: Understanding wildlife to improve your photography
Wildlife photography is an art that goes beyond having the right equipment or perfect lighting.
A Mission for Preservation
From the wild lands of Kaziranga to the battlegrounds of Masai Mara, Jayanta Guha's passion for wildlife conservation burns bright as the sun. His unique way of capturing often-endangered animals have brought him a lot of praise and accolades over the 5+ years of his photography career. Asian Photography caught up with him about his passion for wildlife conservation, his unique style & workflow and his future.
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A hobby that started with casual safaris, Ratish Nair's career has seen him embark on various new journeys. Today, we see him with a new-found passion of teaching and wanting to give photographers high-quality experiences under his guidance and expert tours. Asian Photography caught up with him about his passion for mentorship, his experiences on the field, mishaps and more. Excerpts:
ATR - For a Cause
Not many can achieve a feat that wildlife photographer Aarzoo Khurana has. Not only is she a popular wildlife photographer - she is also, perhaps the only photographer to have visited All Tiger Reserves (ATR) under a specific time for her ATR project. Asian Photography spoke to her about her passion, wildlife conservation and her project, which is now exhibiting in different parts of the country. Excerpts:
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