Types of Photography

A photograph is definitely worth a thousand words, and it has the power to convey a whole new meaning of a particular situation. While photography may be a hobby to some, this art form is a complete profession to many, as it offers various avenues to aspiring photographers.

The world's most spectacular photographs need not require the most expensive equipment. A stunning photograph would require the expertise of a skillful eye that is trained to capture moments in the best way possible.

Although color photography gained popularity with time, photographers are aware about the full potential of black and white pictures as well. So, whether it's the passion for fashion or nature, photographers all over the world are having a delightful time clicking away!

People with an inclination towards photography can check out some of the types of photography that also make fantastic career options.

This genre is one of the most lucrative kind. Photographs are one of the most effective ways of communication in the world of fashion. Here, photography is used to bring attention to the clothes and the accessories. Models are exclusively selected to showcase products in the best way possible.

Fashion photographers today, create the particular look either in a natural environment or one that is created in the studio. Often, these fashionable photographs find their way in leading fashion magazines. These magazines cater to the niche crowd that loves to know the best in clothing and other fashion accessories.

The photographers generally come up with ideas or visuals. At times, design houses also brief photographers about the concept required, in order to obtain specific results. These photographs are always planned in coordination with the advertising firm.

This form of art requires the photographer to have an excellent sense of composition and lighting. A photographer in this case, can create different textures and use objects that add interest to an otherwise normal composition.

Wedding photography is a specialized field of this art form, which is dedicated to snapping the most memorable moments in various creative ways. A photographer can take his/her own approach towards this subject. While some prefer the traditional 'posed' ways, there are others who base their photographs purely on the actual moment.

Photographers can also make wedding pictures fashionable with particular themes if agreeable with the client. There are many cases where such glamorous wedding photographs are captured specially in the studio. Today, many people are willing to explore new ideas, which opens up many new, creative avenues for experts in wedding photography.

Therefore, these photographs can be equivalent to an artist's expression on canvas. This genre of photography is not restricted for commercial purposes, but could be used for creative pursuits as well. A fine art photographer should have the ability to look beyond the obvious settings.

Photographers that specialize in wildlife photography spend many hours in the wilderness to capture some of the most amazing shots of animals against a natural backdrop. A photographer in this case, would need to be an ardent animal lover and know his way around in the wild.

Underwater photography is an interesting art form that explores a whole new world beneath the deep blue seas. It's an extremely challenging task because a photographer should know all about swimming and scuba diving to capture the best images while clicking pictures in the blue waters!

This style of photography is completely dedicated to capturing various images of cloud formations. Black and white photography in particular can be creatively used in this branch of photography.

Capturing nature in her many moods would be interesting for all lovers of the environment. A photographer who is dedicated to seascape photography should always lie in wait for the beauty of the sea to unfold. Here, the concentration is mainly on capturing various moods of the ocean, at different times of the day, or even in different seasons!

Architectural photography, as the name suggests, is all about capturing images of different styles of architecture in different lights. This type of photography would require the photographer to be an expert in the technical as well as the visual department.

This style of photography need not only be about professional models, it can encompass any kind of a person. Family portrait photographs are quite popular today. There are many creative ways a photographer can use to make a portrait photograph look stunning!

Photojournalism is all about telling a story about a particular event or incident through a single photograph. This genre of photography is used mainly by publications to represent the latest news.

In this case, the photographer's visuals and the writer's story should complement each other. For example, if a writer is making a specific mention of a particular location in the story, the photographer can find innovative ways to capture the same on camera.
Photojournalism can be further classified into:

Here, the photographer has to present an image that best represents the incident being spoken of, in true form. In this case, press photographers usually submit their images to the concerned publication. However, recently, press photographers from all over the world have started displaying their works at exhibitions as well.

A photographer, in this case, requires the skill to mingle with people and capture the best frames, without being conscious of people around. Henri Cartier-Bresson used the technique of wrapping the camera inside his handkerchief.

Of course, one also has to consider the legal issues, as there are many places where this type of photography is prohibited for security reasons.

Celebrity photography is all about capturing celebrities from various fields. Various media houses use such photographs - from publications (magazines, newspapers) to the online media. In this case, there are various ways of approaching the subject.

In the first instance, celebrities are shot with meticulous planning in a studio or at an outdoor location, where the styling is well planned for; this includes the clothes, make up, and the accessories. Apart from this, photographers who specialize in celebrity photography also need to capture them at various functions or press conferences.

Whereas, there is a third type of celebrity photography known as the paparazzi. This is about capturing celebrities on camera without their consent. These photographs are exclusive and often fetch a premium price for all photographers.

A photographer, in this case, should have the knack to capture stunning images on camera with great speed. There are many photographers who have dedicated themselves completely to this segment. These photographs are mainly used by publishing houses and other branches of media.

Nude photography is about the depiction of the human body in the nude form. These photographs are not meant for eroticism, but purely for the study of the human body. Here, the face is not always the focal point, and the compositions are stylized with experimentation in terms of light and backdrops.

Henri Cartier-Bresson is one of the first names that crops up in one's mind when it comes to candid photography. This can be said to be one of the purest forms of photography, which does not include any staged situations. Candid photography is all about being spontaneous!

This form of photography would require the photographer to be equipped with protective clothing. The photographer, in this case, clicks photographs of firefighting operations. This type of photography is useful for investigations.

Also known as crime scene photography, here, the job of the photographer is mainly to capture images for an accurate representation of the scene of crime. In these cases, a photographer will have to cover all the possible angles of the particular scene for investigation purposes. These images could be about any scene of crime or even accidents.

Here, it is the primary aim of the photographer to capture images of people without their knowledge. Professional photographers mainly use this type of photography for investigative purposes, and unethical publication of the same can result in various legal issues. Here, the photographer can also conceal himself/herself from the concerned party, including the camera being used.

There are various techniques used to obtain these images; a photographer can click these images from a helicopter or an aircraft, and more recently, kites are also being used, wherein the camera is attached to the kite to click photographs when the kite is in the air.

This type of photography focuses mainly on the person's face (mug shots), but is different from portrait photography. The images, in this case, are plainer in nature as the client would need to use these images purely for work purposes.

Astrophotography focuses completely on capturing images from space. This could range from the planets to the stars or any other interesting formations. It is very difficult to capture a clear image of any incident in the starry skies owing to many technical problems a photographer may face.

However, with the advent of new technology in this field, many innovative options are being added to make this type of photography easier for avid photographers dedicated to this field.

The timeless appeal of black and white photography can be used for any topic. Photographers, in this case, would need to use lighting and textures, apart from composition, and the latest techniques to be rewarded with beautiful visuals.

Digital photography is all about photographers opting for the digital cameras over the traditional ways, to click images that are faster to transmit. However, there are many photographers who still prefer to use film to digital cameras for better clarity and representation of light and dark.

Photographers in this case completely specialize in night scenes. Due to the problem of minimum light, new techniques are being incorporated. A photographer can use artificial light or even a long exposure to capture clear and precise images.

These various types of photography clearly give an indication of the blossoming of this art form. Technology has made it possible to go beyond the obvious frames. Today, photography is all about the combination of the expertise of the photographer as well as techniques.

But in the true sense, an excellent photographer would only need creativity and strong powers of observation to be able to capture visuals that are truly beyond the ordinary.