Repo : Susan. Victim of Sontag's Curse
Rebo: Nature photographer
Nature photographer, specializing in insect macro photography, and has long been committed to the application of artificial light in the wild environment, his works have won the gold medal of the "Wilderness Legend" photography competition of China National Geographic.
In the Ibe team, everyone likes to call Rebo "Old Thief", which comes from his screen name "Stealing Rice". The "old thief" is a person who loves to think and communicate with everyone, so that the homepage Jun is sometimes more afraid to chat with him, because it is difficult to stop when the conversation box is opened. But every time you chat and talk, some of his ideas about photography techniques and photographic ideas will always cause you to think and fall into his chat "trap" without knowing it. Well, today let the "old thief" talk to you about his photography classics.
Lei Bo observed before shooting
The old thief said: "Natural macro photography is a physical work, but also a mental work." But for the old thief, the repeated prostrations are likely to be his pious prostrations on the road of photography.
1. What is macro photography for you?
What is macro photography for you? You have been happy to share your summary of photographic techniques and equipment on the website, where is the motivation? Why did you stop updating?
Natural macro photography, sketches, small moods, attention to detail or formal beauty, at first I thought so. But now I feel that it has a richer theme than other categories, and is better at seeing the big in the small and finding beauty in the ordinary. And it is not a simple detail performance, it is related to visual creativity, emotional outpouring, and even humanistic care.
Dulongjiang, Yunnan, a roadside ant
The personal blog stopped updating for the following reasons: 1. It was difficult for me to receive pertinent opinions there, and I spent many years in yy surrounded by many praises; secondly, many so-called experiences I shared earlier were overturned by myself again and again. In order to avoid misleading others, I will no longer easily share the so-called tutorial;
Nankunshan, Guangdong, a mushroom that was reborn after the rain
Third, I found myself to be a big gap between myself and a good nature photographer, and I needed a lot of time to study quietly and imagine how to shoot in the future in reflection and practice. However, I believe that one day, I will definitely come back!
Second, about natural macro photography at home and abroad
According to your understanding of foreign macro photography, what do you think are the main differences between domestic and foreign photographers?
Regarding domestic macro photography, the famous photographer Bresson once said: "I have always held micro words for those who are passionate about photographic technology and exude unbridled pursuit of image clarity. Are they keen on meticulousness and precision? Or do you want to deceive your eyes and feel closer to reality? "It's not what I said, don't hit me, beat the old cloth to go!"
Pu'er, Yunnan, a close-up of thompson's multi-spiny ant head
Yes, the master's words are always so to the point. Those who are all kinds of deified equipment theories for commercial purposes and uncontrolled photography guides who pursue details have created a batch of so-called compound-eye, digital-hair macro masters, making people naively think that details represent everything in photography. Domestic natural macro photography is basically at the level of a high-quality popular science work, and the general atmosphere emphasizes a dependence on equipment and technology, and the phenomenon of following the trend is particularly serious.
Dulongjiang, Yunnan, a fluorescent leaf beetle sheltered from the rain in dead leaves
On the other hand, foreign countries can always see a lot of eye-catching works. Some people say that the development of Western art is a process of change and innovation. Yes, in the field of natural macro, this spirit of innovation is just as vivid. We can see some Cubist natural macro photography like Picasso, and we can also see some natural macro photography that resembles Impressionism... They reflect the thinking and experimentation of foreign photographers on natural macro photography.
Chongqing is surrounded by mountains, and the big-eyed slanted snake in the forest
In natural macro photography at home and abroad, I think the biggest gap lies in the subjectivity and innovation of creation. In China, there are very few excellent nature photographers with personality, but also have a solid photographic foundation and independent thinking ability. Now that information technology is so developed, we have the conditions to learn from those really good photographers!
Third, the indonesian photographer phenomenon in my eyes
Also mainly focusing on insect macro, what do you think of the Indonesian photographer group?
For the current phenomenon of strange Indonesian photographers on the Internet, my view is that it needs to be viewed from multiple angles. First of all, these works are the few natural subject photos that can arouse the attention of the public who do not know the truth, and from the social level, it can narrow the distance between the public and nature, and play a certain positive effect.
Parasitic fig wasps on fig fruit
Second, this type of photograph should be attributed to the field of creative photography, not strictly nature photography. But many unknown media brag about it as a real existence, the eyes of the masses are shiny, and it is normal to be slapped and disgusted;
The source of the three rivers in Qinghai, a flock of butterflies under the sunset
The biggest mistake of these works is the text deception, which fictionalizes untrue scenes without explaining them. The so-called fairy tales are all deceitful, and once the fairy tales are exposed, the anger after being deceived will drown everything. If photographers could express the purpose and method of creativity in honest words at the same time, the results could be very different.
Chongqing simian mountains - dense mesh butterflies along the river
However, I have always believed that true natural beauty does not need to rely on posing to achieve it. With a reverence for nature, with the accumulation of time and experience, I believe that you will really see more "fairy tales".
Why have you been obsessed with macro photography for more than 10 years?
The amazing microscopic world under the macro lens often leads people to start experimenting with macro photography, but many people often stop at it, what do you think about it, what makes you obsessed with this for so many years?
The appeal of natural macro photography stems from our curiosity. For example, compound eyes, microscopic details that are difficult to see with the naked eye, etc. When they are presented with extreme clarity, the surprise is indeed fascinating. However, after watching more, coupled with the increase in the difficulty of improving the shooting technique, this curiosity will gradually weaken or even disappear, which is the reason why many people have stopped trying to stop.
Guangzhou, just feathered superior spotted pink butterfly
Genius critic Susan. Sontag said back in the 1970s: "Recently photography as an entertainment has become almost as widespread as pornography and dance – meaning that photography, like all popular art forms, is not practiced by most people as art." "Today, with the popularity of digital cameras and mobile phone shooting functions, no matter how high-end and expensive your camera is, taking a SLR photo is no different from singing in a cabaret.
Guangzhou, Impressions. butterfly
I think most nature photography enthusiasts, like me, are Susan. Victim of Sontag's Curse. Because once we pick up the camera, we look at the world with personal preferences and prejudices. Over time and experience, this bias may become better or more extreme.
Guangzhou, swollen-legged bees on dead branches
In fact, curiosity is not the essence of natural macro photography. But this is almost a process that everyone has to go through. Famous nature photographer Simon. King once said: "A regurgitated sandpiper may have been photographed thousands of times, but only a handful of images can touch us and move us – and the reason is difficult for us to understand." "It was precisely because I began to understand that I was pursuing this touch and touch of nature that I insisted on it for 10 years.
Guangzhou, a tree frog strolling through the woods
Finally, I would like to recommend two albums with top nature themes: "Light of the Earth" and "Spirit of Life". From it, you can see the pictures that make you move, and you can hear the heartfelt words of the real photography masters.