The 25 types of Photographs (and their characteristics)

If human beings stand out for something, it is because of our need to express our emotions and because of the desire to leave a legacy that can last over time once we are no longer in this world. And it is precisely for this reason that, for many physiological and morphological properties that differentiate us from animals and for many scientific and technological advances that we have (and continue) achieved, there is something that has always formed and will always be part of our nature: art.

Artistic manifestations are all those activities or products with aesthetic and communicative purposes that express the emotions of the author. and that generate feelings in the audience, which processes the visual, sound, plastic, bodily or mixed resources that the work of art presents. There are many different types of arts: music, painting, film, architecture, sculpture, theater and, of course, photography.

Photography as we understand it was born in the context of the transition between the pre-industrial and industrial era, being an advance that was possible thanks to the technical innovations of a society that was entering a new era. Since then, this art has evolved a lot and has become one of the most powerful at both an aesthetic and communicative level.

Now, the world of photography is so immense that it has been necessary to develop what are known as photographic genres. And although this classification is subject to the evaluations and interpretations of each photographer and, in reality, there may be as many genres as different photographs we can imagine, in today's article we are going to investigate the nature of the main types of photographs that exist.

What are the main photographic genres?

By photography we understand the technique and art that consists of obtaining images by the chemical action of light on a sensitive surface to it or through a sensor present in a photographic camera. Thus, it is the procedure that allows obtaining photographs, lasting images that are obtained by the action of light.

In conventional cameras a light-sensitive film is used, thus achieving what are known as chemical photographs that must be developed, while the increasingly common digital cameras use sensors that record images in digital memories. But whatever the procedure, what is clear is that photography is one of the most powerful arts at a not only communicative level, but also aesthetically.

And it is that photographers, with deep knowledge in visual composition, lighting and framing, are capable of capturing moments, reinterpreting reality and obtaining snapshots with a high aesthetic value and that can tell, by themselves, stories. And it is that as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Now, within this art, it has been necessary, as with cinema, music or literature, to describe different types of genres. Thus, we obtain the photographic genres, categorizations that allow classifying the different kinds of photographs according to their content and aesthetic and communicative purpose. And then we are going to analyze them.

1. Portrait photography

Portrait photography is the photographic genre in which the artist captures the physical appearance of a person, generally through close-ups, although medium shots are also common. Its purpose is to get closer to the protagonist of the photograph, so the features of his face and the emotions that this transmits are relevant.

2. Artistic photography

Artistic photography is the photographic genre most closely linked to the expression of the author's emotions and feelings. The focus is not on what is photographed, that is, it is not about focusing on what the camera sees, but on what the photographer observes. The camera, then, is an artistic tool that allows the author to express what he feels.

3. Abstract photography

Abstract photography is the photographic genre in which shape, color, texture and pattern are used to generate emotions, without appealing to any specific element. It is a type of photography difficult to understand since it depends a lot on the creativity and imagination of the author, but the one that gives more room to break the rules and create unique compositions.

4. Photojournalism

Photojournalism is both the photographic and journalistic genre in which photography is used as a narrative resource, since the photographer captures a reality that he observes in order to tell the story behind it. It narrates and transmits emotions without the need for words. It is the genre most closely linked to the phrase that we have mentioned before that a picture is worth a thousand words.

5. Black and white photography

Black and white photography is the photographic genre characterized by the absence of color. They were the standard until the 1970s. Since then, they have been more relegated to the forms of fine art photography, but it is undeniable that black and white will always have a special magic for lovers of photography.

6. Color photography

Color photography is the photographic genre in which the images obtained are not black and white, but rather have colors. It allows to play with all the theory of color for compositions and is the predominant form of photography since the 70s.

7. Urban photography

Urban photography is the photographic genre in which reality is reflected in the population nuclei, taking images not only of the citizens carrying out their daily and daily activities, but of the objects, buildings and elements of the city. From there, it is the photographer who decides what approach to give to this representation of the urban environment.

8. Sports photography

Sports photography is the photographic genre based on capturing, in images, a sporting event of any kind. Generally considered as an auxiliary genre of journalism, it captures the most important moments of a sporting event, such as a football match or a Formula 1 race.

9. Aerial photography

Aerial photography is the photographic genre that has the peculiarity that the images are taken at high altitude, usually in helicopters or in tall buildings, as well as by drones. They make it possible to capture, with a great perspective through zenith or overhead shots, places of photographic interest, generally landscapes or cities.

10. Minimalist photography

Minimalist photography is the photographic genre that, based on harmony and simplicity as fundamental artistic elements, uses the fewest possible elements in visual compositions. By photographing a few elements that occupy a small portion of the plane and leaving a large part of the image "empty", we seek to give a sense of visual cleanliness and peace.

11. Architectural photography

Architectural or architectural photography is the photographic genre that focuses on taking snapshots of buildings, highlighting its architectural characteristics, shapes, color, design, tones and textures, thus giving "life" to these buildings.

12. Advertising photography

Advertising photography is the photographic genre that has the purpose of promoting, marketing or selling the product that is being photographed. Through photographic resources, it seeks to generate interest in the viewer so that they feel the need to buy it.

13. Food photography

Food photography is the photographic genre that is based on take snapshots of food in an aesthetic and visual interest, transforming the plate into a photographic element that generates emotions in the viewer. Like the previous one, the purpose is to capture the essence of a product, in this case a meal, to encourage the person who sees the photograph to try a dish.

14. Astronomical photography

Astronomical photography, also known as astrophotography, is the photographic genre that consists of taking images of objects in the Universe. Due to the low light conditions and the obvious distance from the celestial bodies, it is necessary to use special lenses and knowledge in this discipline. Thus, it allows lovers of photography and astronomy to photograph planets, satellites, comets, galaxies, etc.

15. Lifestyle photography

Lifestyle photography is the photographic genre that seeks to turn any moment of daily life or an activity apparently lacking in aesthetic content into an artistic creation. A) Yes, we turn the everyday into art.

16. Fashion photography

Fashion photography is the photographic genre that seeks to take snapshots of clothing, accessories, clothing or jewelry, having a close relationship with the world of both fashion and advertising. Photographers specialized in this discipline know how to highlight the charm of the garments while transmitting emotions that encourage the purchase of them.

17. Underwater photography

Underwater photography is the photographic genre that is based on taking pictures underwater. It is a discipline that requires physical preparation and special instruments, since it involves diving equipment and expensive cameras capable of obtaining clear photographs under the sea.

18. Documentary photography

Documentary photography is the photographic genre that tries to capture moments with historical, natural or cultural interest. Like photojournalism, it is based on the principle that a picture is worth a thousand words, but here, more than telling a story, we portray a reality.

19. Night photography

Night photography is the photographic genre in which works in low light conditions. Thus, the photographer is specialized in taking pictures at night, avoiding that low light conditions make the image quality be inferior.

20. Landscape photography

Landscape photography is the photographic genre that is based on taking images of landscapes, ensuring that the visual composition is the most accurate of reality and using nature as a means to convey emotions.

21. Scientific photography

Scientific photography is the photographic genre that focuses on immortalizing important moments in the history of science, capturing important events in terms of scientific experiments or taking images of objects that are not visible to the human eye but whose information is important to the progress of science.

22. Boudoir Photography

Boudoir photography is the photographic genre in which, making use of sensuality and eroticism, intimate and romantic images of a person are taken in order to connect with her, always with a sensitivity towards the protagonist of the photograph.

23. Surreal photography

Surrealist photography is the photographic genre based on obtaining images with irrational compositions that do not appeal to a standard element, but to fantasy worlds that arouse emotions in the author, and with a certain degree of risk, in the sense that they break with the conceptions of conventional photography.

24. Author's photograph

By author photography we understand those differential characteristics of the work of a determined photographer who has found a unique and personal stamp and that allows us to know that a photograph is his just by looking at it if, obviously, we are familiar with his work.

25. Photomicrography

Photomicrography is the photographic genre in which images are taken in such a way that very small details are magnified in order to get closer to objects in a much more intimate way. It consists of the technique to magnify, without losing sharpness, the details of what was photographed so that the image appears larger than it is in real life.