Lesser known types - DPChallenge Forums

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

07/15/2010 10:39:54 PM · #1

Does anyone know of any lesser known types of photography? You know ones that aren't heard about so often. I'm in that stage where I'm trying to find my niche and I would like the info.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/15/2010 10:51:07 PM · #2

You mean, like "forensic photography", photographing crime scenes, as a field of work? Or like "Cyanotype" as a specialized type of photographic printing process?

R.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/15/2010 10:53:40 PM · #3

I mean like ones that aren't so popular.

hawkeyefilms

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

07/15/2010 10:58:42 PM · #4

Like Stereo Photography? I'm off the the National Convention this weekend in Ohio.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/15/2010 10:59:58 PM · #5

Well, corporations often have photographers in-house. There's real estate photography. Big insurance companies have photographers as part of their investigative teams, this is related to forensic photography, which is for law enforcement and fire departments. There's a lot of photography in medicine and science, in general. OSHA hires photographers, for workplace documentation. The construction industry uses photographers to document job progress, safety compliance, contract fulfillment, and such.

There's a lot of photography out there that's in no way creative, that's entirely technical in nature...

R.

ETA: But I still don't know if you mean "as a career", or "as some niche photography technique to have fun with and amaze people"...

Message edited by author 2010-07-15 23:01:03.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

07/15/2010 11:10:35 PM · #6

I don't mean career but more like a niche thats kind of unknown to most. Ive never heard of stereo photography before. I check it out and it looks interesting. Any way to do it on the cheap?

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/16/2010 12:53:44 AM · #7

If you want to do darkroom work, you could try "photograms", negative images produced by laying objects directly on photosensitive paper and illuminating them from above. Man Ray and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy did this kind of work in the early-to-mid 20th century and it is eerily beautiful. Google photogram and their names for examples.

R.

Bugzeye

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital

07/16/2010 01:33:50 AM · #8

Well not so popular. hmm Waterdrops? No!! Sunsets? No! Babies? No! I think all you really have left to choose from is Mud!

Seriously though there are a few types of photography that are not super popular mainly because they are either difficult or expensive or both. For example: Astrophotography can be quite expensive so not many people do it, not very easy either, but if you master it you can get some serious rave from people.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/16/2010 08:15:42 AM · #9

Originally posted by jvaughn94:

I don't mean career but more like a niche thats kind of unknown to most. Ive never heard of stereo photography before. I check it out and it looks interesting. Any way to do it on the cheap?

Heck yes. If you have a camera, you are set. I've done quite a few stereo images with a standard camera, hand-held. The only gotcha is that it requires a still scene.

Silent-Shooter

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM II

07/16/2010 09:00:42 AM · #10

Infrared (aka Infra Red / IR) photography is also not so common but there are quite a few examples on this site if you search for them

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/16/2010 10:56:35 AM · #11

Another three less-common areas of photography; all of these are technical, two very much so:
- Astrophotography, the science and art of photographing astronomical objects. Can be done without much special equipment, but can also be one of the most expensive areas of photography. Relatively easy to get started and get some nice results, but it is a very technical area of photography, and requires years of learning and experience to become well-versed in.
- Microscopy, the science and art of acquiring images through optical (and non-optical) microscopes. Another highly technical field, and one that can produce images of stunning beauty. For examples, see this site. Special equipment and knowledge is required.
- Time-lapse photography, the art and science of capturing and presenting a time series of images. Can either be combined in a single image, or presented as video. this is an area where photography and videography overlap. For an excellent example that combines astrophotography and this technique, see this site.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/16/2010 11:40:31 AM · #12

Upskirt?

JamesA

Nikon D800

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G

07/16/2010 12:05:58 PM · #13

Have a look here Alternative Photography

bob350

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

07/16/2010 08:26:53 PM · #14

Originally posted by jvaughn94:

I don't mean career but more like a niche thats kind of unknown to most. ...

Finding what is "unknown to most" can happen with ordinary equipment in ordinary places. Mastery of craft and techniqueby specializing in a particular technical approach may look like an easy way to your goal. Indeed, developing specialized technical skills is one kind of niche. However, in the long run you probably will discover that your "niche" will amount to you discovering/developing your own "eye". This amounts to having your own way of seeing the world and making images that communicate what you envision in a way that is interesting to your audience, irrespective of the technical approach. It may take years to fully develop your "eye". But don't let anyone tell you that your (youngish) age is an insurmountable barrier to making your own unique images right now.

The essays by David Ward in his book Landscape Beyond - A Journey Into Photography explore this in an interesting way. The August 2010 issue of Lenswork magazine has an article by Andrew Beckham that might also be of interest, although more abstract. Best wishes in your explorations.