Where are the techniques of cultural relics photography ah?

Talking about the methods and techniques of cultural relics photography

Author: Niu Aihong

Henan Museum curator, photo studio photographer.

Cultural relics, is the remains of material and spiritual culture in human history. The information it contains has historical, artistic, scientific and other values, and is an important cultural heritage of the historical development of a country and a nation. In social life, it is more and more valued and loved by people. But most of the cultural relics are preserved in museums and other institutions, in addition to visiting the site, through the picture to understand and appreciate the cultural relics is one of the important ways. So heritage photography has a very important role, heritage photography will be these exquisite treasures through the form of pictures introduced to more people, its role is to provide historical evidence for the study of cultural relics, the second is for people to appreciate, for cultural exchanges to provide image information. In today's network era, cultural relics pictures in a faster way so that traditional culture has a larger audience. Then, mastering the methods and techniques of cultural relics photography is an important means to strengthen the artistic value of cultural relics.

Heritage photography is different from general news and advertising photography, it is is through the documentary characteristics of photography, reproducing the artistic and scientific value of historical relics, so authenticity is the first element of heritage photography. To do a good job in heritage photography, the photographer should have certain qualities, to know the history, to understand the understanding of cultural relics, in the shooting of a cultural relics, to understand the historical background of cultural relics and the characteristics of the social and cultural life of the era in which they are located, to do a good job, so that, in order to shoot the target, targeted to mobilize the light, angle, lens and other photographic language to express the cultural relics, and the full use of artistic means of shaping it. Also requires that the cultural relics photographed real, clear, accurate color reproduction, is strictly prohibited exaggeration, deformation, or through technical means of cultural relics outside the theme of unnecessary modification. Cultural relics are priceless treasures left to us by our ancestors. After many years of social change and war, the cultural relics handed down to the present day are relatively few. And with the passage of time, fewer and fewer artifacts will remain in the world. Therefore, cultural relics are very precious, non-renewable is its biggest feature, once the cultural relics are damaged, they can never be restored. The primary premise of heritage photography is to ensure the safety of cultural relics.

Cultural relics photography equipment equipped with high requirements, should choose 120 and 4 × 5 specifications of the camera, the advantages of this camera is able to lift the front and back of the frame, left and right to move and twist independently, can be adjusted in the process of filming due to the lens on the camera object at a different angle of perspective deformation, and a smaller aperture to ensure that the artifacts before and after the clear range of 135 cameras can be photographed. Cultural relics of the data samples.

Cultural relics photography, the use of a variety of lenses, different artifacts have different requirements. Let's first understand the characteristics of different focal length lens: lens according to the focal length of the different points of the wide-angle, standard, medium telephoto lens, wide-angle lens is characterized by: a short focal length, large field of view, shooting a wide range of scenery. In the case of a narrow environment can not increase the distance, the use of wide-angle lens can expand the shooting field of view, in the limited distance range to shoot a panoramic view or a large scene of the photo. Wide-angle lens also has a super proportional rendering of the near big, far small features, there is an exaggerated role of the foreground. It is often used when taking pictures of ancient tombs, grotto statues and other cultural relics that are more restricted by the environment. The focal length of the standard lens and the diagonal length of the negative frame are basically equal. Although the field of view is still the size of the difference (generally between 45 ° ~ 55 °), but mostly close to the perspective of the human eye. Therefore, the photographs taken with the standard lens, the perspective relationship of the scene is more in line with people's visual habits. Because the focal length of the standard lens, field of view, shooting range, depth of field, as well as in the same shooting distance obtained by the image size are more moderate, so this lens is most widely used. Medium focal length lens belongs to a class of long focal length lens, the focal length of the medium focal length lens is about twice the focal length of the standard lens, the focal length of the long focal length lens is longer. Its **** the same characteristics are: long focal length, small field of view, imaging on the negative. So in the same distance can shoot a larger image than the standard lens. As the depth of field range of medium and long focal length lens is smaller than the standard lens, the use of this feature is conducive to the virtualization of the subject before and after the cluttered background, and the subject is generally farther away from the camera, the deformation of perspective is small, compressed before and after the main body of the cultural relics of the space, so it is often used in the artifacts in the filming.

In the shooting also pay attention to the depth of field. When the camera lens focusing on a scene, the scene can be formed in the film plane clear image, and in the scene before and after a certain distance range of the scene, but also in the film plane into a clearer image, the image of a clear scene of the space of the longitudinal depth of the long distance, called the depth of field. Depth of field can be divided into two parts, located in the focusing target before the part called the foreground depth of field, located in the focusing target after the part called the depth of field. The depth of field before and after the depth of field is added together, that is, from the nearest clear point of the depth of field of the front boundary to the farthest clear point of the depth of field of the depth of field of the back boundary of the distance between the depth of field is called the panoramic depth of field. In the use of large seat camera to shoot cultural relics, to focus on the artifacts in the first third of the artifacts, the use of flash high-power light output, with as small an aperture as possible to ensure that the artifacts before and after the clear to use the front and back of the depth of field to ensure sufficient clarity of the range. After focusing is complete, the depth of field prediction button on the camera can be used to determine the size and sharpness of the depth of field.

The use of light: cultural relics photography lighting with lamps and lanterns is best to use electronic flash, electronic flash is a cold light source, long time lighting will not produce damage to cultural relics. The number of lights is at least 4, that is, the top light, the main light, auxiliary lights and background lights, the output of each light should be based on the specific shooting of cultural relics, to produce a certain light ratio, perfect performance of cultural relics. Photographing cultural relics mainly relies on indoor lighting, the photographer can arrange the direction of light projection and light intensity according to their own needs. Different directions of light projection have different effects on shaping cultural relics. Generally speaking, the smooth light flat and no darkness, more for the overall lighting and auxiliary light; side light long for the depiction of artifacts on each side of the contrast between dark and light, and can isolate the artifacts and the background, to enhance the depth of the picture; backlighting used to outline the contour line of the artifacts, there is a three-dimensional sense of the special role; top light on the artifacts at the top of the artifacts and the waist modeling of the complex artifacts; the bottom of the light, with rendering the characters, animals, artifacts of the majesty, ferocity and horror of the Emotional color. The strength of the light, should be different according to the needs of different cultural relics, the light of the primary and secondary can only be accompanied by the styling of the artifacts of each part of the primary and secondary relationships and separate arrangements. Shadow will make the subject produce three-dimensional sense and sense of space. Composition emphasizes the use of shadow as a special element to change the processing, can make the shadow effect in some way to suggest the graphic theme to be expressed. Highlighting the shadow element can be homogeneous or heterogeneous projection of different angles, different dimensions of space and different things cleverly grouped, giving the picture a new mood.

Background: the shooting of cultural relics to use the background paper to create a relatively clean atmosphere, the background of the color can not be too bright, chaotic colors reflected in the artifacts, destruction of cultural relics on the contours of the line, a large area of the color of the reflections are also prone to make the artifacts bias color. Now the international common background paper is medium gray, because gray is a neutral color, can be matched with any color artifacts, is conducive to highlighting the artifacts.

Tripod: the clarity of cultural relics photography is the first to ensure that the shooting must use a tripod, conducive to the composition and focus, to avoid the jitter caused by handheld shooting.

Metering table: heritage photography in most of the commonly used professional cameras do not have internal metering device, the need for external metering table, to choose to measure the flash and continuous light source metering table.

In addition, in cultural relics photography, a large number of auxiliary tools is also essential. Reflectors, adhesive tape, eliminate reflective spray and so on are essential.

Cultural relics by texture, mainly bronze, pottery, porcelain, jade, calligraphy and painting. Cultural relics of different textures, different shapes, different equipment used when shooting, shooting methods are different, the use of light is not the same. Below, to illustrate with examples.

Jade is an important category of cultural relics. In traditional culture, jade is regarded as a kind of artifact with five virtues: benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faith, so it was mostly used to make exquisite and valuable ritual objects in ancient times. Nowadays, the preserved jade wares are famous for their exquisite craftsmanship, beautiful shapes and gorgeous colors. How to express the exquisite and lifelike artistic effect of jade is directly related to the choice of background, the use of light and the control of exposure. Jade is usually divided into white, green, green, ink, yellow and other colors. When shooting, we should pay attention to the control of the light of the top lamp, try to make the background and artifacts separate, increase the sense of three-dimensionality, express the depth of space and environmental atmosphere, from the back of the artifacts come to the light, outline the outline of the artifacts line, but also to show the texture of the jade crystal; a main light can be from the side of the artifacts to play the light, for the performance of the artifacts as fine as millimeters of the yin carving line lines and the superb shallow relief carving; third auxiliary light can be in a more distant place, to the The third auxiliary light can be in a more distant place, the front to give a weaker auxiliary light, illuminating the entire object, in order to show the overall effect of the object. If an incident light meter is chosen for shooting, the meter should be placed in front of the artifact, parallel to the artifact, and facing the camera for metering, so that the measured exposure combination will not be affected by the background light. Jade artifacts are difficult to place when shooting, such as thin and transparent jade pendants, jade walls, etc., often with hollowed-out decorations, which will lack three-dimensionality if placed flat. In order to make the artifacts stand up, as far as possible, with tiny, solid things to support behind the artifacts, so that there will be no obvious traces of support on the photos. For some of the larger artifacts, you can prepare a piece of white playdough, according to the size of the required support point glued to the back of the artifacts, to expand the support surface.

Bronze, ceramics and other three-dimensional artifacts of photography, pay attention to the performance of their shape, texture and three-dimensional, so that the original image of the artifacts can be truly reproduced, highlighting the three-dimensional sense of the focus of the light, the appropriate use of the top light can be sketched out the artifacts of the artifacts, the main light and auxiliary light should pay attention to the ratio of the light, do not form a large flat light, is not conducive to the three-dimensional sense of molding. Shooting angle to find out a can summarize the characteristics of the best viewing surface, but also try to show the beauty of its shape. There are a large number of cultural relics, such as jars, tripods, cups, zun and other artifacts with a mouth, the mouth is an important feature of the shape of such artifacts. When shooting, we should choose the appropriate angle and height, and accurately show the shape of the mouth. Angle of the height, generally to see the front and back edge of the mouth is appropriate.

The shooting of cultural relics is generally in the center of the picture, but if the artifacts themselves are directional, we should consider the layout of the whole picture, such as the shooting of the three-color horse, we should let the space in front of the horse's head is slightly larger than that of the rear, giving the artifacts a sense of life, there is room to move forward. Shooting changes in camera height is also very important, different shooting heights have different effects. Flat shooting: refers to the camera shooting position and the height of the subject is the same, that is, the camera level shooting, which is not easy to produce the characteristics of deformation, the shooting screen friendly and natural. Overhead shooting: refers to the camera's shooting position is higher than the height of the subject, i.e., the camera shoots from the top down. Overhead shooting is generally used more for ceramic courtyard and other large scenes of photography, it can produce a better sense of space, as comprehensive as possible to show the full picture of the earth's artifacts and some specific details of the courtyard. Elevation: refers to the camera's shooting position is lower than the height of the subject, that is, the camera from the bottom upward shooting. Tilt shooting is generally used to emphasize and exaggerate the height of the subject, but the shooting will cause deformation of the subject, especially in the shooting distance is small, the deformation is more obvious. In the shooting of architectural artifacts in the ceramic building, you can make the camera slightly lower than the center line of the ceramic building, upward tilt shooting, can show the height of the ceramic building, if it is top down, it is easy to depress the building.

Jade is an important category of cultural relics. In traditional culture, jade is regarded as a kind of artifact possessing the five virtues of benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom and faith, so it was mostly used to make exquisite and valuable ritual objects in ancient times. Nowadays, the preserved jade wares are famous for their exquisite craftsmanship, beautiful shapes and gorgeous colors. How to express the exquisite and lifelike artistic effect of jade is directly related to the choice of background, the use of light and the control of exposure. Jade is usually divided into white, green, green, ink, yellow and other colors. When shooting, we should pay attention to the control of the light of the top lamp, try to make the background and artifacts separate, increase the sense of three-dimensionality, express the depth of space and environmental atmosphere, from the back of the artifacts come to the light, outline the outline of the artifacts line, but also to show the texture of the jade crystal; a main light can be from the side of the artifacts to play the light, for the performance of the artifacts as fine as millimeters of the yin carving line lines and the superb shallow relief carving; third auxiliary light can be in a more distant place, to the The third auxiliary light can be in a more distant place, the front to give a weaker auxiliary light, illuminating the entire object, in order to show the overall effect of the object. If an incident light meter is chosen for shooting, the meter should be placed in front of the artifact, parallel to the artifact, and facing the camera for metering, so that the measured exposure combination will not be affected by the background light. Jade artifacts are difficult to place when shooting, such as thin and transparent jade pendants, jade walls, etc., often with hollowed-out decorations, which will lack three-dimensionality if placed flat. In order to make the artifacts stand up, as far as possible, with tiny, solid things supported behind the artifacts, so that there will be no obvious traces of support on the photos. For some larger artifacts, you can prepare a piece of white playdough, according to the size of the required support point glued to the back of the artifacts to expand the support surface.

Bronze, ceramics and other three-dimensional artifacts of photography, pay attention to the performance of their shape, texture and three-dimensional, so that the original image of the artifacts can be truly reproduced, highlighting the three-dimensional sense of the focus of the light, the appropriate use of the top light can be sketched out the artifacts of the artifacts, the main light and auxiliary light to pay attention to the ratio of the light, do not form a large flat light, is not conducive to the three-dimensional sense of molding. Shooting angle to find out a can summarize the characteristics of the best viewing surface, but also try to show the beauty of its shape. There are a large number of cultural relics, such as jars, tripods, cups, zun and other artifacts with a mouth, the mouth is an important feature of the shape of such artifacts. When shooting, we should choose the appropriate angle and height, and accurately show the shape of the mouth. Angle of the height, generally to see the front and back edge of the mouth is appropriate.

The shooting of cultural relics is generally in the center of the picture, but if the artifacts themselves are directional, we should consider the layout of the whole picture, such as the shooting of the three-color horse, we should let the space in front of the horse's head is slightly larger than that of the rear, giving the artifacts a sense of life, there is room to move forward. Shooting changes in camera height is also very important, different shooting heights have different effects. Flat shooting: refers to the camera shooting position and the height of the subject is the same, that is, the camera level shooting, which is not easy to produce the characteristics of deformation, the shooting screen friendly and natural. Overhead shooting: refers to the camera's shooting position is higher than the height of the subject, i.e., the camera shoots from the top down. Overhead shooting is generally used more for ceramic courtyard and other large scenes of photography, it can produce a better sense of space, as comprehensive as possible to show the full picture of the earth's artifacts and some specific details within the courtyard. Elevation shooting: refers to the camera's shooting position is lower than the height of the subject, that is, the camera from the bottom upward shooting. Tilt shooting is generally used to emphasize and exaggerate the height of the subject, but the shooting will cause deformation of the subject, especially in the shooting distance is small, the deformation is more obvious. In the shooting of architectural artifacts in the ceramic building, you can make the camera slightly below the center line of the ceramic building, upward tilt shooting, can show the height of the ceramic building, if it is downward shooting, it is easy to depress the building.

The Warring States period of the wrong gold and silver copper tripod, shooting to find a most expressive features angle, but also the flow, feet, ears and other details are shown, so in the placement of the artifacts should be rotated to find a part of each other do not overlap the angle, and shooting the height of the camera to be able to show the three feet. In the use of light, in order to strengthen the lifelike brilliant gold and silver texture, in the front of the artifacts to strengthen the light output, and the top light of the front and back echo, highlighting the dignified and noble artifacts.

In the shooting of cultural relics, sometimes can also be used beyond the conventional means to shoot, such as this picture of female figurines of the Tang Dynasty is through the contrast between the real and the imaginary to highlight the main body, the focus is on the main body in the foreground, through the depth-of-field control, the female figurines behind the virtual, the viewer's line of sight will naturally be focused on the main body of the shooting, the main body will also appear to be eye-catching, prominent. In addition, the picture of the contrast between reality and fiction can also be used to show the sense of movement, so that the subject is clear and the environment fuzzy, or the subject is fuzzy and the environment is clear, can be a strong performance of the subject's sense of movement.

The shooting of paintings should pay attention to the perspective problem, to ensure that the painting is not deformed, the camera is required to be completely parallel to the painting, from the viewfinder to observe the four borders of the painting is deformed, if it is on the big and the next is small, that is, the lens from the upper part of the painting is less than the distance from the lower part of the distance, the deformation of the left and right is the same reason, so in the shooting must be sure to ensure that the camera lens and the painting to maintain the level. Lighting requirements of the overall light balance, generally from the left and right sides of a light, at a 45-degree angle to irradiation, the middle part of the intersection of the two lights, to use a light meter to measure the amount of light on the various parts of the word painting, to ensure that the output is consistent and then shoot.

Special shooting requirements, we must use special shooting methods. For example, in the ancient painting and calligraphy of the unmounted restoration process, the researchers want to look at the ancient painting and calligraphy of paper and mounting materials used at that time, analyze its age, etc., the photographer has to think of a way, through the special lighting to show the texture of the paper and damask satin. In the shooting of a Tang Dynasty scrolls through the back of the transmitted light from the performance of the material of the warp and weft veins.

Cultural relics photography because of its special nature of work and become a unique category of photographic art. Cultural relics photography is an important means of dissemination of knowledge of cultural relics. The construction of a harmonious socialist country needs to respect, dig the essence of history and traditional culture, heritage photography from different perspectives on the heritage of a full range of interpretation, for the study, inheritance of excellent traditional culture provides a strong evidence. Cultural relics photography is also a continuous exploration of the work, mastered the methods and techniques of cultural relics photography, there is a key to continue to explore.