Photographing Red Flags in Beijing
Red flags on the ramparts of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
I made this quite graphic photo of red flags in the Forbidden City while in Beijing, China during the middle of winter.
It was a bitterly cold day, around-10C, and I remember passing through the usual security screens and checks to gain access, for me and my camera gear, into the Forbidden City.
Rather than continue to move with the crowd I followed a sign up some steps to a balcony at the front of the complex.
This elevated position is the place from which paramount Chinese leaders, emperors and communists alike, have appeared to the masses over the centuries.
The view overlooked Tiananmen Square, a public space of cultural and historical significance.
However, as I was looking pretty much directly into the sun, there wasn't anything I could see that I felt was worth photographing.
About To Travel?
Making Photos Of Backlit Subjects
On my way up the stairs I sighted the red flags flapping in the wind. They were backlit by very bright sunlight and would have been silhouetted except for the fact that they were somewhat transparent.
I composed my image around the flags and the shape of the sun. I had to wait until the wind was strong enough to unfurl the flags to such a degree that they looked interesting.
The composition would have been cleaner with no people present. I waited for sometime but, unfortunately, there was always someone walking in or out of the frame.
I realized that I needed to incorporate one or more of these people into the composition in a way that made sense.
A favourite technique of mine is to include three people in a composition in such a way that they form a triangular shape.
The triangle is a great way to bring a sense of harmony and cohesion into an otherwise chaotic image.
What’s more this principal works just as well when photographing flowers, cupcakes and kitty cats.
Just remember that, whenever you’re photographing a bunch of similar objects, you’ll be able to make sense of the composition by arranging those objects into a triangle.
It also seemed to me that, by adding people into the composition, I’d be able to add a sense of narrative into the photo.
It’s not a big deal but, without those heavy coats, they’d be no way to know it was winter.
It was then just a matter of waiting for the right moment when the placement of the people, who form a triangle around the dominant flag, together with the movement of the flags, produced the kind of decisive moment I was seeking.
What Makes a Photo Successful?
Needless to say there’s more to a great photo than stellar technique.
From a technical point of view the burnt out sun is a problem. However, after careful processing, I was able to tone down its brightness and enhance its shape.
The result is a little surreal. I imagine some people will find it interesting while others will consider it to be fake. Some folk may not be able to get past the technical issues I’ve already discussed.
At the end of the day I've done the best I could to produce a result that’s both technically acceptable and visually interesting.
It’s not a favourite image, nor would I consider it to be portfolio standard. But that’s not to say that it couldn’t be successful.
Of course you first have to please yourself and strive to, at least, meet your own expectations for technical quality and aesthetic appeal.
But how important is it that a lot of other people also like your photos?
If you want your images to be considered successful, by a wider audience, then it’s critically important to understand the needs and preferences of that audience and produce images accordingly.
It might be that, like me, you have a relatively diverse range of photos from which to choose. Great!
Just try to showcase the images that are best suited to the specific audience with which you’re dealing at that particular place and time.
As far as the hero image in this post is concerned the Dynamic Range (i.e., contrast) under which it was made was beyond that which could be recorded in a single exposure.
But should that be the end of the matter?
Most of the world is not engaged in professional photography. Likewise, most folks don’t belong to professional photography associations or camera clubs.
What matters most, to most people, is the visual and emotive aspects associated with your photos.
Beyond a certain standard the degree of technical competency may not matter all that much.
Embracing this key understanding is essential to any aspiring photographer. You could call it photography 102.
Red walls, orange tiled roofs and blue sky at the Forbidden City.
Contrasting Colors Make Better Photos
Notice how the rich color of the red flags, in our hero image at the top of this post, is enhanced by the cool cyan/blue sky.
There’s a very similar relationship between the red colored buildings and their orange roofs, set against the deep blue sky, in this architectural image from within the grounds of the Forbidden City.
While not an easy image to make the photo of the red flags came into being by thinking out of the square.
The technical difficulties associated with this scene caused me to come up with a solution that produced an interesting result. One that was worth publishing.
I feel the result presents a somewhat unique view of the location. In fact the photo is really more about moment and symbolism than it is about a particular place or event.
Contrast that with this architectural image of colorful buildings and roofs within the grounds of the Forbidden City.
It might look like a straightforward image, but it wasn’t easy to make.
The scene is packed with detail which can make it difficult for the viewer to navigate their way around the frame.
I remember working quite hard to find the best location from which to make this picture.
The idea was to ensure that everything that’s important can be seen and that the stone structures in the foreground are balanced with the otherwise dominant buildings across the middle of the image.
You might notice that the image is divided, roughly, into three sections.
The highly detailed stone foreground structures
The colorful and highly detailed buildings across the middle of the frame
The smooth and deep blue sky in the background
The sky is an important element in this image. Devoid of detail, other than color, it provides the mind with a pleasant relief from an otherwise information rich image.
It’s natural for the eye to seek detail. That’s going to take it, quickly, to the bottom and middle sections of the image.
From there the eye will move up into the sky.
After resting for a moment the dark and cloudless sky should encourage the eye back down into the light to further explore the detail, shape and color within the image.
In case you’re wondering I did use a polarizing filter to create this picture.
The light was so bright that many of the finer details present within those foreground structures were being reflected off their surface creating a series of flat, near white barriers into the image.
I applied a significant amount of polarization to resolve this issue, but the compromise was a very deep blue sky.
It’s not my preference, but it does introduce a subtle element of surrealism into an otherwise straightforward documentary photo.
“The photo was made at 1/400 second exposure and contains a life-time of experience.”
What Makes A Good Photo Even Better
I think it’s fair to say that I’ve created a number of fairly unique images while photographing in China. Here’s some of the reasons why I believe that statement to be true.
I've travelled to China on five occasions since 1988
I’m empathetic by nature and have a basic understanding of China’s history
I’ve made life-long friends with local Chinese people
Understanding how to use my camera helps, but art goes way beyond the tools we employ to make photos.
The more interesting your own life’s experiences are the more interesting your photos are likely to be.
Your Camera Looks Both Ways
It’s true, your camera does look both ways. It's both a window onto the world and a mirror reflecting our viewpoint of that world.
Our life is a collage of many, many things including the following:
The books we read
The movies we watch
The music we listen to
Our background including our ethnicity; parents; education; and where and how we’ve lived
Our religious and/or spiritual belief system
Our politics
Our travels, both near and far, and what we’ve made of the events we’ve experienced along the way
It seems to me that the best travellers and the best photographers share common traits that include the following:
Our ability to interact with others, particularly those who are unlike ourselves
Our connection to the Human Condition and our ability to empathize with the plight of others
Our ability to make the most of the situation we're in and to enjoy the journey, despite the obstacles that appear along the way.
Photography is a very special endeavour and it’s no surprise that literally millions of people are so passionate about exploring their own creativity through the art of photography.
We learn a lot about ourselves and the world around us through the photos we made.
The key to becoming a better photographer is not to view your camera as a physical barrier separating you from a world of experience.
Your camera, once you know how to use it, is actually a passport into worlds and lives beyond your normal, everyday experience.
Through my own photography adventures I aim to share the beauty of our world and its people with an ever wider audience.
When I’m not travelling it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to help other folks explore their own creativity through this site and through the classes and photography tours I run.
