On The Photograph Of Leaders In Our Country

Photography of leaders is a photographic type regarding leaders as the main body of the photo. It is a recorder of history, the display of era, and also the main raw material for news illustrations. Photography of leaders embraces the three categories of photojournalism, documentary and portrait photography features and functions, also has vital significance for the study of political role and politic figures. And because of its unique relationship to politics, political parties and the country as well as leaders, it has completely different and unique artistic characteristics with photojournalism, documentary and portrait photography. Hou Bo has served as a full-time photographer for Mao Zedong since1949, became the first photographer in the red walls of Zhongnanhai.12years of professional experience, Hou Bo progressed from exploration, development and till maturity, has created a large number of photography works of Mao Zedong. From simple records, to creative thinking, to integration of the rich emotional content into the shooting, Hou Bo improves gradually her photo works of Mao, and in the process, she also has formed some of her unique shooting style of photographing leaders, such as typical approaches applied in major state events, shaping the character of political profiling, as well as reflecting the subject of leaders harmonious life. These creative approaches, some becomes the successor Redwall photographers’ common practices and norms, such norms as center around leaders during meetings, events records, pay attention to composition and symmetry, as well as leaders’ wave actions. While some creative techniques also inspires today for the creation of some photographic shooting of leaders, such as profile shaping of political leaders, not only focusing on awesome full-image, but also concerned about the approachable kindness, goodness, diligence and other impressions in shaping the political figure, with more emphasis on multi-angle, fullness of the characters portrayed. This study is to pass on the shooting experience of Hou Bo, summarize her creative approach, in order to reflect, and to get some experience useful on the subject of leader photography.