Published on March 25, 2026
In a recent note for the Seminars for Methodological Production in Media II class, students were encouraged to focus on two crucial aspects when working on documentary exercises: lighting quality and the expression of emotions. These fundamental tips can significantly enhance the image quality for those new to photography and video, especially considering the time and access constraints faced throughout the semester.
The importance of light quality and direction cannot be overstated. Students were advised to utilize existing natural or artificial light sources within a scene to highlight, frame, or emphasize specific elements of their shots. The sources of light can be straightforward, such as direct sunlight or light coming through a window or door. It is essential to consider the direction from which these light sources illuminate the subject. From a 360-degree perspective, only the 180 degrees facing the subject should be used for sheer illumination or for creating side shadows, while the 180 degrees behind are generally not advisable due to backlighting, unless a specific effect is desired.
Additionally, the expression conveyed intrinsic and unavoidable. A person’s face will always display emotions such as boredom, enthusiasm, or pain. While some expressions are more pronounced or striking than others, every emotion communicates something to the viewers of a visual story. This subjective quality helps forge a connection between the audience and the image captured.
When it comes to lens selection, the recommendation is to use wide-angle lenses. Documentary photography is about representing things as they occur in real life and how the human eye perceives them. For journalistic or documentary work, it is advisable to use lenses that are around 50mm for analog photography or approximately 30mm for digital cameras. Traditionally, the 50mm lens has been accepted as the standard focal length akin to human vision, as we do not see in zoom. Although this notion can be debated, it is widely accepted as a guideline.
Many professionals, including Javier Ramírez Limón, advocate for the 35mm lens in negative photography or its digital equivalent. This preference is due to the lens offering a wide view with slight distortion, whereas moving closer to 50mm can flatten the image. It is also advisable to avoid using zoom lenses unless there is an explicit intent behind their use.
Another fundamental rule is to fill the frame with the scene or action taking place. This concept, referred to , a former workshop instructor and photography coordinator for EFE News Agency, is known as the “Rule of the 3Fs”: Fill the Frame Fully. This means that everything present in the frame should hold significance for the scene, with no extraneous elements that do not contribute to the overall composition.
The Rule of the 3Fs complements another principle: edit ruthlessly. This applies both to photography and text editing, emphasizing the importance of simplification. Students are encouraged to edit thoroughly, removing anything that does not enhance the shot from the moment of capture, rather than waiting until post-production.
For further guidance on illumination and natural light, as well as insights on expression in photography, students are encouraged to explore additional resources provided in the course materials.