Military photographers target excellence
Military photography in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, first developed, pardon the pun, in the Red Army in 1933, came into its own during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). It then further evolved in the War of Liberation (194649) and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53). Its latest phase covers the mid-1980s to the first 10 years of the 21st century. In particular, the precious photos taken by Sha Fei, Shi Shaohua, Wu Yinxian, Gao Fan, Lei Ye, Xu Xiaobing, Zou Jiandong, Wang Chunde, Yuan Kezhong and Zhang Chongxiu, the pioneers of Chinese military photography, have become a stunning portrayal of the history of China’s revolution.
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up military photographers have innovated. A large number of classic works stand out, including Wu Zhiyi’s Battlefield Flowers and Li Qianguang’s Good Eighth Company on Nanjing Road. Armed with ideals and beliefs, they have set up a benchmark for contemporary military photography.
On July 30, 2017, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the army, a combat exercise with live ammunition was held for the first time at the Zhurihe tactical training base in Inner Mongolia. A shot by photographer Fan Xianhai, before he became well known, Army in the Field garnered impressive coverage.
In August 2020, Air Force photographers were called on to conduct “air-to-air” photography for the first time. In order to take ideal photos, photographer Yu Hongchun examined the various flight angles of fighter jets with different performances such as the J-10C. Before the flight, he carried out detailed simulation and coordination with fighter pilots on the ground and determined multiple filming plans to ensure that nothing could go wrong.
At an altitude of 3,000 meters, the transport plane, traveling at 320 kilometers per hour, opened the rear hatch. The photographer was strapped with an umbrella rope and used an 80-400 mm lens to capture the air combat training of the various Air Force fighter aircraft. The series of works Brave Forward showed the true level of the actual combat training of the Air Force of the CPLA in a three-dimensional manner from a new perspective, and the lofty aspirations of China’s new generation of fighter planes in a visual language.
Knowledge of the military is the general and obvious requirement for military photographers. The national defense and military construction have entered a new era. President Xi Jinping has led the people’s army to comprehensively reshape, reconstruct and rebuild, and promote the “four modernizations”. This requires military photographers to work hard to learn his thoughts of strengthening the army with distinctive characteristics of the times and Chinese characteristics created in the magnificent military practice, study modern military theory and classic cases of modern warfare, and become a real military expert. Only by deeply comprehending the strategy of strengthening and revitalizing the army, can the photographed works be ideological, artistic, on-the-spot, because a picture is worth a thousand words.
Being good at research is a new realm for military photographers. Insufficient grasp of the performance, characteristics and laws of weapons and equipment has been the shortcoming of many military photographers. This reminds them to strengthen their understanding. They aspire to learn and master weapons and equipment, and become a true military fan who understands the performance of modern weapons.
Practicing real skills is the ultimate goal for military photographers. China’s military photography has always adhered to the distinctive attributes of documentary photography since its birth. Today, the times have given it a once-in-alifetime opportunity. The military photography circle must dare to break the stereotypes and bad habits, seize the day and the time, and strive to strengthen the cultivation of literature and art, and master the application of various photography “weapons”. This is done by using modern multidimensional image expression and communication methods and by delving into the fiery life of the army with grassroots officers and soldiers. Through repeated photography practices, they must develop a pair of discerning eyes and capture unforgettable moments.