Documentary & Street Photography SREF Codes

Candid documentary and street photography SREF codes for Midjourney including photojournalism, street photography, and authentic moments.

Documentary and street photography SREF codes specialize in authentic, candid moments with natural lighting and unposed aesthetics. These codes understand the visual language of photojournalism, street photography, and documentary storytelling.

Quick Start:

Use --sref 2653204188 --sw 100 for soft documentary style, or --sref 189601371 --sw 110 for authentic street photography.

Important:

Documentary codes work best with authentic, natural descriptions. Avoid terms like "staged" or "posed" - these codes are designed for candid, real-world aesthetics.

SREF Code Collection

2653204188 - Soft Documentary

Soft, natural documentary style with gentle tones and authentic moments.

Characteristics:

  • Soft natural lighting
  • Documentary authenticity
  • Gentle color grading
  • Candid, unposed feel
  • Watercolor-like natural tones

Example:

candid moment in natural environment --sref 2653204188 --sw 100

Settings: SW 80-130 | Best with V7, V6.1

Best For:

Perfect for lifestyle photography, family documentary work, wedding candids, travel photography, and documentary-style storytelling.

1537973865 - Mellow Documentary

Subtle, mellow documentary style with gentle brush-like qualities and film aesthetics.

Characteristics:

  • Mellow, subtle tones
  • Gentle brush-like texture
  • Film photography feel
  • Natural, understated look

Example:

everyday moment, natural light --sref 1537973865 --sw 95

Settings: SW 80-120 | Best with V7, V6.1

Storytelling Applications:

Ideal for long-form documentary projects, photo essays, intimate storytelling, and personal documentary work.

534505 - Earth's Essence Documentary

Nature-focused documentary style emphasizing organic textures and environmental storytelling.

Characteristics:

  • Natural, organic aesthetic
  • Environmental storytelling
  • Earthy tones
  • Texture emphasis

Example:

person in natural environment, organic textures --sref 534505 --sw 110

Settings: SW 90-130 | Best with V7, V6.1

Environmental Focus:

Perfect for environmental documentaries, outdoor lifestyle, adventure photography, and nature-connected human stories.

How to Use Documentary Codes

1

Choose Your Documentary Style

Select based on your storytelling approach:

  • Soft natural → --sref 2653204188
  • Street photography → --sref 189601371
  • Film aesthetic → --sref 20240806
  • Environmental → --sref 534505
2

Describe the Moment

Focus on authentic action and environment:

person walking through urban market, natural moment --sref 189601371 --sw 110
3

Add Environmental Context

Include location and atmosphere:

street scene in morning light, urban environment --sref 189601371 --sw 105
4

Keep Style Weight Natural

Documentary codes need lower weights:

  • Start with --sw 100
  • Use 80-90 for very subtle effect
  • Max 130 for stronger documentary feel

Documentary Lighting

Documentary photography relies on available light. Here's how to specify it:

Natural Window Light

indoor moment, soft window light --sref 2653204188 --sw 95

Available Light:

Documentary photography uses "available light" - whatever light is naturally present. Specify the natural light source for authenticity.

Golden Hour Street

street scene, golden hour natural light --sref 189601371 --sw 110

Overcast Diffused Light

urban scene, overcast soft light --sref 257359978 --sw 100

Weather and Time of Day:

Include weather and time details: "morning light", "late afternoon", "overcast", "rainy day atmosphere" for authentic documentary feel.

Camera Equipment for Documentary

Documentary and street photographers use specific gear:

Classic Documentary Setup

street scene, shot on Leica M, 35mm f/2 lens --sref 189601371 --sw 110

Leica = Street Photography:

Leica cameras (M-series, Q-series) are synonymous with street photography. Including them adds authentic documentary character.

Photojournalism Standard

candid moment, shot on Canon 5D, 24-70mm lens --sref 2653204188 --sw 100

Film Photography

everyday scene, shot on Kodak Portra 400 --sref 20240806 --sw 120

Film Stock Names:

Specify film stocks for enhanced analog feel: "Kodak Portra 400", "Kodak Tri-X 400", "Fujifilm Superia" all work well.

Street Photography Techniques

The Decisive Moment

street crossing, decisive moment, natural action --sref 189601371 --sw 110

Decisive Moment:

Henri Cartier-Bresson's concept. Midjourney understands this term and will create images capturing peak action and composition.

Layered Composition

busy street scene, multiple layers of activity --sref 189601371 --sw 105

Frame Within Frame

person seen through doorway, natural framing --sref 2653204188 --sw 100

Subject Matter for Documentary

Documentary codes excel with these subjects:

Urban Life:

  • "people at sidewalk cafe"
  • "commuters at train station"
  • "street vendor at market"
  • "children playing in street"

Everyday Moments:

  • "family dinner scene"
  • "morning coffee ritual"
  • "reading by window"
  • "working in workshop"

Environmental Portraits:

  • "farmer in field"
  • "artisan in studio"
  • "shopkeeper in store"
  • "chef in kitchen"

Context is Key:

Documentary photography thrives on context. Always include the environment and activity, not just the subject.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Authentic Moments

person reading newspaper at cafe, morning light --sref 2653204188

Environmental Context

street vendor at busy market, natural interaction --sref 189601371

Natural Action

children playing in urban park, candid moment --sref 2653204188

Note:

Documentary codes shine with authentic scenarios, environmental context, and natural human activity.

Style Weight Guide

RangeEffectBest For
75-90Very subtleRaw documentary, photojournalism
90-110Natural documentaryMost documentary work
110-130Enhanced documentaryStreet photography, travel
130+Stylized documentaryArtistic documentary, photo essays

Note:

Documentary codes need LOWER style weights than studio photography. Start at 95-100 for authentic results.

Combining Documentary Codes

Mix codes for unique documentary styles:

street scene --sref 2653204188::1 189601371::1 --sw 100

This combines soft documentary tones with street photography aesthetics.

Subtle Combinations:

Documentary codes work well together at equal weights (1:1 ratio). Try:

  • 2653204188 + 1537973865 = Soft film documentary
  • 189601371 + 257359978 = Retro street photography
  • 534505 + 2653204188 = Environmental documentary

Note:

Keep combined documentary codes at LOW style weights (80-110) to maintain authenticity.

Black & White Documentary

For authentic black and white documentary work:

Method 1: Use --style raw

street scene in black and white --sref 189601371 --sw 100 --style raw

Method 2: Specify film stocks

street photography, Kodak Tri-X 400, black and white --sref 189601371 --sw 110

B&W Film Stocks:

Classic B&W film stocks add authenticity:

  • Kodak Tri-X 400 - Contrasty, grainy, classic street
  • Ilford HP5 - Versatile, medium grain
  • Kodak T-Max 400 - Fine grain, modern

Photo Essay & Series Work

Documentary codes excel at series and photo essay work:

Maintaining Consistency

[Subject] in [location] --sref 2653204188 --sw 100

Use the same SREF and style weight across all images in a series for visual consistency.

Varying Perspective

Keep the code but change the scene:

  • "wide shot of location"
  • "medium shot of activity"
  • "close-up detail of [element]"

Series Workflow:

For photo essay work, lock in your SREF code and style weight, then vary only your subject and framing. This creates cohesive visual storytelling.

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