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Teaching the Photo Essay

A picture is worth 1,000 words.

photo story assignment

Your students, if they’re anything like mine, love to communicate through images—photos on Instagram , GIFs shared in a text, photo stories on Snapchat. And yet, so much of our conversation in school revolves around words. Understanding text is critical to students’ success now and in the future. But do we also help students identify, read and understand images in order to become literate in the visual language that is all around us? The photo essay can be a great middle or high school assignment that will have strong appeal and grow your students’ writing skills.

What Is a Photo Essay?

For those who aren’t familiar with the term “photo essay,” have no fear. A photo essay, in its simplest form, is a series of pictures that evokes an emotion, presents an idea or helps tell a story. You’ve been exposed to photo essays for your entire life—possibly without even knowing it. For example, you may have seen Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother:

teachingphotoessay

An iconic image of the Great Depression, this picture, along with Lange’s other gripping photos, helped Americans better understand the effects of poverty in California as well as across the nation. Migrant Mother is one of countless photographs that helped persuade, influence or engage viewers in ways that text alone could not.

Photo essays can feature text through articles and descriptions, or they can stand alone with simple captions to give context. The versatility of photo essays has helped the medium become a part of our culture for centuries, from the American Civil War to modern environmental disasters like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. This versatility is also what makes the photo essay a great educational asset in classrooms today; teachers can use them in any content area. Math students can use them to show a geometric concept in real life. Science students can document a chemistry process at home. Auto students can photograph the technique—and joys and frustrations—of learning a new procedure.

So, where does a teacher begin? Read further for tips and ideas for making photo essays a part of your teaching toolbox.

Start With Photos

Introducing photo essays as a means of changing lives and changing society can hook student interest in the medium. Begin by simply showing pictures and letting students discuss their reactions. Consider this famous photo of the field at Antietam during the Civil War. Share some of the photos from this collection from CNN of 25 of the Most Iconic Photograph s or this list of 50 Influential Photographs That Changed Our World .

Each of these photographs stirs emotion and sends our minds searching for answers. As a warm-up assignment or series of assignments, have students choose (or assign randomly) a photograph to write about. What’s the story? Why did this happen? Who was involved?

DIY Photographs

Before giving a formal photo essay assignment, give students an opportunity to practice and receive feedback. Consider presenting students with several open-ended, ungraded challenges like “For class tomorrow, take a photo that depicts ‘Struggle.’” Other possible photo topics: chaos, frustration, friendship, school. Have students email you their photo homework and share it as a slideshow. Talk about the images. Do they convey the theme?

You can give examples or suggestions; however, giving too many examples and requirements can narrow students’ creativity. The purpose of this trial run is to generate conversation and introduce students to thinking like photographers, so don’t worry if the photos aren’t what you had in mind; it’s about getting feedback on what the student had in mind.

Technique 101

Even though the goal of a photo essay is to influence and create discussion, there is still benefit in giving students a crash course on simple photography concepts. Don’t feel like you have to teach a master-level course on dark-room development. Even a simple overview on the “Rule of Thirds” and the importance of perspective can be enough to help students create intentional, visually stirring photographs.

You can teach these ideas directly or have students do the work by researching on their own. They have most likely seen hundreds of movies, advertisements and photos, so these lessons are simply labeling what they’ve already experienced. Having some knowledge of composition will not only help students improve their visual literacy, it will also help empower them to take photos of their own.

Choose Your Purpose

Are students telling their own stories of their neighborhoods or their families? Are they addressing a social issue or making an argument through their images and text? A photo essay could be a great assignment in science to document a process or focus on nature.

If you are just getting started, start out small: Have students create a short photo essay (two to five images) to present a topic, process or idea you have been focusing on in class. Here’s a Photo Essay Planning Guide to share with your students.

Photo Essay Planning Guide Image

With pictures becoming a dominant medium in our image-filled world, it’s not a question of if we should give students practice and feedback with visual literacy, it’s a question of how . Photo essays are a simple, engaging way to start. So, what’s your plan?

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photo story assignment

What is a Photo Essay? 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate

A photo essay is a series of photographs that tell a story. Unlike a written essay, a photo essay focuses on visuals instead of words. With a photo essay, you can stretch your creative limits and explore new ways to connect with your audience. Whatever your photography skill level, you can recreate your own fun and creative photo essay.

9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate

  • Photowalk Photo Essay
  • Transformation Photo Essay
  • Day in the Life Photo Essay
  • Event Photo Essay
  • Building Photo Essay
  • Historic Site or Landmark Photo Essay
  • Behind the Scenes Photo Essay
  • Family Photo Essay
  • Education Photo Essay

Stories are important to all of us. While some people gravitate to written stories, others are much more attuned to visual imagery. With a photo essay, you can tell a story without writing a word. Your use of composition, contrast, color, and perspective in photography will convey ideas and evoke emotions.

To explore narrative photography, you can use basic photographic equipment. You can buy a camera or even use your smartphone to get started. While lighting, lenses, and post-processing software can enhance your photos, they aren’t necessary to achieve good results.

Whether you need to complete a photo essay assignment or want to pursue one for fun or professional purposes, you can use these photo essay ideas for your photography inspiration . Once you know the answer to “what is a photo essay?” and find out how fun it is to create one, you’ll likely be motivated to continue your forays into photographic storytelling.

1 . Photowalk Photo Essay

One popular photo essay example is a photowalk. Simply put, a photowalk is time you set aside to walk around a city, town, or a natural site and take photos. Some cities even have photowalk tours led by professional photographers. On these tours, you can learn the basics about how to operate your camera, practice photography composition techniques, and understand how to look for unique shots that help tell your story.

Set aside at least two to three hours for your photowalk. Even if you’re photographing a familiar place—like your own home town—try to look at it through new eyes. Imagine yourself as a first-time visitor or pretend you’re trying to educate a tourist about the area.

Walk around slowly and look for different ways to capture the mood and energy of your location. If you’re in a city, capture wide shots of streets, close-ups of interesting features on buildings, street signs, and candid shots of people. Look for small details that give the city character and life. And try some new concepts—like reflection picture ideas—by looking for opportunities to photographs reflections in mirrored buildings, puddles, fountains, or bodies of water.

2 . Transformation Photo Essay

With a transformation photography essay, you can tell the story about change over time. One of the most popular photostory examples, a transformation essay can document a mom-to-be’s pregnancy or a child’s growth from infancy into the toddler years. But people don’t need to be the focus of a transformation essay. You can take photos of a house that is being built or an urban area undergoing revitalization.

You can also create a photo narrative to document a short-term change. Maybe you want to capture images of your growing garden or your move from one home to another. These examples of photo essays are powerful ways of telling the story of life’s changes—both large and small.

3 . Day in the Life Photo Essay

Want a unique way to tell a person’s story? Or, perhaps you want to introduce people to a career or activity. You may want to consider a day in the life essay.

With this photostory example, your narrative focuses on a specific subject for an entire day. For example, if you are photographing a farmer, you’ll want to arrive early in the morning and shadow the farmer as he or she performs daily tasks. Capture a mix of candid shots of the farmer at work and add landscapes and still life of equipment for added context. And if you are at a farm, don’t forget to get a few shots of the animals for added character, charm, or even a dose of humor. These types of photography essay examples are great practice if you are considering pursuing photojournalism. They also help you learn and improve your candid portrait skills.

4 . Event Photo Essay

Events are happening in your local area all the time, and they can make great photo essays. With a little research, you can quickly find many events that you could photograph. There may be bake sales, fundraisers, concerts, art shows, farm markets, block parties, and other non profit event ideas . You could also focus on a personal event, such as a birthday or graduation.

At most events, your primary emphasis will be on capturing candid photos of people in action. You can also capture backgrounds or objects to set the scene. For example, at a birthday party, you’ll want to take photos of the cake and presents.

For a local or community event, you can share your photos with the event organizer. Or, you may be able to post them on social media and tag the event sponsor. This is a great way to gain recognition and build your reputation as a talented photographer.

5. Building Photo Essay

Many buildings can be a compelling subject for a photographic essay. Always make sure that you have permission to enter and photograph the building. Once you do, look for interesting shots and angles that convey the personality, purpose, and history of the building. You may also be able to photograph the comings and goings of people that visit or work in the building during the day.

Some photographers love to explore and photograph abandoned buildings. With these types of photos, you can provide a window into the past. Definitely make sure you gain permission before entering an abandoned building and take caution since some can have unsafe elements and structures.

6. Historic Site or Landmark Photo Essay

Taking a series of photos of a historic site or landmark can be a great experience. You can learn to capture the same site from different angles to help portray its character and tell its story. And you can also photograph how people visit and engage with the site or landmark. Take photos at different times of day and in varied lighting to capture all its nuances and moods.

You can also use your photographic essay to help your audience understand the history of your chosen location. For example, if you want to provide perspective on the Civil War, a visit to a battleground can be meaningful. You can also visit a site when reenactors are present to share insight on how life used to be in days gone by.

7 . Behind the Scenes Photo Essay

Another fun essay idea is taking photos “behind the scenes” at an event. Maybe you can chronicle all the work that goes into a holiday festival from the early morning set-up to the late-night teardown. Think of the lead event planner as the main character of your story and build the story about him or her.

Or, you can go backstage at a drama production. Capture photos of actors and actresses as they transform their looks with costuming and makeup. Show the lead nervously pacing in the wings before taking center stage. Focus the work of stagehands, lighting designers, and makeup artists who never see the spotlight but bring a vital role in bringing the play to life.

8. Family Photo Essay

If you enjoy photographing people, why not explore photo story ideas about families and relationships? You can focus on interactions between two family members—such as a father and a daughter—or convey a message about a family as a whole.

Sometimes these type of photo essays can be all about the fun and joy of living in a close-knit family. But sometimes they can be powerful portraits of challenging social topics. Images of a family from another country can be a meaningful photo essay on immigration. You could also create a photo essay on depression by capturing families who are coping with one member’s illness.

For these projects on difficult topics, you may want to compose a photo essay with captions. These captions can feature quotes from family members or document your own observations. Although approaching hard topics isn’t easy, these types of photos can have lasting impact and value.

9. Education Photo Essay

Opportunities for education photo essays are everywhere—from small preschools to community colleges and universities. You can seek permission to take photos at public or private schools or even focus on alternative educational paths, like homeschooling.

Your education photo essay can take many forms. For example, you can design a photo essay of an experienced teacher at a high school. Take photos of him or her in action in the classroom, show quiet moments grading papers, and capture a shared laugh between colleagues in the teacher’s lounge.

Alternatively, you can focus on a specific subject—such as science and technology. Or aim to portray a specific grade level, document activities club or sport, or portray the social environment. A photo essay on food choices in the cafeteria can be thought-provoking or even funny. There are many potential directions to pursue and many great essay examples.

While education is an excellent topic for a photo essay for students, education can be a great source of inspiration for any photographer.

Why Should You Create a Photo Essay?

Ultimately, photographers are storytellers. Think of what a photographer does during a typical photo shoot. He or she will take a series of photos that helps convey the essence of the subject—whether that is a person, location, or inanimate object. For example, a family portrait session tells the story of a family—who they are, their personalities, and the closeness of their relationship.

Learning how to make a photo essay can help you become a better storyteller—and a better photographer. You’ll cultivate key photography skills that you can carry with you no matter where your photography journey leads.

If you simply want to document life’s moments on social media, you may find that a single picture doesn’t always tell the full story. Reviewing photo essay examples and experimenting with your own essay ideas can help you choose meaningful collections of photos to share with friends and family online.

Learning how to create photo essays can also help you work towards professional photography ambitions. You’ll often find that bloggers tell photographic stories. For example, think of cooking blogs that show you each step in making a recipe. Photo essays are also a mainstay of journalism. You’ll often find photo essays examples in many media outlets—everywhere from national magazines to local community newspapers. And the best travel photographers on Instagram tell great stories with their photos, too.

With a photo essay, you can explore many moods and emotions. Some of the best photo essays tell serious stories, but some are humorous, and others aim to evoke action.

You can raise awareness with a photo essay on racism or a photo essay on poverty. A photo essay on bullying can help change the social climate for students at a school. Or, you can document a fun day at the beach or an amusement park. You have control of the themes, photographic elements, and the story you want to tell.

5 Steps to Create a Photo Essay

Every photo essay will be different, but you can use a standard process. Following these five steps will guide you through every phase of your photo essay project—from brainstorming creative essay topics to creating a photo essay to share with others.

Step 1: Choose Your Photo Essay Topics

Just about any topic you can imagine can form the foundation for a photo essay. You may choose to focus on a specific event, such as a wedding, performance, or festival. Or you may want to cover a topic over a set span of time, such as documenting a child’s first year. You could also focus on a city or natural area across the seasons to tell a story of changing activities or landscapes.

Since the best photo essays convey meaning and emotion, choose a topic of interest. Your passion for the subject matter will shine through each photograph and touch your viewer’s hearts and minds.

Step 2: Conduct Upfront Research

Much of the work in a good-quality photo essay begins before you take your first photo. It’s always a good idea to do some research on your planned topic.

Imagine you’re going to take photos of a downtown area throughout the year. You should spend some time learning the history of the area. Talk with local residents and business owners and find out about planned events. With these insights, you’ll be able to plan ahead and be prepared to take photos that reflect the area’s unique personality and lifestyles.

For any topic you choose, gather information first. This may involve internet searches, library research, interviews, or spending time observing your subject.

Step 3: Storyboard Your Ideas

After you have done some research and have a good sense of the story you want to tell, you can create a storyboard. With a storyboard, you can write or sketch out the ideal pictures you want to capture to convey your message.

You can turn your storyboard into a “shot list” that you can bring with you on site. A shot list can be especially helpful when you are at a one-time event and want to capture specific shots for your photo essay. If you’ve never created a photo essay before, start with ten shot ideas. Think of each shot as a sentence in your story. And aim to make each shot evoke specific ideas or emotions.

Step 4: Capture Images

Your storyboard and shot list will be important guides to help you make the most of each shoot. Be sure to set aside enough time to capture all the shots you need—especially if you are photographing a one-time event. And allow yourself to explore your ideas using different photography composition, perspective, and color contrast techniques.

You may need to take a hundred images or more to get ten perfect ones for your photographic essay. Or, you may find that you want to add more photos to your story and expand your picture essay concept.

Also, remember to look for special unplanned, moments that help tell your story. Sometimes, spontaneous photos that aren’t on your shot list can be full of meaning. A mix of planning and flexibility almost always yields the best results.

Step 5: Edit and Organize Photos to Tell Your Story

After capturing your images, you can work on compiling your photo story. To create your photo essay, you will need to make decisions about which images portray your themes and messages. At times, this can mean setting aside beautiful images that aren’t a perfect fit. You can use your shot list and storyboard as a guide but be open to including photos that weren’t in your original plans.

You may want to use photo editing software—such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop— to enhance and change photographs. With these tools, you can adjust lighting and white balance, perform color corrections, crop, or perform other edits. If you have a signature photo editing style, you may want to use Photoshop Actions or Lightroom Presets to give all your photos a consistent look and feel.

You order a photo book from one of the best photo printing websites to publish your photo story. You can add them to an album on a photo sharing site, such as Flickr or Google Photos. Also, you could focus on building a website dedicated to documenting your concepts through visual photo essays. If so, you may want to use SEO for photographers to improve your website’s ranking in search engine results. You could even publish your photo essay on social media. Another thing to consider is whether you want to include text captures or simply tell your story through photographs.

Choose the medium that feels like the best space to share your photo essay ideas and vision with your audiences. You should think of your photo essay as your own personal form of art and expression when deciding where and how to publish it.

Photo Essays Can Help You Become a Better Photographer

Whatever your photography ambitions may be, learning to take a photo essay can help you grow. Even simple essay topics can help you gain skills and stretch your photographic limits. With a photo essay, you start to think about how a series of photographs work together to tell a complete story. You’ll consider how different shots work together, explore options for perspective and composition, and change the way you look at the world.

Before you start taking photos, you should review photo essay examples. You can find interesting pictures to analyze and photo story examples online, in books, or in classic publications, like Life Magazine . Don’t forget to look at news websites for photojournalism examples to broaden your perspective. This review process will help you in brainstorming simple essay topics for your first photo story and give you ideas for the future as well.

Ideas and inspiration for photo essay topics are everywhere. You can visit a park or go out into your own backyard to pursue a photo essay on nature. Or, you can focus on the day in the life of someone you admire with a photo essay of a teacher, fireman, or community leader. Buildings, events, families, and landmarks are all great subjects for concept essay topics. If you are feeling stuck coming up with ideas for essays, just set aside a few hours to walk around your city or town and take photos. This type of photowalk can be a great source of material.

You’ll soon find that advanced planning is critical to your success. Brainstorming topics, conducting research, creating a storyboard, and outlining a shot list can help ensure you capture the photos you need to tell your story. After you’ve finished shooting, you’ll need to decide where to house your photo essay. You may need to come up with photo album title ideas, write captions, and choose the best medium and layout.

Without question, creating a photo essay can be a valuable experience for any photographer. That’s true whether you’re an amateur completing a high school assignment or a pro looking to hone new skills. You can start small with an essay on a subject you know well and then move into conquering difficult ideas. Maybe you’ll want to create a photo essay on mental illness or a photo essay on climate change. Or maybe there’s another cause that is close to your heart.

Whatever your passion, you can bring it to life with a photo essay.

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Pictures That Tell Stories: Photo Essay Examples

laptop with someone holding film reel

Like any other type of artist, a photographer’s job is to tell a story through their pictures. While some of the most creative among us can invoke emotion or convey a thought with one single photo, the rest of us will rely on a photo essay.

In the following article, we’ll go into detail about what a photo essay is and how to craft one while providing some detailed photo essay examples.

What is a Photo Essay? 

A photo essay is a series of photographs that, when assembled in a particular order, tell a unique and compelling story. While some photographers choose only to use pictures in their presentations, others will incorporate captions, comments, or even full paragraphs of text to provide more exposition for the scene they are unfolding.

A photo essay is a well-established part of photojournalism and have been used for decades to present a variety of information to the reader. Some of the most famous photo essayists include Ansel Adams , W. Eugene Smith, and James Nachtwey. Of course, there are thousands of photo essay examples out there from which you can draw inspiration.

Why Consider Creating a Photo Essay?

As the old saying goes, “a picture is worth 1000 words.” This adage is, for many photographers, reason enough to hold a photo essay in particularly high regard.

For others, a photo essay allow them to take pictures that are already interesting and construct intricate, emotionally-charged tales out of them. For all photographers, it is yet another skill they can master to become better at their craft.

As you might expect, the photo essay have had a long history of being associated with photojournalism. From the Great Depression to Civil Rights Marches and beyond, many compelling stories have been told through a combination of images and text, or photos alone. A photo essay often evokes an intense reaction, whether artistic in nature or designed to prove a socio-political point.

Below, we’ll list some famous photo essay samples to further illustrate the subject.

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Famous Photo Essays

“The Great Depression” by Dorothea Lange – Shot and arranged in the 1930s, this famous photo essay still serves as a stark reminder of The Great Depression and Dust Bowl America . Beautifully photographed, the black and white images offer a bleak insight to one of the country’s most difficult times.

“The Vietnam War” by Philip Jones Griffiths – Many artists consider the Griffiths’ photo essay works to be some of the most important records of the war in Vietnam. His photographs and great photo essays are particularly well-remembered for going against public opinion and showing the suffering of the “other side,” a novel concept when it came to war photography.

Various American Natural Sites by Ansel Adams – Adams bought the beauty of nature home to millions, photographing the American Southwest and places like Yosemite National Park in a way that made the photos seem huge, imposing, and beautiful.

“Everyday” by Noah Kalina – Is a series of photographs arranged into a video. This photo essay features daily photographs of the artist himself, who began taking capturing the images when he was 19 and continued to do so for six years.

“Signed, X” by Kate Ryan – This is a powerful photo essay put together to show the long-term effects of sexual violence and assault. This photo essay is special in that it remains ongoing, with more subjects being added every year.

Common Types of Photo Essays

While a photo essay do not have to conform to any specific format or design, there are two “umbrella terms” under which almost all genres of photo essays tend to fall. A photo essay is thematic and narrative. In the following section, we’ll give some details about the differences between the two types, and then cover some common genres used by many artists.

⬥ Thematic 

A thematic photo essay speak on a specific subject. For instance, numerous photo essays were put together in the 1930s to capture the ruin of The Great Depression. Though some of these presentations followed specific people or families, they mostly told the “story” of the entire event. There is much more freedom with a thematic photo essay, and you can utilize numerous locations and subjects. Text is less common with these types of presentations.

⬥ Narrative 

A narrative photo essay is much more specific than thematic essays, and they tend to tell a much more direct story. For instance, rather than show a number of scenes from a Great Depression Era town, the photographer might show the daily life of a person living in Dust Bowl America. There are few rules about how broad or narrow the scope needs to be, so photographers have endless creative freedom. These types of works frequently utilize text.

Common Photo Essay Genres

Walk a City – This photo essay is when you schedule a time to walk around a city, neighborhood, or natural site with the sole goal of taking photos. Usually thematic in nature, this type of photo essay allows you to capture a specific place, it’s energy, and its moods and then pass them along to others.

The Relationship Photo Essay – The interaction between families and loved ones if often a fascinating topic for a photo essay. This photo essay genre, in particular, gives photographers an excellent opportunity to capture complex emotions like love and abstract concepts like friendship. When paired with introspective text, the results can be quite stunning. 

The Timelapse Transformation Photo Essay – The goal of a transformation photo essay is to capture the way a subject changes over time. Some people take years or even decades putting together a transformation photo essay, with subjects ranging from people to buildings to trees to particular areas of a city.

Going Behind The Scenes Photo Essay – Many people are fascinated by what goes on behind the scenes of big events. Providing the photographer can get access; to an education photo essay can tell a very unique and compelling story to their viewers with this photo essay.

Photo Essay of a Special Event – There are always events and occasions going on that would make an interesting subject for a photo essay. Ideas for this photo essay include concerts, block parties, graduations, marches, and protests. Images from some of the latter were integral to the popularity of great photo essays.

The Daily Life Photo Essay – This type of photo essay often focus on a single subject and attempt to show “a day in the life” of that person or object through the photographs. This type of photo essay can be quite powerful depending on the subject matter and invoke many feelings in the people who view them.

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Photo Essay Ideas and Examples

One of the best ways to gain a better understanding of photo essays is to view some photo essay samples. If you take the time to study these executions in detail, you’ll see just how photo essays can make you a better photographer and offer you a better “voice” with which to speak to your audience.

Some of these photo essay ideas we’ve already touched on briefly, while others will be completely new to you. 

Cover a Protest or March  

Some of the best photo essay examples come from marches, protests, and other events associated with movements or socio-political statements. Such events allow you to take pictures of angry, happy, or otherwise empowered individuals in high-energy settings. The photo essay narrative can also be further enhanced by arriving early or staying long after the protest has ended to catch contrasting images. 

Photograph a Local Event  

Whether you know it or not, countless unique and interesting events are happening in and around your town this year. Such events provide photographers new opportunities to put together a compelling photo essay. From ethnic festivals to historical events to food and beverage celebrations, there are many different ways to capture and celebrate local life.

Visit an Abandoned Site or Building  

Old homes and historical sites are rich with detail and can sometimes appear dilapidated, overgrown by weeds, or broken down by time. These qualities make them a dynamic and exciting subject. Many great photo essay works of abandoned homes use a mix of far-away shots, close-ups, weird angles, and unique lighting. Such techniques help set a mood that the audience can feel through the photographic essay.

Chronicle a Pregnancy

Few photo essay topics could be more personal than telling the story of a pregnancy. Though this photo essay example can require some preparation and will take a lot of time, the results of a photographic essay like this are usually extremely emotionally-charged and touching. In some cases, photographers will continue the photo essay project as the child grows as well.

Photograph Unique Lifestyles  

People all over the world are embracing society’s changes in different ways. People live in vans or in “tiny houses,” living in the woods miles away from everyone else, and others are growing food on self-sustaining farms. Some of the best photo essay works have been born out of these new, inspiring movements.

Photograph Animals or Pets  

If you have a favorite animal (or one that you know very little about), you might want to arrange a way to see it up close and tell its story through images. You can take photos like this in a zoo or the animal’s natural habitat, depending on the type of animal you choose. Pets are another great topic for a photo essay and are among the most popular subjects for many photographers.

Show Body Positive Themes  

So much of modern photography is about showing the best looking, prettiest, or sexiest people at all times. Choosing a photo essay theme like body positivity, however, allows you to film a wide range of interesting-looking people from all walks of life.

Such a photo essay theme doesn’t just apply to women, as beauty can be found everywhere. As a photo essay photographer, it’s your job to find it!

Bring Social Issues to Life  

Some of the most impactful social photo essay examples are those where the photographer focuses on social issues. From discrimination to domestic violence to the injustices of the prison system, there are many ways that a creative photographer can highlight what’s wrong with the world. This type of photo essay can be incredibly powerful when paired with compelling subjects and some basic text.

Photograph Style and Fashion

If you live in or know of a particularly stylish locale or area, you can put together an excellent thematic photo essay by capturing impromptu shots of well-dressed people as they pass by. As with culture, style is easily identifiable and is as unifying as it is divisive. Great photo essay examples include people who’ve covered fashion sub-genres from all over the world, like urban hip hop or Japanese Visual Kei. 

Photograph Native Cultures and Traditions  

If you’ve ever opened up a copy of National Geographic, you’ve probably seen photo essay photos that fit this category. To many, the traditions, dress, religious ceremonies, and celebrations of native peoples and foreign cultures can be utterly captivating. For travel photographers, this photo essay is considered one of the best ways to tell a story with or without text.

Capture Seasonal Or Time Changes In A Landmark Photo Essay

Time-lapse photography is very compelling to most viewers. What they do in a few hours, however, others are doing over months, years, and even decades. If you know of an exciting landscape or scene, you can try to capture the same image in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, and put that all together into one landmark photo essay.

Alternatively, you can photograph something being lost or ravaged by time or weather. The subject of your landmark photo essay can be as simple as the wall of an old building or as complex as an old house in the woods being taken over by nature. As always, there are countless transformation-based landmark photo essay works from which you can draw inspiration.

Photograph Humanitarian Efforts or Charity  

Humanitarian efforts by groups like Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders can invoke a powerful response through even the simplest of photos. While it can be hard to put yourself in a position to get the images, there are countless photo essay examples to serve as inspiration for your photo essay project.

How to Create a Photo Essay

There is no singular way to create a photo essay. As it is, ultimately, and artistic expression of the photographer, there is no right, wrong, good, or bad. However, like all stories, some tell them well and those who do not. Luckily, as with all things, practice does make perfect. Below, we’ve listed some basic steps outlining how to create a photo essay

Photo essay

Steps To Create A Photo Essay

Choose Your Topic – While some photo essayists will be able to “happen upon” a photo story and turn it into something compelling, most will want to choose their photo essay topics ahead of time. While the genres listed above should provide a great starting place, it’s essential to understand that photo essay topics can cover any event or occasion and any span of time

Do Some Research – The next step to creating a photo essay is to do some basic research. Examples could include learning the history of the area you’re shooting or the background of the person you photograph. If you’re photographing a new event, consider learning the story behind it. Doing so will give you ideas on what to look for when you’re shooting.  

Make a Storyboard – Storyboards are incredibly useful tools when you’re still in the process of deciding what photo story you want to tell. By laying out your ideas shot by shot, or even doing rough illustrations of what you’re trying to capture, you can prepare your photo story before you head out to take your photos.

This process is especially important if you have little to no control over your chosen subject. People who are participating in a march or protest, for instance, aren’t going to wait for you to get in position before offering up the perfect shot. You need to know what you’re looking for and be prepared to get it.

Get the Right Images – If you have a shot list or storyboard, you’ll be well-prepared to take on your photo essay. Make sure you give yourself enough time (where applicable) and take plenty of photos, so you have a lot from which to choose. It would also be a good idea to explore the area, show up early, and stay late. You never know when an idea might strike you.

Assemble Your Story – Once you develop or organize your photos on your computer, you need to choose the pictures that tell the most compelling photo story or stories. You might also find some great images that don’t fit your photo story These can still find a place in your portfolio, however, or perhaps a completely different photo essay you create later.

Depending on the type of photographer you are, you might choose to crop or digitally edit some of your photos to enhance the emotions they invoke. Doing so is completely at your discretion, but worth considering if you feel you can improve upon the naked image.

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Best Photo Essays Tips And Tricks

Before you approach the art of photo essaying for the first time, you might want to consider with these photo essay examples some techniques, tips, and tricks that can make your session more fun and your final results more interesting. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best advice we could find on the subject of photo essays. 

Guy taking a photo

⬥ Experiment All You Want 

You can, and should, plan your topic and your theme with as much attention to detail as possible. That said, some of the best photo essay examples come to us from photographers that got caught up in the moment and decided to experiment in different ways. Ideas for experimentation include the following: 

Angles – Citizen Kane is still revered today for the unique, dramatic angles used in the film. Though that was a motion picture and not photography, the same basic principles still apply. Don’t be afraid to photograph some different angles to see how they bring your subject to life in different ways.

Color – Some images have more gravitas in black in white or sepia tone. You can say the same for images that use color in an engaging, dynamic way. You always have room to experiment with color, both before and after the shoot.

Contrast – Dark and light, happy and sad, rich and poor – contrast is an instantly recognizable form of tension that you can easily include in your photo essay. In some cases, you can plan for dramatic contrasts. In other cases, you simply need to keep your eyes open.

Exposure Settings – You can play with light in terms of exposure as well, setting a number of different moods in the resulting photos. Some photographers even do random double exposures to create a photo essay that’s original.

Filters – There are endless post-production options available to photographers, particularly if they use digital cameras. Using different programs and apps, you can completely alter the look and feel of your image, changing it from warm to cool or altering dozens of different settings.

Want to never run out of natural & authentic poses? You need this ⬇️ 

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If you’re using traditional film instead of a digital camera, you’re going to want to stock up. Getting the right shots for a photo essay usually involves taking hundreds of images that will end up in the rubbish bin. Taking extra pictures you won’t use is just the nature of the photography process. Luckily, there’s nothing better than coming home to realize that you managed to capture that one, perfect photograph. 

⬥ Set the Scene 

You’re not just telling a story to your audience – you’re writing it as well. If the scene you want to capture doesn’t have the look you want, don’t be afraid to move things around until it does. While this doesn’t often apply to photographing events that you have no control over, you shouldn’t be afraid to take a second to make an OK shot a great shot. 

⬥ Capture Now, Edit Later 

Editing, cropping, and digital effects can add a lot of drama and artistic flair to your photos. That said, you shouldn’t waste time on a shoot, thinking about how you can edit it later. Instead, make sure you’re capturing everything that you want and not missing out on any unique pictures. If you need to make changes later, you’ll have plenty of time! 

⬥ Make It Fun 

As photographers, we know that taking pictures is part art, part skill, and part performance. If you want to take the best photo essays, you need to loosen up and have fun. Again, you’ll want to plan for your topic as best as you can, but don’t be afraid to lose yourself in the experience. Once you let yourself relax, both the ideas and the opportunities will manifest.

⬥ It’s All in The Details 

When someone puts out a photographic essay for an audience, that work usually gets analyzed with great attention to detail. You need to apply this same level of scrutiny to the shots you choose to include in your photo essay. If something is out of place or (in the case of historical work) out of time, you can bet the audience will notice.

⬥ Consider Adding Text

While it isn’t necessary, a photographic essay can be more powerful by the addition of text. This is especially true of images with an interesting background story that can’t be conveyed through the image alone. If you don’t feel up to the task of writing content, consider partnering with another artist and allowing them tor bring your work to life.

Final Thoughts 

The world is waiting to tell us story after story. Through the best photo essays, we can capture the elements of those stories and create a photo essay that can invoke a variety of emotions in our audience.

No matter the type of cameras we choose, the techniques we embrace, or the topics we select, what really matters is that the photos say something about the people, objects, and events that make our world wonderful.

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Professional Learning, Storytelling, Photography

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Ten examples of immersive photo essays

Camera sitting on a tripod, overlooking a mountain scene

By Marissa Sapega — Contributing Writer

Photo essays are one of the most powerful forms of storytelling in the last century. From the great depression photographer W. Eugene Smith to the photojournalism of National Geographic or Life Magazine , the best photo essays entertain, educate, and move readers more than words alone ever could. 

But photo essays have changed. Over the last decade, web publishing technologies — including web browsers and file formats — have improved by leaps and bounds. A good photo essays today is more than a collection of images. It’s a truly interactive, immersive, and multimedia experiences.

In this guide, we introduce 10 stunning examples of visually arresting interactive photo essays to fuel your creative juices.

Now, let's set the scene with a short introduction to immersive, interactive photo essays on the web.

What do the BBC, Tripadvisor, and Penguin have in common? They craft stunning, interactive web content with Shorthand. And so can you! Publish your first story for free — no code or web design skills required. Sign up now.

The rise of immersive, interactive photo essays

What is an immersive, interactive photo essay? Let's take these terms one at a time. 

An immersive photo essay uses rich media and story design to capture and keep the reader's attention. Immersive content is typically free of the most distracting elements of the web, such as pop-ups, skyscrapers, and other intrusions on the reading experience.

As a basic rule of thumb, immersive content respects the reader's attention. 

An interactive photo essay is one that allows the reader to control how the content appears. It may include interactive elements, like maps and embedded applications.

More commonly, modern interactive photo stories use a technique known as scrollytelling . Scrollytelling stories allow the reader to trigger animations and other visual effects as they scroll. Many of the examples in this guide use scrollytelling techniques. Read more scrollytelling examples .

Until relatively recently, immersive, interactive photo essays could only be created with the help of a designer or web developer. But with the rise of digital storytelling platforms , anyone can create compelling, dynamic stories without writing a single line of code.

If you're looking to learn more about how to create a photo essay — or are looking for more photo essay ideas  — check out our introduction to photo essays . 

Photo essay topics

If you’re looking for photo essay examples, chances are you’re looking to create a photo essay for yourself. If you’re just getting started, you might want some guidance on exactly what kinds of topics make for great photo essays.

More experienced photographers — feel free to skip this section. But for those who are just starting out, here’s a quick list of classic photo essay subject matter, for all types of photo essays.

  • Local events. A great way to start out is photograph local events in your community, such as a high school fundraiser. A bonus is that you’ll have a ready
  • Historic sites. Another classic photo essay topic is an exploration of a historic site. This could be a building, a monument, or even just a specific location that has significance.
  • Profile of a person. A great way to get to know someone is to profile them in a photo essay. This could be a family member, friend, or even just someone you’ve met.
  • Animals in captivity. Another popular subject matter for photo essays is animals in captivity, whether that’s at a zoo or elsewhere.
  • A day in the life. Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live someone else’s life for a day? Why not find out and document it in a photo essay?
  • Street photography. Another great way to practice your photography skills is to head out into the streets and photograph the everyday lives of people around you. The world has plenty of photo essays of cities like New York and London. But what about street photography in your own backyard?
  • Still life photography. Still life photography is all about capturing inanimate objects on film. This could be anything from flowers to furniture to food. It’s a great way to practice your photography skills and learn about composition
  • Landscapes . Landscape photography is one of the most popular genres, and for good reason. There are endless possibilities when it comes to finding interesting subjects to shoot. So get out there and start exploring!
  • Abandoned buildings. There’s something fascinating about abandoned buildings. They offer a glimpse into the past, and can be eerily beautiful. If you have any in your area, they make for great photo essay subjects.
  • Lifestyles. Document someone who lives a lifestyle that’s different from your own. This could be a portrayal of an everyday person, or it could be someone with an unusual job or hobby.
  • Social issues. Take photos depicting significant social issues in your community, remembering to respect your subjects.

Ten inspiring photo essay examples

photo story assignment

Pink lagoon and peculiar galaxies — July’s best science images

photo story assignment

In Pink lagoon and peculiar galaxies , Nature present a mesmerising series of images from the natural world. Highlights include:

  • a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it photo of rare albino orcas performing feats of synchronized swimming;
  • an arresting aerial view of the aftermath of the flash floods in Germany; and,
  • a scarlet gawping Venus flytrap sea anemone. 

The best part? Nature publishes similarly powerful photo essays every month, showcasing some of the best and most creative photography of the natural world anywhere on the web.

Pink lagoon and peculiar galaxies — July’s best science images

Vanishing Lands

A plain, with a lake and mountains in the distance, from Vanishing lands — an ominously interesting photo essay from media company Stuff

Vanishing lands — an ominously interesting photo essay from media company Stuff — opens with a bucolic visual featuring meandering sheep flanked by breathtaking mountains that blur into obscurity.

Soon, more awe-inspiring photos of breathtaking New Zealand farmland appear, accompanied by expressive prose whose tone matches the visuals’ stark beauty.

In this unflinchingly honest photographic essay, Stuff takes the viewer behind the scenes with a day in the life of a high country sheep farmer facing an uncertain future. One stunning photo fades into the next as you scroll through, broken only by the occasional noteworthy quote and accompanying narrative.

Screenshots from Vanishing lands — an ominously interesting photo essay from media company Stuff

Olympic photos: Emotion runs high

An athlete is a karate uniform lying flat on the ground

This emotionally wrought sports story from NBC begins with a close-up of an anxious Simone Biles, her expression exemplifying the tension and frustration echoed on so many of her fellow athletes’ faces.

The subtitle puts it perfectly: “The agony—and thrill—of competition at the Olympics is written all over their faces.”

Devastation, disappointment, and defeat take centre stage in this piece — but not all the subjects of the photos in this compelling photography essay depict misery. Some of the images, like that taken of the gold medal-winning Russian artistic gymnasts, manage to project the athletes’ joy almost beyond the edges of the screen.

The NBC editors who created this visual story chose to display the series of photos using the entire screen width and limit the copy to simple captions, letting the visuals speak for themselves. The result is a riveting montage of photographs that manage to capture the overarching sentiment of the 2020 Olympic Games.

Screenshots from an NBC story on the agony—and thrill—of competition at the Olympics

James Epp: A Twist of the Hand

Photo of a various sculptures in a museum

In A Twist of the Hand , the Museum of Classical Archaeology at the University of Cambridge have produced a gorgeous photo essay. This online art show showcases artist James Epp’s installation, combining photographs of the exhibit with images of museum prints and authentic artefacts.

As you scroll down, close-up shots of the installation make you feel like you’re physically wandering among the ancient sculptures, able to examine hairline spider cracks and tiny divots marking the surface of every antiquated figure. In between the photos—and often flanked by museum prints—are James Epp's musings about what inspired him to create the pieces. It’s an absorbing virtual gallery that will no doubt inspire real life visits to the exhibition.

Screenshots from the University of Cambridge photo essay that showcases artist James Epson’s installation in the Museum of Classical Archaeology

The Café Racer Revolution

A helmeted man standing beside a motorbike

Though it’s a cleverly built piece of interactive content marketing , Honda’s “ Café Racer Revolution ” is also a great photo essay. Alongside information about the latest and greatest motorcycles Honda has to offer, it details the history of the bikers who sought to employ motorcycles (specifically “café racers”) as a way to forge an identity for themselves and project a “statement of individuality.”

Scroll down, and nostalgic black-and-white photos give way to contemporary action shots featuring fully decked-out motorcyclists on various Honda models.

Dynamic photos of bikes rotate them 360 degrees when you mouse over them, and text superimposed over flashy shots rolls smoothly down the screen as you scroll. This photo essay will stir a longing to hit the open road for anyone who has ever dreamed of owning one of Honda’s zippy bikes.

Screenshots from Honda's photo essay, a Café Racer Revolution

Built to keep Black from white

Four children standing against a white wall

In Built to keep Black from white , NBC News and BridgeDetroit have built a stunning narrative photo essay that encapsulates the history of Detroit’s Birwood Wall — a literal dividing line intended to separate neighborhoods inhabited by people of different races. 

The piece begins with a brief history of the concrete barrier. Between paragraphs of text, it weaves in quotes from residents who grew up as the wall was erected and a short video. Animated maps highlighting the affected neighborhoods unspool across the screen as you scroll down, accompanied by brief explanations of what the maps represent.

In the series of photographs that follow, contemporary images transition into decades-old shots of the wall when it was newly constructed. This is followed by images of original real estate documents, resident portraits, and additional animated maps — each considering the issue from different angles.

The piece ends with an interactive display of how Detroit’s racial makeup has changed over the past several decades, from majority white to black, and how the wall has impacted the lives of its residents who lived (and died) within its borders.

Screenshots from NBC's 'Built to keep Black from white,' a stunning narrative photo essay that encapsulates the history of Detroit’s Birwood Wall

The story of Black Lives Matter in sport

A footballer with 'Black Lives Matter' on his shirt.

The BBC pairs illustrations and bold imagery in this photo essay on how athletes participated in the Black Lives Matter movement . At the start, a narrow column of text leads into an iconic image of American football players kneeling during the pre-game national anthem in a solemn protest against police brutality. 

The first excerpt, a summary of Trayvon Martin’s death in 2012, draws you in with piercing prose capped off with photographs that bleed into one another. Every account in the photo essay follows this layout.

Screenshots from a BBC story on the Black Lives Matter movement in sport.

WaterAid Climate Stories

Dozens of boats sitting in a shallow harbour

Climate change affects everyone on the planet, but some people are feeling the effects more than others. WaterAid’s scrollytelling photo essay illuminates the plight of individuals living in areas where extreme weather conditions — caused by climate change — have drastically impacted the water supply and environment, endangering their livelihoods and ability to survive.

This climate change story starts with an engrossing video that provides an up-close and personal look at the devastation that climate change-induced droughts have wreaked on people and the environment. As you scroll down, images of massively depleted bodies of water with superimposed text and quotes unfold before your eyes. It’s an efficient way to drive home the critical message WaterAid wants to convey: climate change is real, and it’s harming real people.

Each extreme weather story focuses on an individual to help viewers empathise and understand that climate change has real, drastic consequences for millions of people worldwide. The piece ends with a call to action to learn more about and financially support WaterAid’s fight to assist people living in the desperate situations depicted in the essay.

Screenshots from WaterAid’s scrollytelling photo essay

28 Days in Afghanistan

A bike, a bus, and car in the thick smoke of Kabul

In this piece, Australian photo-journalist Andrew Quilty tells the story of the four weeks he spent in Afghanistan . He captures daily events ranging from the mundane—like a casual visit to his barber—to jarring. More than one photo documents blood-spattered victims of violence.

Viewers must scroll through the piece to follow Andrew’s daily musings and the striking photos that accompany them. His photo essay is a powerful example of how scrollytelling is transforming the art of long-form journalism .

Australian photo-journalist Andrew Quilty tells the story of the four weeks he spent in Afghanistan

La carrera lunática de Musk y Bezos (Musk and Bezos' lunatic careers)

An illustration of a SpaceX rocket careening away from Earth

Billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are angling to conquer the final frontier: space.

El Periódico captures their story via a whimsically illustrated photo essay, filled with neon line drawings and bold photos of the massive spaceships, the hangars that house them, and footprints on the moon. La carrera lunática de Musk y Bezos describes the battle between the two titans’ space companies (Blue Origin and SpaceX) for the honor of partially funding NASA’s next mission to the moon.

As you scroll down, white and fluorescent yellow words on a black background roll smoothly over images. The team at El Periódico slips in stylistic animations to break up the text—such as rocket ships with shimmering “vapour trails”—then ups the ante with a series of moon images that transition into portraits of the 12 U.S. astronauts who visited the celestial body.

The photo essay ends with the question: “Who will be the next to leave their footprints on the dusty lunar soil?” At the time of publishing, NASA had not yet decided between the two companies. (Spoiler alert: SpaceX won .)

Screenshots from El Periódico's story on the lunatic attempts by tech billionaires to go to space.

Marissa Sapega is a seasoned writer, editor, and digital marketer with a background in web and graphic design.

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14 Tips for Powerful Storytelling Photography

A Post By: Ben McKechnie

How to tell stories with your photography

Discover the art of visual storytelling through photography. We share expert techniques to communicate powerful narratives and make your images unforgettable!

As a photographer of people and cultures, I spend a lot of time thinking about storytelling with my images – how I can convey emotions and narratives through a few simple frames.

Beginners often fail to think about the storytelling aspect of photography, and that’s okay. When you’re just starting out, it’s important to focus on lighting , composition , and camera settings . But once you’ve familiarized yourself with those key concepts, what’s the next logical step? How do you hook people for more than just a few seconds?

Storytelling.

In this article, I share fourteen tips to get you started with storytelling photography, accompanied by plenty of example images to help illustrate the points. The photos may be taken in far-flung locations, but I promise you: the tips I offer can be applied anywhere on Earth.

What is storytelling photography?

Storytelling photography is all about capturing images that tell a compelling narrative. It’s not limited to a specific genre; it can be documentary, candid, posed, or even abstract. The beauty of storytelling photography lies in its ability to engage viewers and make them connect with the story being portrayed.

When you come across a powerful storytelling photo, it can hold your attention for minutes as you explore its intricate details. These images have the remarkable ability to spark your imagination, allowing you to ponder what might happen next or reflect on the emotions conveyed.

It’s important to note that storytelling photography can be achieved through a single image or a series of images. Some photographers excel at encapsulating an entire story within a single frame, while others choose to create a collection of images that, when combined, create a comprehensive narrative.

For street photographers, wildlife photographers, and bird photographers, capturing a single photo that tells a story is often the norm. On the other hand, fine-art photographers and photojournalists often lean towards creating a series of images that, when sequenced, convey a larger and more intricate story.

No matter the approach, storytelling photography allows you to engage viewers on a deeper level, making them active participants in the narrative you present. It’s a powerful tool that enables you to evoke emotions, provoke thought, and transport your audience into a whole new world.

Storytelling photography tips

Including stories in your shots is a great way to interest – and engage – viewers. But how do you do it? How can you capture the kind of shots that are full of narrative? Here are plenty of tips to help you out:

1. Try to understand the story from all angles

14 Tips for Powerful Storytelling Photography

If you’re capturing a newsworthy event – like a protest, ceremony, or even a party – it’s crucial to do your homework and grasp the event from every perspective before you arrive on site. Get to know all the key players, be aware of scheduled activities, and understand the event’s objective.

Once you’re there, take the time to engage with a variety of people involved in the event. Have conversations, listen to their thoughts, and gain different perspectives. Armed with this valuable information, direct your photography to tell the story from all angles. Ensure it’s not one-sided, capture essential elements, and strive to create a series of images that presents a neutral account.

Bottom line: Understanding the story from multiple angles enables you to create a comprehensive visual narrative that resonates with viewers.

2. Decide if you want to capture a single image or multiple shots

do storytelling images riverfront barges

Now comes the fun part – deciding how you want to tell your story through photography. You have two options: capturing a single image that encapsulates the entire narrative or creating a series of shots that collectively weave the story together.

If you opt for a single image approach, you’ll need to focus on capturing that one perfect shot that conveys your entire story. It’s like hitting the bullseye in one shot – impactful and direct. This method works well when your story has a clear and straightforward message, and you want to make a strong statement that leaves a lasting impression.

On the other hand, creating a series of shots allows you to unfold the story gradually, piece by piece. Each photo adds a layer of depth and reveals a different aspect of the narrative. It’s like assembling a puzzle where each piece matters. This approach is ideal for more complex stories with multiple angles, subjects, and nuances that require a broader context to be fully understood.

Both approaches have their strengths, and the choice depends on the story you want to tell and the impact you want to make. Just decide which style suits your vision best and get ready to capture that story through your lens!

3. Include small details to tell a story in a single frame

Imagine your task is to tell the story of a person. A parent, or even yourself.

How would you do it?

A standard portrait wouldn’t tell the full story. A person’s full story is often in the details: a picture of their desk, travel books strewn across a bedroom floor, a close-up of their hands dirty from working in the garden, a wide-angle portrait of them surrounded by a few of their favorite things.

So the next time you’re photographing a person, try to include small details that add to their story.

How to do storytelling With Your Images

I didn’t visit India to focus my lens on poverty alone. However, when trying to tell the story of Mumbai, it would have been dishonest of me not to include it. Confronted with the scene above, I saw the gap between the rich and poor. The small details here are my subject’s plastic bag, the skin condition on his arm, and his frail body. A big (and still important) detail is his juxtaposition with a backdrop of expensive high-rise buildings.

4. Give yourself plenty of time

How to do Storytelling With Your Images

Sometimes, you know exactly what story you want to capture, but turning it into a stunning photograph takes time – it’s not an instant process! So here’s the deal: don’t rush yourself. Take the time to research your subject beforehand, and then give yourself an ample amount of time to actually capture your images.

Look, let’s be real here: storytelling photography isn’t something you can rush through. It requires patience and dedication. And guess what? Sometimes, you might spend days or even weeks on a project without completing it. That’s totally okay! Rome wasn’t built in a day, right?

Here’s a little tip: try estimating how long you think your storytelling project will take, and then double it. That way, you won’t be caught off guard and get frustrated if things take longer than expected.

5. Aim for variety in a series of shots

This storytelling tip is related to the last point:

You must take a variety of different images of a single situation. Whether you want to photograph a camel market in India, a farmers’ market in a Chicago suburb, or your niece’s birthday party, just creating one type of photo won’t tell the whole story.

Instead, you need portraits, wide-angle shots, shots from up high, shots from down low, action shots, zoomed-in details, and more. All of these perspectives combined tell the whole story.

In the image series below, I tried to tell the story of a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the ancient, temple-strewn plain of Bagan, Myanmar. Capturing a variety of images was key to my success.

do storytelling images

6. Take control of the entire frame

Now that you’re thinking about telling stories, you’re not just a photographer; you’re a storyteller, too. And that role involves taking control of the whole frame.

In other words:

Don’t just think about your subject, their lighting, their positioning. Be aware of the whole scene in front of you, including surrounding details, backdrops, shadows, bright areas, etc.

Sometimes, I lie flat on the ground with my camera . Why? I want to include environmental details in the frame that improve the shot through storytelling. I get strange looks, but I don’t care; it’s the price of telling the real story.

do storytelling images

7. Plan ahead with a shot list

Whether you’re heading out into your hometown for some street photography or to the Eiffel Tower for some vacation photography, why not create a shot list? I’m talking about ideas for specific shots, angles you want to try, and people you might include in the frame.

Research the kind of shots that other photographers have taken at your destination. Seek out new angles that’ll produce fresh storytelling even at well-known locations.

do storytelling images taj mahal

8. Don’t be afraid to start without a plan

I know, I know; I just explained all about the value of using a shot list – but while a shot list can be extremely helpful, you don’t always need a meticulous plan to get started. Sometimes, it’s liberating to let go of the reins and follow your instincts.

Instead of overthinking every shot, embrace spontaneity. Head out with your camera, keep your senses open, and let your curiosity guide you. Capture whatever catches your eye, and trust that the story will unfold naturally.

Sure, having a subject or a location in mind can help focus your efforts, but don’t be bound by rigid expectations. Give yourself the freedom to explore, experiment, and see where the journey takes you. Often, the most unexpected moments and connections lead to the most captivating stories.

So, pack your gear, follow your intuition, and let the adventure begin. Remember, great storytelling photography often starts with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the unknown.

9. Learn to narrow down, trim, and exclude

Uploading a hundred photos to Facebook, all of a similar setting and taken from the same few angles, is a surefire way to lose people’s attention. Those 100 photos could easily be narrowed down to the 10 essential storytelling shots.

So learn to be selective! Start sharing only your best images.

Loktak Lake (pictured below) was so spectacular that I wandered around a single hilltop taking hundreds of images. It was bliss. A lot of the results were great, but would I really want to dump them all online for friends, family, and followers to sift through? No, I would not!

Instead, it’s important to find a favorite or two that tells your subject’s story:

How to do Storytelling With Your Images

10. Show emotions

Emotions are a central part of storytelling photography, and to capture emotions , you’ll primarily need people and faces. Emotion can also be communicated through body language, so capturing whole bodies works sometimes, too.

How to do Storytelling With Your Images

At the marvelous Mother’s Market in Manipur, India, I met these lovely ladies (above) animatedly playing a board game. I broke the ice by asking if I could join in. They said “No,” but it made them laugh and I got permission to shoot away. The best photos came after they’d forgotten about me; their natural expressions returned and I was able to capture their emotions.

11. Show human interaction

How to do storytelling With Your Images

People are the heart and soul of storytelling photography. They bring life and emotion to our images. So let’s focus on capturing those genuine moments of interaction that make stories come alive.

When you have the opportunity to include human interaction in your shots, go for it! Look for those moments when people embrace, hold hands, or even touch each other gently. These gestures create a connection that resonates with viewers and sparks their imagination.

Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, even if the interaction is happening just outside the frame. Be ready to turn and click the shutter when you sense a captivating moment unfolding.

Remember, timing is key in capturing these interactions. Trust your instincts, be quick on the draw, and don’t hesitate to take multiple shots. Not all of them will be perfect, but the few that truly capture the essence of the story will make it all worthwhile.

12. Don’t forget about the basics

In your bid to learn storytelling, don’t forget about settings, composition, and lighting.  It’s all too easy to fall out of touch with photography basics, especially when you’re first learning to tell a story with pictures.

After all, when you’re thinking about storytelling, you might start to drift away from photographic fundamentals.

So instead of replacing composition, settings, and lighting with storytelling, make sure everything works together. A shot with beautiful light, excellent composition, perfect exposure, and a great story? That’s how you capture people’s attention!

How to do Storytelling With Your Images

13. Use narrative structure

How does a traditional novel or movie work? Novels and movies are stories, so they contain beginnings, middles, and ends.

You can do the same with your photos!

If you’re just starting out taking a series of storytelling pictures, try creating a chronological narrative. It’s by no means the only or even recommended narrative structure to follow, but it’s a fun and easy way to practice.

You might tell the story of a single day in a place you know well. Start with sunrise, then take photos throughout the day as the light changes. Conclude the series with sunset and night shots.

Here, I attempted to tell the story of day and night on the rivers running through the cities of Chittagong and Dhaka:

How to do Storytelling With Your Images

14. Do some (but not too much!) editing

Editing is a crucial part of photography, and it’s no different when it comes to storytelling. Post-processing allows you to enhance your images and convey your story more effectively. However, it’s important to strike a balance and avoid going overboard.

Make adjustments that bring out the best in your photos without losing their authenticity. You can fine-tune elements like white balance and tones to accurately represent the scene. Experiment with techniques like vignettes and color grading to enhance the mood and atmosphere of your storytelling shots.

But remember, less is often more. Don’t get carried away and lose sight of the authenticity. Stay true to the story you captured through your lens. Let your editing enhance the mood, intensify emotions, and make your viewers connect with the narrative. Just strike the right balance and let your storytelling photos shine!

Telling a story with pictures: final words

Now that you’ve finished this article, you’re ready to begin telling stories with your photos!

So remember these tips, get out there with your camera, and have fun.

Now over to you:

Have you tried doing storytelling photography? What was it like? Did you enjoy it? Share your thoughts and storytelling images in the comments below!

14 Tips for Powerful Storytelling Photography

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

Ben McKechnie

is a photographer, writer, and editor. His work is driven by a fascination in people, and the relationship they have with their culture. Currently to be found editing, photographing, and eating his way around beautiful Taiwan. Check out his most recent work on his Website , Facebook page , and Instagram .

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Picture Prompts

Use These 18 Images to Inspire Your Own Short Story

We provide the visual ingredients to get you started. Your job is to create an original story from these characters, settings and conflicts.

photo story assignment

By Nicole Daniels and Natalie Proulx

Do you enjoy writing short stories or other works of fiction? How do you find inspiration for what you write?

In this activity, we invite you to create your own short story inspired by photographs and illustrations from our Picture Prompts series.

Think of this exercise a little bit like cooking with a recipe. We’ll give you options for your main ingredients: You’ll choose a main character , setting and conflict from the images we’ve rounded up below. Then follow the steps to plan, write, revise and share your story.

But, as with cooking, you don’t have to stick to the recipe exactly as it’s written. We encourage you to experiment with, build on and be inspired by our suggestions. We want you to use your own ideas, identity and imagination to come up with an original creative work.

When you’ve finished your story, you can share the opening lines in the comments for other students to read.

1. Choose a main character.

photo story assignment

Related Picture Prompt

photo story assignment

The main character, or protagonist, is the one who will guide readers through the story. This figure will be personally affected by the major conflict and will grow or change in some way because of it by the end.

Don’t worry, you can introduce additional characters later, but for now, focus on developing your main character’s appearance, personality, motivations and back story. The character you create doesn’t have to look or act exactly like the one pictured, unless you want it to. Instead, think about the image as a jumping-off point for your imagination.

Once you’ve selected your protagonist, write a short “character sketch” using the prompts below to get to know the person better:

What is your character’s name, if she or he has one? Where does that person come from?

What does your protagonist look like? What is the personality? What kind of clothes does she or he wear? What are the character’s likes and dislikes? Strengths and weaknesses?

What does the protagonist want? What is that person’s main goal in the story?

Create one fact that can help you define this character. For example, “Their mother is the most important person to them,” or “When my character was 5 years old they lost their home in a fire.” You don’t have to mention the fact in the story, but you should choose something that helps you round out the character’s identity or worldview.

If you like, you can use this graphic organizer to capture your image choice and character description.

2. Choose a setting.

photo story assignment

While your characters might visit several locations throughout your story, consider this the place where the majority of the action will occur.

Again, think of the image you choose as inspiration. You might expand on it to create a vivid fictional world for your characters, or perhaps something in the photograph will inspire you to write about another real or imagined place and time. Or, if you like, use the setting exactly as pictured.

After you’ve selected a setting, in the same way you sketched out your main character, use these questions to help you further build the backdrop of your story:

What planet, country, region or town is the story set in? What era, year, season or time of day does it take place? What is the cultural and political climate like at this time in this space?

What are the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures characters would experience in this setting? What mood or feeling does it evoke?

What value does this setting have to your character? Is it familiar, new, strange, scary or exciting to that person?

You can add the image and description of your setting to your graphic organizer .

3. Choose a conflict.

photo story assignment

The conflict, or problem, is the engine that will propel your narrative forward. It’s the obstacle that is getting in the way of your main character’s central goal or desire.

You may interpret these images however you like. Perhaps you want to take them literally — for example, your protagonist might be trying to survive a real-life earthquake. Or you might think of them more figuratively — the earthquake could be a metaphor for the rupturing of society or a broken relationship.

After you have selected an image, answer the questions below to develop your conflict in more detail. These will help you map the narrative arc, or plot, of your story (learn more about that in our related mentor text ):

Who or what is the antagonist (nature, technology, society, another person, the protagonist’s own mind, fate)?

What is the driving conflict? What does the main character want? How is the conflict preventing the character from getting it? How will the character try to solve this problem?

How was this conflict instigated? How will it finally be resolved?

How does your main character change or grow in resolving the conflict? What theme or universal message will your readers take away from this story?

Complete your graphic organizer with your conflict image and notes.

4. Map out your story.

Character, setting and conflict are just the building blocks of your story. Now you will take all those ideas you’ve brainstormed and map out your story, scene by scene. In “ Finally Write That Short Story ,” the best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld offers this advice:

Create an outline by repeatedly asking yourself what will happen next. Thinking in terms of scenes and structure increases the likelihood that your story will be story-like — that it will be about something happening, something changing, versus being a more static slice of life.

Since you’re writing a short story, your plot should be concise. Often, short fiction revolves around a single incident and involves no more than a few characters. Still, be sure to have a clear beginning, middle and end and that each ingredient you selected above works together seamlessly.

Admittedly, this may be easier said than done. Here’s what Ms. Sittenfeld suggests if you’re not sure how to get started:

If you have a favorite short story or two, it can be illuminating to reverse-engineer them by creating their outlines and thereby better understand how they were made. (Do this with a friend, for the same story, to see if you’re in agreement about what constitutes a scene.)

If you want to try this yourself, read a short story of your choosing or select one from “ The Decameron Project ,” a recent collection of new fiction inspired by the coronavirus pandemic from The New York Times Magazine. As you read, pay attention to how the author brings the main character, setting and conflict to life, and try to map out the plot scene by scene. Then you can apply some of the “writer’s moves” you admire in this story to your own work.

To create your outline, use our story map worksheet or any other pre-writing strategy you prefer.

5. Write, revise and share.

After creating an outline, you are ready to write. You can choose to write something as short as a piece of flash fiction (we have a lesson plan for that) or as long as a novella.

During your first draft, Ms. Sittenfeld suggests:

Keep writing. And for now, don’t worry about quality and don’t think about potential readers. Your goal is not to write a great story but to finish a story. It’s normal if there’s a huge discrepancy between how good you envisioned your story being and how clumsy your actual sentences seem. In fact, it would be surprising if there were not a huge discrepancy.

Once you’ve written your story, you can go back and read it in its entirety. As you read, ask yourself: Are the characters, setting and conflict fully developed? Does my story have a distinct beginning, middle and end? Is the message I want my readers to take away from this story evident? Is my writing engaging, clear and enjoyable to read?

If you answer “no” to any of those questions — and you probably will — revise. Here are seven tips for editing your own writing .

When you have something you’re proud of, share your work! You can post the opening lines here in the comments section, or send your story to one of these dozens of outlets that publish teenagers’ writing.

Find many more ways to use our Picture Prompt feature in this lesson plan . You can find all our Picture Prompts in this column .

Nicole Daniels joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2019 after working in museum education, curriculum writing and bilingual education. More about Nicole Daniels

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx

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Get Good at Storytelling Photography (Tips, Ideas & Examples)

Using storytelling in your photography is a powerful and rewarding technique that can deepen the meaning of your images. Here's how to do it well.

Learn | By Ana Mireles

Storytelling photography is a skill that you can develop with practice.

If you think your storytelling skills are weak, you’re in the right place.

In this article, I’ll give you some tips, ideas, and examples to help you tell amazing stories with your images.

It doesn’t matter if you like to take portraits, do photojournalism, or even photograph landscapes – storytelling is what makes people engage with your pictures.

So, let’s start telling stories with our cameras right now!

Table of Contents

What is Storytelling Photography?

Storytelling photography is exactly what it sounds like – it’s telling a story through photography. You can do visual storytelling using single or multiple images.

The most common way to do it is with photo essays – also known as photographic series. This is because you can use a narrative structure to connect multiple images.

However, there are photographers that manage to tell a whole story in one powerful image . They manage to do this through color, composition, timing when talking about street photography, posing if they’re doing it through a portrait , etc.

Why is storytelling necessary in photography?

They say an image is worth a thousand words. While this can be true, not all images tell visual stories.

Just random pretty images aren’t good for conveying stories. So, you need to practice storytelling photography if you want your images to ‘talk’.

Why is storytelling so impactful and effective?

For centuries, humans have used storytelling for instilling moral values, teach, selling, etc.  Telling stories is a way of evoking strong emotions. This is one of the reasons why a storytelling process creates visually appealing images.

It’s also very effective because we’re used to adding a narrative to everything in life. From telling how your day went to your partner over dinner to writing a presentation letter to apply for a job. Stories help us understand life and the world around us.

How to Do Storytelling With Pictures? 10 Tips & Ideas

1. find inspiration in literature   .

Alice in wonderland tea party.

Credit: Criativa Pix Fotografia

If you want to practice photographic storytelling, you can try to find inspiration in the most classic narrative art – literature.

If you’re interested in telling stories through a series, you can choose any of the narrative structures used by writers.

For example, you can choose a chronological narrative structure. This means that you tell a story in a linear way as the events happen and the story unfolds. Otherwise, you can use an inverted narrative and start with the end.

There are many structures known by writers that you can borrow for your storytelling photography such as The Hero’s Journey.

However, you can also use books to get inspiration if you want to tell a story in just one photograph. A good exercise to practice your storytelling skills this way is to make a photo that would serve as the cover of the book.

This will force you to identify the mood and key elements of a story and use them to create a visually appealing photo that summarises the whole story.

Another narrative tool is the use of open or closed stories. Open stories leave room for interpretation, it’s the viewer who decides how the story will end.

2. Try documentary photography 

A man is standing in the rubble of a building.

Credit: Sanej Prasad Suwal

Visual storytelling is used in any photographic genre. However, it’s very clear how storytelling is used in documentary photography .

You can study many interesting examples in any edition of the World Press Photo. This is a yearly photo contest that showcases the best documentary photography and photojournalism. You can visit the exhibition that tours around the world or visit their website to see the winners of current and past editions.

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Another good thing about practising storytelling in photography using a documentary approach is that you can choose from a wide variety of subjects.

Depending on your location and your interests, you can make a photographic story about behavioural patterns in wildlife, the traditions of a certain group of people, the impact of climate change, etc.

3. Use colour theory 

A group of people sitting around a table.

Credit: Cottonbro Studio

Colour is a very powerful tool when you’re doing storytelling photographs. According to the famous psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, “colour is the mother tongue of the subconscious”. Since then, there have been many studies regarding colour psychology.

Even before the modern disciplines, colour has been used for centuries as a tool for treating different ailments. That’s why colour can give clues to the viewer about the story and can evoke strong emotions.

Even the white balance is important because warm and cool colours communicate different things. For example, cooler tones can create an atmosphere of calm or perhaps unhappiness. Instead, warm tones can represent passion, joy or give a sense of comfort.

You can also use colour theory to highlight the main subject – for example, adding a pop of colour in a monochromatic scene. Another way to use colour is to give a sense of continuity by including certain colours in different images or by changing the colour of an object throughout a series.

These are just a few basic examples. However, the use of colour in photography storytelling gives you many possibilities.

4. Be patient 

Icebergs on a black sand beach in iceland.

Credit: Valdemaras D

Creating visually interesting images that share a story is not something that happens overnight or that you achieve on the first shot.

I was talking about documentary storytelling in photography. If you read about the projects, sometimes take years to make.

I’m not telling you that all storytelling images need this long, I’m just saying that you should dedicate time to your own stories. It may be a week, a month or a year – that depends on the subject’s story and your approach to it.

5. Get to know your subject 

A buddhist monk greets a group of children.

Credit: Suraphat Nueaon

How can you tell a story if you don’t know it? Storytelling in photography is not just about taking stunning pictures . Of course, they have to be visually appealing, but remember that your main goal is sharing stories.

In order to tell a story, you need to know the what, the why, the how, and the who… Make sure you know all angles of the story so that you – as the narrator, decide your position. Storytelling is never objective, you’re sharing something from your point of view.

This is why you can start with something you already know – this way you can practice and strengthen your storytelling skills.

Choose a cultural practice from your hometown or your religion and chose a minimal narrative structure. Cultural preservation is a great topic for storytelling pictures.

If you prefer landscape or wildlife photography , then chose an environment that’s close to you and that you know how it changes throughout the year.

You may also tell your story and do some self-portraits, or choose a person you know well and do “a day in the life of” kind of visual story.

Once you’re better at photo storytelling, you can move on to new and more complex topics.

6. Connect through emotions 

A man and woman sitting on a bed in a bedroom.

Credit: Alex Green

Human emotions are what make storytelling pictures so memorable images. Emotions are the way the viewers connect with your photographs and get pulled into the story.

There are different ways to connect with the viewer through storytelling photos. You can tell a story that’s aspirational or something that inspires. In this case, the viewer hasn’t lived what your character has, you’re not touching the viewer’s past emotions but their wishes.

Another connection is done through empathy. Maybe the viewer knows what the character in your story is going through, or they can relate to it on a more profound level.

Emotions are what make a difference between a beautiful landscape and a landscape that reminds me of the fishing trips I took with my father when I was a child.

The first one I see for a second and move on. The second one moves me, so I spend more time looking at it – maybe I tell other people about what I saw and that’s how you keep the stories alive.

7. Learn the importance of editing 

When you talk about editing in photography, you usually think about post-processing. This is important in storytelling images – yes, but that’s not what I’m referring to right now.

When you’re a storytelling photographer you need to learn how to tell a story. In a photographic series that means learning to choose the most memorable images and trimming what’s not necessary.

You also need to consider which are the first and last images, how many pictures you include in the series, in which order, etc.

8. Change perspective 

A person is cooking food in a wok on fire.

Credit: Prince Photos

Doing storytelling in photography means considering the story from all perspectives , but also physically changing the point of view of your pictures.

You should include wide-angle shots as well as zoomed-in details. You can learn much about this skill from movies. Notice how there are usually wide-angle shots that establish the context of the story, but there are also close-ups that show you what details you need to follow through the scene.

You can also see this in a travel photography magazine. Pick any destination you want – let’s say Bora Bora.

If you see an article about a trip to Bora Bora you’ll see beautiful landscapes, some action shots of the activities you can do, some close-ups of traditional Polynesian cuisine, and some cultural activities.

The combination of pictures tells you the whole story of what you can expect from your trip and why to choose Bora Bora over Maui.

9. Consider the bigger picture

A group of people looking at framed pictures in an art gallery.

Credit: Matheus Viana

When you’re doing storytelling images, it helps to understand the bigger picture. For example, who are you telling your story to? Yes, the viewer – but who’s the viewer?

Where do you envision your photo story to be presented? Is it going to be only digital? Do you want to exhibit in a gallery? Do you want to make a photo book with it?

Answering all these questions will help you determine things like size and format, and whether you should tell the story in a single image or a series. If it’s a series, how many images should it have?

You can also decide whether you want to do an open or a closed story. Open stories leave more room for the viewer to give their own interpretation, while closed stories need a stronger ending.

10. Try different types of photography

A woman is holding a pink balloon in the air.

Credit: Gelatin

You can do storytelling images in all types of photography. Earlier, I recommended trying documentary photography and choosing a subject that you know. However, this can be just a starting point or something you can skip and move on directly that makes you curious or passionate.

Passion, that’s a word that I hadn’t used in the article but it’s key to photography storytelling. The only way to communicate strong emotions about something is if you have them yourself.

If you photograph something that doesn’t interest you, it’s going to be difficult for you to excite anyone else about it either.

Passion is also what’s going to give you the motivation to keep going. As I already mentioned, creating storytelling images is not quick or easy. You need to dedicate time and dig deeper into the subject you want to portray. If you don’t have enough passion, you might get bored and abandon the project.

That’s why you should try different types of photography until you find something that gets you excited.

Who Are Some Famous Storytelling Photographers?

An old photograph of a woman and her children.

Migrant Mother, Dorothea Lange, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Public Domain Photographs (NAID 195301), via Wikimedia Commons

Dorothea Lange – She was an American photographer who belong to the new wave of photo documentalists who used storytelling photography. Her most famous picture is “Migrant Mother” from 1936. She used to talk with her subjects to put them at ease and gather relevant information to the story.

Arjun Kamath – He studied engineering but he’s now a wedding photographer in India. He became famous through his photo series “Coming Out” where he shows the difficult life of the LGQBT+ person in such a conservative country. Since then, he’s won multiple awards and has dived into creative storytelling.

Berber Theunissen – She’s the winner of the Visual Storytelling category of The Independent Photography contest in 2021, amongst many other awards. She’s also exhibited her work around the world in multiple exhibitions. She talks about femininity and uses her own life as inspiration.

Erik Johansson – If you don’t know him by name, you’ll know his images for sure. From a man who is pulling a highway as if it was a blanket to a Tetris construction company ad – he tells his stories through photo manipulation with great mastery.

Sebastiao Salgado – He’s one of the most important photo documentalists of our time. Through his images, he’s shed light on issues such as climate change, migration, poverty, etc. He develops projects that take months in the making and are presented as books that are curated and edited with his wife.

Brooke Shaden – She learned storytelling by studying film, but she later turned to photography and uses fine-art self-portraiture to tell her stories. She uses herself to portray the characters of her dreams and nightmares which helps her to face her fears and explore the light and darkness in people.

How Do You Tell a Story with Portrait Photography?

A young woman looking out of a window.

Credit: Ike Louie Natividad

To do storytelling with portrait photography , you can use all the techniques mentioned in the article. Start by knowing which story you want to tell and decide how many images you want.

You can do a shot list to help you structure the photography narrative and determine what you’re going to need.

Then, decide on the location, light, colour palette, props and outfit. All these elements will help you to tell the story.

The biggest tool you have in portrait photography is human interaction. This applies to the models if it’s more than one, but also between you and the model. Think about body language and facial expressions.

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

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Assignment – Photo Story

For this assignment you will need to find a story that you can work on over a period of several weeks. It is important that you pick an idea that fits into your schedule. If you work on Sundays then a story about a church is a bad idea. My minimum expectation is that you will make four trips to your story – two before our first critique and two more before the final presentation. Fewer trips will result in points being deducted.

**If you are leaving State College after Thanksgiving, you’ll need to be done photographing your story by then**

You may NOT photograph a friend or relative without permission.

Stories may be about a character, place, or issue. You could document an interesting local business, follow a person through their routine, cover an issue by how it affects a person or group.

Think of the big three issues facing all of us this fall: The Pandemic, Protests over policing and race, The Presidential Election. Find a story idea from one of these three topics.

ASSIGNED: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 DUE:

  • Proposal due Sunday,  October  18th by 10 pm – upload to Canvas  – 50 pts (If you change your topic after submitting your proposal, you lose 25 points)
  • First critique on Box by Wednesday, November 4th, by 10 pm – 100 pts (If you change your story after the first critique, you lose 50 points)
  • Story due Monday, December 7th by 10 pm – 300 pts (You must turn in your completed story by the start of class)

PROPOSAL: Submit your proposal by 10/18 to Canvas.  Your idea must be approved before you move forward.

Your proposal must  include:

  • A one-sentence summary of your story – focus on what is interesting about the story, not just the place or event or person. This should answer the question why is your story interesting – what makes it a story.
  • The specific details – name, place, location, etc.
  • You should have made initial contact with your subject and your presentation should include what kind of access you expect
  • Your initial sense of the direction of the project including a rough shot list – you don’t want to totally preconceive your essay, but you should have some idea of the kinds of photos/moments you could expect.
  • Why should we care? – what makes this story interesting to someone else

FIRST CRITIQUE:  We will critique the work in progress on 11/5. At a minimum, you should have made two visits(90 minutes each or equivalent) to your subject. Turn in your entire take as well as an edit of 4-8 photos. Captions are not required at this critique.

STORY DUE:  We’ll critique the finished  story on 12/8. At a minimum, you should have made at least two followup visits(90 minutes each or equivalent) to your subject. (Turn in ALL your raws, and your final selection of toned/captioned images in the usual folders.

PLUS you must turn in a text file with an introductory short essay (1-2 paragraphs) that help explain and give context to your story.  Typically your photo story would have 10-12 images – this is not an exact number, it depends on your story.

photo story assignment

Bull Moose Party

Squirrel Whisperer

10 Photo Assignments to Inspire and Challenge Your Skills

Liz Masoner is a professional photographer and she shares her tips and techniques on photo editing and how to photograph nature, portraits, and events with film and digital cameras. Liz has over 30 years of experience and she is the author of three books on photography.

The best way to learn photography is to practice, though sometimes you can get stuck in a rut and not know what to shoot. That is why photographers love assignments; they give us a purpose and an idea of what to photograph. 

Why Are Assignments Important?

Self-assignments are key to any photographer's growth. Even professionals with decades of experience will work on personal assignments that they may never get paid for. The goal of any self-assignment is to spur creativity, solve problems, learn new techniques, and challenge yourself.

As you start out in photography, you're probably filled with excitement and ready to shoot anything you can. That being said, sometimes a little direction and guidance are necessary.

Below, you will find ten photography assignments. Each covers a new topic, skill, or concept and they were chosen to help you learn how to see as a photographer. They are meant to be a personal challenge that you can complete at your own pace and with no outside judgment, simply as a means to practice and improve your photography. Hopefully, you will learn something new with each assignment and be able to use that in every photograph you take in the future.

Remember when composing your images to keep in mind the basics: the rule of thirds,  shutter speed , aperture,  depth of field , and  exposure .

Assignment #1: Up Close

This assignment encourages you to get close and personal with your subject. It is an exercise in viewing a common object in a new way and examining its finer details.

  • Choose an object that you see or interact with every day.
  • Focus on a small part of it, get as close as your camera will allow you to focus, and shoot away.
  • Try to capture different angles and unusual lighting to add to the mystery of this tiny world.

From the whiskers of your cat to a fragile Christmas ornament, and even common soap bubbles, there is an entire world that we often overlook because we don't get close enough.

Assignment #2: Motion

Photography is a static medium which means that it doesn't move. Conveying a sense of motion is often crucial to capturing a scene or emotion and it is an essential skill for photographers to practice.

The goal of this exercise is to understand how shutter speeds can be used to convey motion.

  • Choose a subject or series of subjects that will allow you to convey motion in your images.
  • It can be slow motions, like that of a turtle, or fast motion, like a speeding train.
  • Blur it, stop it, or simply suggest that there is motion in the photograph.

Challenge yourself to capture the same motion in different ways. For instance, you might go to a race track and stop the movement of the cars completely in one image, then leave the shutter open and allow them to blur out of the frame in the next. 

Assignment #3: Shadows

Shadows are everywhere and they are vital to photography because this is the art of capturing light. With light comes shadows and when you begin to look at shadows as a photographer, your world will open up.

  • Take a look around for shadows and record them with your camera.
  • You could show the shadow as the total focus of the image. Perhaps the shadow is incidental to the subject.
  • Is the shadow natural or created by flash?

Shadows are integral to creating depth in a two-dimensional medium such as photography. Take some time to seriously explore the "dark side" of the light.

Assignment #4: Water

Water is everywhere in photography and it presents many challenges. There are reflections and movements to work with and in this exercise, you will take a deeper look at water.

  • Find water anywhere: lakes, streams, puddles, even the glass on your kitchen table.
  • Pay attention to reflections and use them to your advantage in the photographs. Use this opportunity to get familiar with a polarizing filter (a very useful tool in your camera kit) so you can accentuate or eliminate reflections.
  • Play with the motion of a stream or the crashing waves. Notice the difference between stopping the flow of water and allowing it to blur to create a real sense of movement.

Be sure to make water the subject and not an accent to the image. Water alone is beautiful and mysterious and your challenge is to explore all of its potential as a subject.

Assignment #5: Leading Lines

A classic assignment in photography schools, 'leading lines ' is a popular and fun subject. The goal of this assignment is to learn how to direct the viewer to your subject using lines.

  • Choose a subject then look around for lines in the scene that you can use to 'lead' the viewer to the subject. 
  • Find an interesting line then determine what the subject of your photograph is.
  • Remember that lines can be man-made or natural. For instance, the yellow line down the middle of the road or a tree branch. Even a person's arm can be a leading line of their face.

Use this assignment as an excuse to take an afternoon photo excursion. Walk downtown or in the woods and look around you for interesting lines that lead the eye to a subject. There is an amazing assortment of lines out there in the world and once you begin to see them, you won't be able to stop. 

Assignment #6: Perspective

How do you normally stand when you shoot? If your answer is straight up like a 5-foot-something human being then this assignment is for you. The perspective assignment challenges you to view the world from an entirely new perspective, which in turn gives the viewer a new look at the ordinary.

  • Take another afternoon or evening for a photo excursion wherever you like.
  • This time, every time you find something to photograph, stop!
  • Ask yourself: How would a squirrel see that tree? How would a robin view that birdbath? How would a snake view that log?
  • Take your photographs from very high or very low angles. Get on your belly or stand on a chair, whatever you have to (safely) do to get the 'right' angle on your subject.

If you pay attention to professional photographs, many of the images that have the WOW factor are photographed from extreme angles. People enjoy these photos because they've never seen an object from that viewpoint. It is new and unique, and you can train yourself to shoot with this in mind.

Assignment #7: Texture

You may have captured a few textural details in the 'Up Close' assignment, but this assignment takes that to the next level. The goal in this one is to study textures and forget about the object itself: the texture becomes the subject. You will also begin to realize how light affects the appearance of texture.

  • Find a few objects that have very detailed textures like trees or rocks, even knit sweaters or woven rugs.
  • Photograph them as close as your lens will allow.
  • Use different angles and capture the same texture as the light changes. Notice how the different lighting directions and camera angles can change how much texture appears.

Textures are all around us and many of the best photographs in the world play up the textural element. This assignment should teach you how to recognize and accentuate those elements in your photos.

Assignment #8: Color Harmony

Color is important to photography because the world is full of color. This exercise requires a bit of study in color theory, which you will then put into practice in your photographs.

Do you remember art class in elementary school? You may have learned that yellow and blue make green, but color theory goes beyond that. There are cool and warm colors, complementary and contrasting colors, neutral colors, and bold colors.

It can get quite complicated, and photographers should have a basic understanding of color so you can use that when composing photographs. You don't have to study color like a painter would but can use tricks used by interior designers to influence your color decisions.

  • Once you have an idea of color theory, take another photo excursion and put what you've learned into practice.
  • Capture photographs with the primary or tertiary colors.
  • Look for complementary colors then contrasting colors to photograph.
  • Try finding a scene to photograph that is filled with neutral colors, then one that uses a bold color to 'pop' from the scene.

This is an advanced lesson, but one that any photographer working with color images will find useful. As you practice working with colors, it will become second nature and you will know how to work with color to change the feel of your images.

Assignment #9: Emotions

Take a photo of a person smiling or scowling, right? Not so. The intent of this assignment is to convey emotion in photographs  without  a face.

  • Take photographs that express each of the basic emotions: happy, sad, and mad.
  • How would you express the feeling of anger with no person? What about happiness? Sadness?

This is a purely conceptual assignment, but it is important to be able to relay emotion in your photographs and you might not always have a person available to do that with. Challenge yourself to think deeper about this one.

Assignment #10: Don't Look!

Are you ready to put your photography skills to the test? In today's world of digital cameras and the ability to see image captures right there on the LCD screen, photographers are losing some of the skills needed to visualize a photograph.

In this assignment, your challenge is to shoot as if you were using a film camera. That means that you will not look at the photographs you've taken until they are downloaded on your computer. Instead of relying on the camera's screen to see if you 'got the shot' you will rely on your instinct and knowledge, just like photographers did before digital photography. Can you do it?

  • Plan a photo excursion to a particular location and permit yourself to photograph only 36 images (a roll of 35mm film).
  • Turn off your camera's LCD screen so it does not show you the image after you have taken it.
  • If you cannot turn off the camera's screen, cut a piece of thick paper and tape it over the screen. Use masking or painter's tape so you don't leave a residue on the back of your camera.
  • Go out and shoot your 36 frames, thinking carefully about each image because you don't have an endless number of shots. Bonus points if you turn your camera to completely manual settings for focus and exposure.
  • Don't peek at your photos until you get home and download them.

How did you do? Were you able to get good exposures on your own? How did it feel to be 'blind' and not know how your image turned out right away? 

This is similar to what it is like to shoot with film and it does require you to think harder about every image you take. Next time you shoot, slow down and pay attention, pretend that the screen is not there and rely on your own skills to create a great image. You will be a better photographer in the end.

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photo story assignment

Photojournalism

  • Assignment Instructions #1
  • Assignment Instructions #2
  • Assignment Instructions: Portrait
  • Assignment Instructions: Feature
  • Assignment Instructions: News
  • Assignment Instructions: Flash
  • Syllabus S17
  • Captioning and Metadata in Photoshop
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  • Photo Filing and Ethics Guidelines
  • Photojournalism awards: UPDATED 2013/09/14
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  • #1: What The Still Photo Still Does Best
  • #2: Pictures That Change History: Why the World Needs Photojournalists
  • #3 Tuesday Tips: How to Make Portraits of Strangers
  • #4 Wanted: The Network Photojournalist
  • The Most Important Skill for a Photojournalist
  • Top 10 Ways To Make a Photo Editor Fall In Love With You – PhotoShelter
  • The Photographers on Photography – National Geographic
  • 11 Lessons Diane Arbus Can Teach You About Street Photography
  • 10 Lessons Weegee has taught me about Street Photography
  • Misrepresentation in a World Press and Picture of the Year Winning Photo
  • Lens Blog (The New York Times)
  • Lightbox (Time)
  • In Focus (The Atlantic)
  • Picture of the Year International
  • Nieman Report on Visual Journalism
  • The Britsh Journal of Photography
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  • DP Review – Digital Photography Review
  • The Image, Deconstructed
  • Assignment Instructions
  • Course Material
  • Instructions
  • Class readings
  • Readings: Weeks 1-5
  • Suggested Readings
  • Top 10 Ways To Make a Photo Editor Fall In Love With You - PhotoShelter
  • The Photographers on Photography - National Geographic
  • DP Review - Digital Photography Review

Week Five – The Photo Essay

“It is difficult to get the news from poems, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there.”

― William Carlos Williams

PHOTO ESSAY EXAMPLES:

  • Trouble Shared (Brenda Ann Kennelly/ New York Times/Lens)
  • A Country Doctor (W. Eugene Smith/Magnum for Life)
  • A Young Father’s Balancing Act (Benjamin Norman/The New York Times)
  • New York City Coffeehouse (Dima Gavrysh/Lens)
  • Where Beauty Softens Your Grief (Gianni Cipriano/ICP)
  • Gun Nation (Zed Nelson)
  • What the World Eats (Time)
  • Last Supper (2004; Celia A. Shapiro/Mother Jones)
  • The Bitter Sweet Pill – GMB Akash
  • Happy Horsemeat (Alex Soth)

UNUSUAL PHOTO ESSAYS

  • Febuary Assignment: Photographing Pictures in Reflection
  • Magic in the Nearly Forgotten Mailbox
  • Andrew Moore Detroit
  • Superheroes – Dulce Pinzon
  • A Photo Fright Most Viral
  • Jump Book – Phillippe Halsman

Let’s work through an example to illustrate each category below. Let’s say National Geographic s sending you to into southern Tunisia to do a story on an ancient and unique kind of weaving practiced by a Berber tribe. You are taken by a ‘fixer’ — a paid translator, driver and social planner — to a village made up of several small huts and a central bungalow with three ancient looms and the equipment for making the dies. Likely it would be women doing the weaving.  You’d probably have a working shotlist in your head (or written). It would include photos in each of the categories below:

  • Signature photo : A photo that summarizes the entire issue and illustrates essential elements of the story. This might be a photo of woman — maybe your main character — weaving at a loom in the bungalow. Ideally, you’d be able to frame the shot to provide some context, maybe other women, the village in the background, etc.
  • Establishing or overall shot : a wide-angle (sometimes even aerial) shot to establish the scene. If you’re shooting for National Geographic it’s entirely possible they would rent a helicopter and you’d take an aerial shot of the village. Or, if on a tighter budget, maybe the village from a nearby dune. The idea of the establishing shot is this: When you do a photo story your are taking our viewers on a journey. You need to give them a sense of where they are going, an image that allows them to understand the rest of the story in a geographic context.
  • Close-up : A detail shot to highlight a specific element of the story. Close-up, sometimes called detail shots, don’t carry a lot of narrative. Meaning, they often don’t do a lot to inform the viewer on a literal level but they do a great deal to dramatize a story. Perhaps the weavers hands or a sample of a rug or the bowls in which the dies are mixed. For reasons we’ll come back to when we talk about multimedia in week 12, it’s ALWAYS a good idea to shoot lots of close-ups.
  • Portrait : this can be either a tight head shot or a more environment portrait in a context relevant to the story. As mentioned above, photo essays are build around characters. You need to have good portrait that introduces the viewers to the character. I always shoot a variety of portraits, some candids and some posed.
  • Interaction : focuses on the subject in a group during an activity. Images of your character interacting with others — kids, others in the village, sellers — all helps give a human dimension to your character. It’s likely that our weaver(s) also raise families, which means cooking cleaning, etc. Think about reactions too.
  • How-to sequence : This is photo or group of photos that offer a how-to about some specific element of the story or process. With our example maybe we would telescope in for a few images on how the dyes are made or the making of a specific element of the textile
  • The Clincher : A photo that can be used to close the story, one that says “the end.” Essentially, our example is a process piece. What’s the end of the process? Maybe an image of a camel caravan loaded with textiles and heading off into the sunset on the way to market.

I want to introduce a few basic ideas here about editing essays in general and slideshows in particular. As outlined above, variety is key. The first few images are especially important and often include a combination of the following:

  • An establishing shot : Often a wide-angle image to give a sense of place, a sense of environment to give the view a sense of place.
  • A portrait : An online slideshow needs to be humanized quickly. We need to be introduced to our character as a sort of travelling companion on our journey.
  • A close-up : A telling detail shot early on is both graphically appealing and an opportunity to focus the viewer in on what the story is about.

There are several conventional ways to structure the narrative of a story, sometimes photographers will use a combination of the options presented below:

  • Process : essentially the photographer is showing how something is done from beginning to end. How a sculpture is made. A sports competition. Even an arrest and court case.
  • Chronology : real or implied, you can let time structure your story. A very typical way to structure a story through time is as a ‘day in the life’ piece.
  • Highlights : in reality all photo stories are highlights stories in that the photographer should always seek to relay the most important visual elements of a story. But some stories are structure less to illustrate  a clear story line and more to show the peak moments or most dramatic aspects of the topic. For example, a year-in-review story or coverage of a natural disaster or a story after the death of a public figure that highlights the most significant moments in his or her career.  When news organizations do this kind of story often the work of several photographers — and maybe even crowd-sourced photos — are used.

In the commercial world online publications frequently present something called a ‘flipbook.’ This might be series of images of this season’s most popular style of purses  or the ten best-selling flatscreen TVs.

The series is a set of similar images designed to illustrate a comparative point: for example a series of portraits or of new cars or phones or homes. Images in a series should be stylistically similar to further illustrate the comparison.

In week three we looked at images from two portrait series: Richard Avedon’s ‘In the American West’ and Jill Greenberg’s ‘End Times.’  We also looked at some of Steve McCurry’s amazing portrait work.

A portrait series is not the only kind of series. The two series below are examples of the technique that go beyond the simple portrait.

You needn’t get to crazy about making every image in series EXACTLY like the others. Sometimes it’s just not possible. But here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Angle of View – When possible, try and keep the angle of view consistent in a series. Meaning, if one picture is taken from eye-level, try and take them all from eye-level. Focal Length – Try and be consistent in the focal length of your lens. This will ensure a consistent perspective.
  • Framing – All of the images should be framed about the same way. If focal length stays the same, you may need to step farther away for larger objects (or people with bigger heads) and closer for smaller object.
  • Color and Image Quality – If possible, avoid using a flash with some images and not others. Try and be consistent with ISO, white balance and depth-of-field.

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Assignment 10: The Photo Essay

Final project.

Present ten photographs in a logical sequence

The objective is to synthesize skills learned throughout the semester to tell a story in a sequence of images that have a relationship to each other.  This is an introduction to ‘the photo essay.’ Students should use a variety of distances, angles and focal lengths to shoot photos while documenting an event, a theme, or a story.  The assignment will count as 20% of the final grade.

Required Topic

Document Boston’s North End neighborhood, show faces and use full captions with complete names. Shoot action and reaction shots, portraits, detail shots and scene setters. Shoot a variety of scenes and situations. Shoot wide, medium, tight and detail shots to capture different types of information about your neighborhood story. Try to find low angles and high angles of your subject as part of your coverage.

Upload ten images in the order of your choice.

Create a gallery on your blog and upload to class folder.

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Recently in Photo Assignment

"goodbye" - tds photo assignment 107.

For the Feb. 2015 gallery, TDS shooters waved farewell to 9 years of photo assignments. Join them for one last showing: Goodbye .

farewell-br-feb2015.jpg

Photo by Brian Reynolds. Brian writes, "Since October 2007, I've participated in 42 Photo Assignments. This is my 43rd and last Photo Assignment. It shows prints of the previous selected entries along with some of the cameras and equipment used to make them. In the back (propped up by just a few of my camera bags) you can see the Sizzlpix from the "Eyes" assignment. So long, and thanks for all the fish." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Goodbye .

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page , where I'll post this story for discussion.

"Backlighting" - TDS Photo Assignment 106

For the Jan. 2015 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters faced the sun and raised their cameras. See for yourself in our gallery, Backlighting . (Amazing images...)

ernesto-pono-jan2015-pa.jpg

Photo by Ernesto Pono. See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Backlighting .

"Frozen" - TDS Photo Assignment 105

For the Dec. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters pulled on their mittens and ventured out into the cold. See for yourself in our gallery, Frozen . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

lori-rowland-dec15-pa.jpg

Photo by Lori Rowland. Lori writes, "I had seen frozen bubble images on the Internet and decided to try some of my own. First I had to experiment with bubble recipes. You want a bubble that won't instantly pop. I used my patio table with snow on it as a platform. I moved my table to a location where I liked the background.

Then I blew of bubbles... and it's not easy, let me tell you! Most of the bubbles pop as they freeze. Then if you do get a good bubble, you have to land it on the table and hope the landing process doesn't pop it. Once you successfully land a bubble, you have to act quickly, before the bubble does pop. I tried for several days and had a ton of fun doing it. I found it worked best when the air temp was in the low to mid 20's. This is my favorite bubble of all! :-D

I shot this with a Pentax *ist DS, Pentax FA Macro 50mm Lens, ISO 200, ƒ11, 1/250, RAW. I processed with Adobe RAW and cropped it down a bit."

See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Frozen .

Note About Metadata

I noticed that Google Gmail was stripping the metadata out of your images when I saved them via right-click. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until I had assembled the gallery. But I will work around it next time.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Feb. 2015 assignment is "Good Bye." (This will be our last photo assignment...) I'll talk about this in Tuesday's podcast. Details for submission can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is Feb. 28, 2015. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Feb. 2015." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting Dec. 2014 gallery at the end of Jan., the Jan. gallery will be posted at the end of Feb., and on and on.

Good luck with your February assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for December.

"Layers" - TDS Photo Assignment 104

For the Nov. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters worked on many levels. See for yourself in our gallery, Layers . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Victor-Hermand-nov2014-pa.jpg

  • 1 layer of fresh snow
  • 1 layer of long exposure
  • 1 layer of painting with light
  • 1 layer of star trail
  • Multiple layers on my back

The Jan. 2015 assignment is "Backlighting." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is Jan. 31, 2015. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Jan. 2015." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting Nov. 2014 gallery at the end of Dec., the Dec. gallery will be posted at the end of Jan., and on and on.

Good luck with your January assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for November.

"Water" - TDS Photo Assignment 103

For the Oct. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters got their feet wet. See for yourself in our gallery, Water . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month ?

Glenn-Hubbers-pa-oct2014.jpg

Photo by Glenn Hubbers. Glenn writes, "I took this shot at sunrise after being out for half the night trying my hand at astrophotography. Despite going out to capture star trails, (which was a failure that will need more practice!) I decided to hang out to see the sunrise. After all was said and done, I thought this shot was the best of the trip. I had travelled for the weekend up to Tobermory, Ontario to get away from light pollution. It was a great trip, just me and my camera kit hanging out for the weekend." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Water .

The Dec. 2014 assignment is "Frozen." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is Dec. 31, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Dec. 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting Oct. 2014 gallery at the end of Nov., the Nov. gallery will be posted at the end of Dec., and on and on.

Good luck with your December assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for October.

"Shot from Behind" - TDS Photo Assignment 102

Ramin-Hamedani-sept-2014-pa.jpg

For the September 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters opened a rear window to the world. See for yourself in our gallery, Shot from Behind . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month ?

Photo by Ramin Hamedani. Ramin writes, "On a nice summer day, I decided to sit by the lake on a dock. Using my iPhone, I took this image of myself staring into the peaceful surroundings. It was quiet except with the sound of water gently hitting the rocks beneath me. I did have my DSLR as well, but the wide angle of view on iPhone was tempting, and I did not want to change the lens on the DSLR anyway." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Shot from Behind .

The November 2014 assignment is "Layers." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is November 30, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Nov. 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting September 2014 gallery at the end of October, the October gallery will be posted at the end of November, and on and on.

Good luck with your November assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for September.

"My Favorite Close Up - TDS Photo Assignment 101

For the August 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters got up close and personal with their subjects. See for yourself in our gallery, My Favorite Close Up . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month ?

gerry-legere-aug2014-pa.jpg

Photo by Gerry Legere. Gerry writes, "This is a ship anchor chain closeup." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the My Favorite Close Up .

The October 2014 assignment is "Water." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is October 31, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Oct. 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting August 2014 gallery at the end of September, the September gallery will be posted at the end of October, and on and on.

Good luck with your October assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for August.

"Smokin' Hot" - TDS Photo Assignment 100

For the July 2014 Photo Assignment, (Our 100th!!!) TDS shooters turned up the heat to produce these smoldering shots. See for yourself in our gallery, Smokin' Hot . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month ?

rodney-campbell-pa-july14.jpg

Photo by Rodney Campbell. Rodney writes, "This final image is actually a composite of two (along with near zero photoshopping skill). One 394-second long exposure shot at f/7.1 and ISO 100 - a little lighting of the dunes with low sculpted light from the far sides (most on the right and a touch of fill from the left), and a touch of white light on the tree, some red light torch shining up into the tree from below along with a burning steel wool spin behind. Combined with a 31 second shot wide open at f/4 and ISO 6400 to capture the stars in an almost clear sky (just a few whisps of clouds left)."

"Each of the two individual shots actually look pretty good - however even the 394-second (over six minutes) long exposure shot had essentially a black sky with a few trailing stars - but together they just give you more of everything good." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Smokin' Hot .

The September 2014 assignment is "Shot from Behind." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is Sept. 30, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Sept. 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting July 2014 gallery at the end of August, the August gallery will be posted at the end of September, and on and on.

Good luck with your September assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for July.

"Any Kind of Light but Natural" - TDS Photo Assignment 99

For the June 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters turned their back on the sun and looked for alternative light sources. See for yourself in our gallery, Any Kind of Light but Natural . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

ashwin-chathuruthy-june2014.jpg

Photo by Ashwin Chathuruthy. See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Any Kind of Light but Natural gallery page .

The August 2014 assignment is "My Favorite Close-up." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is August 30, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: August 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting June 2014 gallery at the end of July, the July gallery will be posted at the end of August, and on and on.

Good luck with your August assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for June.

iPad for Digital Photographers

"Around the House" - TDS Photo Assignment 98

For the May 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters explored new territory around their homes (with camera in hand). See for yourself in our gallery, Around the House . And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

dominick_chiuchiolo-may-pa.jpg

Dominick Chiuchiolo writes, "Here is a shot from around the corner of my house. I love this horse farm. I shot this just as it started to rain and the horses were having a little 'horse play.' It's definitely around their house." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Around the House gallery page . Photo by Dominick Chiuchiolo.

The July 2014 assignment is "Smokin' Hot." Details can be found on the Member Participation page . Deadline is July 31, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: July 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting May 2014 gallery at the end of June, the June gallery will be posted at the end of July, and on and on.

Good luck with your July assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for May.

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photo story assignment

Books by Derrick Story

Resurrecting photos from decades of work in Appalachia

photo story assignment

Shelby Lee Adams is probably the most well-known and celebrated photographer who has depicted life in Appalachia.

Adams has been at it for decades. And the subject matter hits close to home for him. He was born in Hazard, Ky., in 1950. Unlike many photographers, who have rightly been criticized for parachuting in to make photographs of the people living in Kentucky’s hollers, Adams has been photographing “what he knows” for the past four decades.

Adams’s new book, “From the Heads of the Hollers” (Gost, 2023), compiles unpublished photos that he made between 1974 and 2010.

As the book’s publisher says, “His aim was to print those which may have been previously overlooked, concerned that if he did not print them in his lifetime, the photographs would never be made.”

As a young boy, Adams was inspired by work of the FSA (Farm Security Administration), which gathered a now-hallowed group of photographers together to document the United States during the great economic calamity of the Great Depression.

Much of that work, made by photographers including Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, is now iconic and part of the fabric of American life.

Indeed, the walls in the University of Missouri’s Lee Hills Hall, where I studied photojournalism in the late ’90s, were lined with their work, examples of a documentary tradition we were inspired to continue (yes, we knew it was essentially propaganda for the U.S. government, but it provided a blueprint for how to document everyday life in the United States).

Photos of Appalachia are often criticized for being predatory and showing people at their worst.

Adams’s photos are different for a number of reasons. First, he photographed from a place he knew, as the people and places in his images are from what you might call his backyard.

Adams also always endeavored to be open with the people in his photographs, allowing them to be a part of the process of his work. This gives his subjects a measure of dignity often neglected by photographers looking for a quick hit, diving in and out of the community and not really getting to know the people they make images of.

Adams hones his approach to making images in Appalachia by first starting to photograph his friends and family — grandparents, friends, neighbors, aunts and uncles, and so on. Again, he started by examining what and who he knew.

After starting this way, he’d then ask for introductions from people to others who might be interested in collaborating with him. Adams would work this way for decades. The people in his photographs are aware of what is going on. Indeed, Adams would bring photos back to them so they could see the results.

Once again, as the book’s publisher says:

“Often, when Adams got to know someone, he would photograph them on return visits, sometimes a couple of years apart, sometimes a decade. Each person is depicted as they chose and felt most comfortable — some sit whilst other[s] stand, some are outside their homes whilst others prefer to be photographed inside, revealing the details of their everyday lives. Some photographs show whole families, siblings, friends or lone figures but the portraits are united by the subject’s unflinching gaze towards Adams and his camera.”

You can find out more about the book, and buy it, here .

photo story assignment

NJ State Wrestling HQ: Video, brackets, photos & complete coverage from A.C., 2024

  • Updated: Mar. 01, 2024, 9:09 a.m. |
  • Published: Feb. 29, 2024, 6:28 a.m.

photo story assignment

  • Chris Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (+ Examples)

    3. Take your time. A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That's why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you're not passionate about it - it's difficult to push through. 4.

  2. 23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

    Here are some handy essay ideas and examples for inspiration! 1. A day in the life. Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else's life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house.

  3. How to Create a Photo Essay: Step-by-Step Guide With Examples

    How to Create a Photo Essay: Step-by-Step Guide With Examples. Photo essays tell a story in pictures, and there are many different ways to style your own photo essay. With a wide range of topics to explore, a photo essay can be thought-provoking, emotional, funny, unsettling, or all of the above, but mostly, they should be unforgettable. Photo ...

  4. Teaching the Photo Essay Free Lesson Guide

    Teaching the Photo Essay. A picture is worth 1,000 words. By We Are Teachers Staff. Sep 2, 2015. Your students, if they're anything like mine, love to communicate through images—photos on Instagram, GIFs shared in a text, photo stories on Snapchat. And yet, so much of our conversation in school revolves around words.

  5. What is a Photo Essay? 9 Photo Essay Examples You Can Recreate

    4. Event Photo Essay. Events are happening in your local area all the time, and they can make great photo essays. With a little research, you can quickly find many events that you could photograph. There may be bake sales, fundraisers, concerts, art shows, farm markets, block parties, and other non profit event ideas.

  6. Photo essay assignments

    A photo essay is a series of photographs selected to tell a story. Photo essays may contain text but generally allow the photographs, or rather the subjects depicted in the photographs, to tell the story. Photo essay assignments are usually focused on the curatorial process of selecting the best images to create an impactful sequence of images.

  7. Writing Lesson: Practice Storytelling and Writing Using Pictures

    Set a timer for 5 minutes. Complete the picture rotation until all the pictures have been written about. When each group of students has looked at each picture and written something, bring the class back together to collaborate. Tape all story pictures on a whiteboard in front of the class. Or display them on your shared computer screen.

  8. Pictures That Tell Stories: Photo Essay Examples

    Famous Photo Essays. "The Great Depression" by Dorothea Lange - Shot and arranged in the 1930s, this famous photo essay still serves as a stark reminder of The Great Depression and Dust Bowl America. Beautifully photographed, the black and white images offer a bleak insight to one of the country's most difficult times.

  9. Creating a Photographic Story of Place: Erika Larsen

    The process is broken down into six steps as illustrated by each of the following videos. 1. Developing Your Story of Place. In this video, Erika Larsen introduces us to her "place" for this assignment: a small town in Alaska near the Bering Sea where a rapid permafrost melt has revealed artifacts from an ancient village.

  10. Assignment

    Remember you need to make us care - and we don't know your family. I am open to any other suggestions for the photo story as long as it gives you an opportunity to spend time with the idea, and you stay safe. ASSIGNED: Monday, March 16, 2020 DUE: Proposal due Tuesday,  March 17 by 11:59 pm - upload to Canvas - 50 pts.

  11. Ten examples of immersive photo essays

    An immersive photo essay uses rich media and story design to capture and keep the reader's attention. Immersive content is typically free of the most distracting elements of the web, such as pop-ups, skyscrapers, and other intrusions on the reading experience. As a basic rule of thumb, immersive content respects the reader's attention.

  12. 14 Tips for Powerful Storytelling Photography

    Remember, great storytelling photography often starts with an open mind and a willingness to embrace the unknown. 9. Learn to narrow down, trim, and exclude. Uploading a hundred photos to Facebook, all of a similar setting and taken from the same few angles, is a surefire way to lose people's attention.

  13. Photo Story Examples

    The assignment is designed to give you the opportunity to: a) experience designing a photo story for or with your student(s) b) consider how you can integrate this strategy in your classroom ... Photo Story Sample #3: Nohno's Story (This photo story was made by a teacher from Chuuk who wanted to retell a story told to her by her grandmother.

  14. Photojournalism: Making Photo Essays and Stories

    Create a photo essay or story about a single location. ASSIGNMENT. Find one place - whether it's a train car on the metro or a single gallery in a large museum - and make a series of photos from that location. This assignment can take the form of either a photo essay or photo story. A photo essay communicates mood. For this format, you ...

  15. Use These 18 Images to Inspire Your Own Short Story

    You can add the image and description of your setting to your graphic organizer. 3. Choose a conflict. /7. The conflict, or problem, is the engine that will propel your narrative forward. It's ...

  16. Get Good at Storytelling Photography (Tips, Ideas & Examples)

    Another way to use colour is to give a sense of continuity by including certain colours in different images or by changing the colour of an object throughout a series. These are just a few basic examples. However, the use of colour in photography storytelling gives you many possibilities. 4. Be patient.

  17. Assignment

    Assignment - Photo Story. For this assignment you will need to find a story that you can work on over a period of several weeks. It is important that you pick an idea that fits into your schedule. If you work on Sundays then a story about a church is a bad idea. My minimum expectation is that you will make four trips to your story - two ...

  18. 10 Photo Assignments to Inspire and Challenge

    Assignment #3: Shadows. Shadows are everywhere and they are vital to photography because this is the art of capturing light. With light comes shadows and when you begin to look at shadows as a photographer, your world will open up. Take a look around for shadows and record them with your camera.

  19. Photo narratives. Defining picture stories, essays and…

    Photo-driven stories evoke a deeper understanding of scenes and details — the color of a person's car; the scene of a crime; emotions written on a person's face.

  20. Week Five

    The idea of the establishing shot is this: When you do a photo story your are taking our viewers on a journey. You need to give them a sense of where they are going, an image that allows them to understand the rest of the story in a geographic context. Close-up: A detail shot to highlight a specific element of the story. Close-up, sometimes ...

  21. Assignment 10: The Photo Essay

    Assignment 10: The Photo Essay . FINAL PROJECT. Present ten photographs in a logical sequence The objective is to synthesize skills learned throughout the semester to tell a story in a sequence of images that have a relationship to each other. This is an introduction to 'the photo essay.' Students should use a variety of distances, angles ...

  22. The Digital Story: Photo Assignment Archives

    Title your subject line: Photo Assignment [month, year]. Attach your entry making sure that it is no wider than 600 pixels. Include a sentence or two about why you took this approach, the camera you used, and any setting details that you think are important. Address your email to: [email protected] Each month the best submissions will ...

  23. Photo Story Assignment

    This video demonstrates responsibility, influence, teacher goals, and collaboration.

  24. Resurrecting photos from decades of work in Appalachia

    Photo assignment editor. March 1, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EST. Clay and Cora, Saul, 1999. (Shelby Lee Adams) Shelby Lee Adams is probably the most well-known and celebrated photographer who has depicted ...

  25. Lawyers for ex-FBI informant, charged with lying about ...

    02/22/2024 07:08 PM EST. Lawyers for Alexander Smirnov, the former FBI informant charged with feeding the bureau false corruption allegations against Joe Biden, say he's been rearrested just ...

  26. NJ State Wrestling HQ: Video, brackets, photos & complete coverage from

    NJ.com's one-stop shopping for every live stream, result, bracket, story and photo from Boardwalk Hall -- and complete results and pairings for every round