#VISLI15 Project 1 - Individual Photo essay
the learning
project asia
What is a photo essay?
A photo essay is a story told through images often accompanied
by text captions. Photo essays are published in books, magazine,
newspapers, online, and sometimes in a book format.
What do we need to do?
VISLI Project 1 - Individual Photo Essay
To create a narrative documentary photo essay about a day or a
week in the life of one of your classmates to share with the other
participants in this project
From ʻMy Friendʼ by Khương Quỳnh Nga Xuan
Dinh HS
What is a narrative or story based photo essay?
The narrative photo essay tells a story through a sequence of
events or actions. They may follow an individual or activity over a
period of time and present this story in chronological order. An
example of this is Eugene Smithʼs famous ʻCountry Doctorʼ photo
essay for Life Magazine. (See photograph right).
What is documentary or reportage photography and film-making?
This is the recording and telling of real life stories using images. If you are making a film you might add moving images,
voices and other sounds (You will do this in tasks 3 and 4). All of the projects you create as part of #VISLI15 are
different types of documentary projects - through a process of research, observation, interviews, planning and creation
you will try to tell the stories of real individuals, groups, communities, places or trends.
How should I start?
You need to get to know your subject. Spend time
with them, be careful not to rush to start taking
pictures or making decisions. It takes time to get to
know how to tell someoneʼs story. You need to get
comfortable with each other.
Who decides on the story - the subject or the
photographer?
This will depend on you and the subject. We want
the subject to feel comfortable with the final set of
pictures but also the idea is for the story to be fair,
honest and true.
Page 1
From Eugene Smithʼs famous ʻCountry
Doctorʼ photo essay for Life Magazine
What makes a good photo essay?
The next page will help you with this but if your
pictures and captions capture something about the
personality and uniqueness of a person you will
have done well.
Checklists for your photo essays
What does a basic/ good photo essay need? As with all creative formats, there are different opinions about what makes a good photo
essay but this table will help you think about most of the important elements involved.
Photography quote: Photography & creativity & story
Things to
think about
The story
A basic photo essay
A good photo essay
Tell a real-life story using images and text.
Is told using 6 to12 images
Will have an engaging and thought provoking story
Provides information about the subject objectively
Makes sense, even without the captions
Has a clear subject
Your
photographs
You should have a variety of of the types of shot; Overall/
establishing shot, Details, Portraits, Portraits in Context, Interaction
(see below for explanations of shots)
Your images:
Will be well researched with the photos and captions show a
deep understanding of the subject
Will engage emotionally with the audience
Has a wide variety of shots including a clincher
Are well composed with background and foreground elements
thought about
Has images that show an understanding of composition rules
like the rule of thirds (although photography has no real rules!)
Have the the subject in focus
Have a subject that is clear in each picture e.g. we can see faces
All communicate information and have a purpose in your story
Are arranged in a sequence that supports the telling of the
story
Information and emotion: Your photos should include both
informational and emotional photos. Those essays that
effectively evoke emotion while providing information tend to
convey their messages the best.
Your
captions
Includes information that helps the reader understand and follow
the story
Page !2
As well as providing information may include comments and
quotes that help the viewer think about the theme of the essay
the learning
project asia
Image 3
Box 1 - Types of shot for photo essays
(These are just a rough guide to help you
get some variety into your project)
Overall/ establishing shot (shows the
context)
Details (a specific element in close-up)
Portraits (Often gets in tight and focus on
expression or can show a person in
context)
Interaction (Shows relationships)
Image 4
The clincher (Shows the message or
meaning of your story)
Interaction shot from ʻThe Breakʼ by Khánh Trần
Nam Xuan Dinh HS
Portrait in context from ʻThe Breakʼ by Khánh Trần
Nam Xuan Dinh HS
Image 3
the learning
project asia
Overall/ establishing shots (shows the context)
From ʻMy Friendʼ by Khương Quỳnh Nga Xuan Dinh
Page !3
Detail shot from ʻZone 9ʼ by Eric
Nguyen from NBK HS