Learning through doing

One of the reasons I have been taking photos at various rallies and demos over the last few weeks was that in wanted to try my hand at a photo essay. Inspired by the work of the Magnum agency and hoping to get my stuff published in JPG magazine I have been collecting images of the parliamentary election campaign here in Greece. In the next week or so I hope to be finished with the picture taking and start work on the text.

I've found this essay by Wendy Folse especially helpful.

As with so many things I try my ultimate aim is to be able to use the skills I pick up in order to use these ideas effectively in my English lessons.

BBC photo essay competition

For anyone interested, the BBC has invited people to send in their own photo essays (click here to see the site). I'm going to write up one in the next few days

"Have you been to an unusual event? Do you want to shed light on a subject or place that you are interested in, or would you just like to show off your best pictures?

If so then we want you to send us between eight and 10 photographs with captions for presentation as a gallery on the In Pictures page."

You can send it as an email here - yourpics@bbc.co.uk

Also it gives some good advice on how to approach this. I think I'm going to be using this as the basis of a few lessons/class project in the following school year;

Guide to shooting a Photo Essay

Photos:

Ideally, you should aim to take a variety of photographs - it's a good idea to plan the story before you start. A good first photo would be one that introduces the subject to the readers.

YOUR PORTFOLIO Kamyar Adl's photo gallery on life in Tehran

Make sure you take some close-up photos as well as some wider pictures to show the subject's environment, but remember to include something in the foreground to add impact.

When you take the picture, remember to look up or down to see what is around you. You might get a better shot if you kneel, or find a position to look down from.

The completed photo essay will have no more than 10 photographs, but you can send us more to choose from.

Make sure you have permission from anyone pictured before submitting the photographs.

Words:

Each picture will need a caption.

Who, what, why, where and when is a good place to start when gathering information for the caption, but where possible quotes from those pictured and a description of how you are feeling will help bring the essay to life.

We don't need many words - no more than 40 per picture.

Photo essays

I've just completed my first photo essay which I posted on the JPGMagazine site. If it gets enough votes they'll put it in the next edition. To tell you the truth, I'm not holding my breath on that one. Still, it would be nice. Whatever happens it was a great way to practice the idea I'm going to be using with my students in the future.

Check out the story here.

If you like it don't forget to vote.

An EFL Photo Essay

I came across this site on how to create a photo essay. Although it is not aimed at ESL/EFL learners but I think that it could be used as a student project. As most of my students have mobile phones with digital cameras, access to such technology is becoming more and more widespread.

Photo Essays Step by Step

Wendy Folse

Oct 26, 2001

Photo Essays: Step by step

• Pick a subject that interests you.
• Decide on a theme or a viewpoint.
• Make a list of shots that would reinforce and illustrate the theme.
• Make a list of possible locations to shoot at and times.
• Visit the site for several days and at different times.
• Get to know your subjects.
• Sort the pictures by relevance.
• Construct photo essay into a flowing story.

  Shooting a Photo Essay:

  A photo essay is nothing more than a group of photos tied together by a common theme. The photos illustrate a point of view carried through the text.

  In my last article I touched on the merits of Dorothea Lange's career. Lange frequently shot photo essays of migrant farm workers. This would be a subject. The theme may be the conditions in which they lived, the bonds they formed, the way they see themselves, the way the outside world views them, etc.

  The theme acknowledges the photographers intended viewpoint just as in a written essay. The photos would reinforce the thesis. Shooting photo essays is not difficult and offers great practice for the photographer. It forces the photographer to think out the photo shoot in advance and to plan the shots accordingly.

  Some excellent subjects to begin with might be neighborhoods, playgrounds, playtime, racetracks, backyard wildlife. Deciding on the theme takes a little more thought.

  Let's work with one subject for example. Let's say that we choose the subject of playgrounds. What about playgrounds?

  • "Places of carefree abandonment"
  • "Accidents waiting to happen"
  • "Backyard Traps"
  • "Gathering Places"
  • "Kingdoms and Castles"

  Or let's consider another subject. Say barndoors for example. What is so interesting about barndoors?

  • "Windows to Rural America"
  • "Modern Drawbridges"
  • "Defending the Castle"
  • "Rural Zoos"

  Or maybe stain-glass windows, or old churches, or butter churns, or road signs? Whatever subjects you are interested in can be fair game for a photo essay. Just remember that it isn't the subject that makes the essay, it is the theme. All the photos must have a common theme and must tell the story from a viewpoint.

  How about city life as a subject. "Urbania" for example.

  • "Cul de sacs"
  • "Manicured Lawns"
  • "Soccer Moms"
  • "Urban Jungles"
  • "Home of the SUV"

  As you can see by the above examples, each subject can be portrayed in a vastly different way depending on your viewpoint. That is what makes a photo essay. It is a collection of photos that have a common theme. Below is a simple outline for working on a photo essay.

  Remember to carry model release forms with you and ask permission before shooting. Some people are flattered to be asked and others may treat you like a criminal. Respect their wishes and get Hanging around a playground with a camera and photographing people's children may cause a great deal of suspicions and raise a few eyebrows. Choose locations in your own neighborhood. Talk to the parents and explain your project. Most of the time you will get their enthusiastic cooperation.a signed permission form whenever possible, especially if working with children.

The projects can be posted on the student's individual or class blog. Alternatively, you could make a slide show or a Photo Story video.