groupmodule8

__Module 8__ Title slide (text): Visual Storytelling The Single Narrative Photo
 * Demonstration Through PPT**

Slide 2 (text): In this lesson, we will explore the concept of visual storytelling. Some photos—like school portraits—don’t tell much of a story. Other photos suggest a story that suggests character, action, tension, a possible plot or narrative. We’ll look at some photos to learn the elements of a storytelling photo. Slide 3 (1st photo from PPT): This photo suggests a story about the subject, a young boy playing T-ball. The story is told by the boy’s facial expression, and also by the characters in the background. Look at the expressions on their faces. The boy is intent, putting his all into hitting the ball. The man in the background seems delighted and proud—what is his relationship to the boy? Also look at the other players, patiently waiting for their turn.

Try to imagine the position of the photographer. Was the photographer standing, or kneeling to get this shot?

Answer: The photographer was most likely kneeling, as the photo captures the boy’s perspective. Slide 4 (2nd Photo): This photo captures the climatic moment in the game. What is the umpire saying? Look at the expressions on the players’ faces. Which player is happy about the umpire’s call? Can you identify the roles of the players? Slide 5 (3rd Photo): As we noticed in the first two photos, facial expressions often tell the story. Here, the photo is cropped to emphasize the wrestler’s expression. Slide 6 (4th photo): And again, the story is told by the wrestler’s expression. However, what would be the effect of a tight cropping, to show just the wrestler’s face? (click—and show a cropped photo of just the wrestler’s head). The story would be lost if the photo were cropped to just the wrestler’s head. We need to see the bodies of both wrestlers in order to understand the story. Slide 7 (5th photo): Here the photographer captured the climatic moment of a wrestling match. What is the position of the photographer? (Answer: Above the player. The photographer may have been standing on a catwalk or up in the bleachers.)

Would the shot have been as effective if it were taken standing on the side of the court? (Answer: Probably not, as you would not capture the expression and exuberance of the player’s body gesture.) Note also the shadow of the opposing player. What feeling does his body position relay? Here are two sides of the story in one photograph: victory and defeat. Slide 8 (6th photo): Look at the player’s facial expression and the action of the shot. What do you think is the story behind this frozen moment? (Possible answer: He just dunked a winning basket!)

Slide 9 (7th photo): The referees’ gestures, as well as the expression of the player sitting on the ground, suggest a conflict, and a dialog. What do you think they might be saying? (Answer: The referees’ are signaling an incomplete pass. The player sitting on the ground might be saying, “What, ref?”) Slide 10 (Summary of Lesson so far): These three elements can help the photographer tell a story with an image: 1. The position while taking the photo 2. The setting captured in the photo 3. The subject's facial expression captured, and the story it implies

Slide 10 (Summary of Lesson so far): These three elements can help the photographer tell a story with an image: 1. The position while taking the photo 2. The setting captured in the photo 3. The facial expression of the subject

You will exchange your camera for a notebook, wander about, and return with detailed descriptions of the half-dozen or so images you would have shot if you'd only had your camera with you. And when I say "detailed," I mean that I not only want you to record details of the scene in front of you, I want to know why you think the scene is worth the expenditure of a single frame of film, or even of a single pixel. I want to know **why** you think this particular scene, object, or person makes a storytelling photo, and **why** it is a photograph worth making? Explain how it tells the story; talk about the facial expressions captured, the story in the setting of the photo, and the position of the photographer.
 * Notebook Assignment**

If nothing else, you should come away from this exercise having learned that you should never leave the house without some sort of camera over your shoulder, or in your pocket.

Each week you will observe the world around you, looking for stories that can be captured in a single still image. And each week you will bring to class a single image that tells a story, a story obvious to anyone seeing the image. There will be specific focus — forgive me — to some of the assignments. Week 1: Pay specific attention to your (the photographer's) position while taking a photo. Week 2: Pay specific attention to the setting in the photo and what story it tells. Week 3: Bring in a photo that captures a candid facial expression that suggests a story. include component="comments" page="groupmodule8" limit="10"
 * Photo a Week**