Background
Photography is a very effective medium for storytelling and visual engagement. A photo essay is very simply a collection of images that are placed in a specific order (or not) to tell the progression of events, emotions, and concepts. Photo essays are directly related to the history of photography and have been used for many years by photojournalists, videographers and filmmakers.
Phonetography
“Your best camera is the one you have with you.” — Chase Jarvis
Digital Photography is available anywhere, anytime today, as cameras are incorporated into phones, mobile devices, tablets, etc. You don’t need to carry heavy gears with you (lenses and camera bodies), a point-and-shoot camera can be as effective as expensive DLSRs. Edit your photos, or sometimes it is fun to use built-in filters.
Criteria/process
1. Choose a word-theme: this can be a simple word as “motion” or a concept such as happiness, time, travel, etc.
2. Take as many photos as you can: increase your chances to have more options for your final selection
3. Select 8-10 final images, no more than 12
Deliverables:
1. Print in a book format of your choice: either in color or B&W. Be creative and experiment with booklet size options.
2. Digitally (PDF): follow template below
Note: this project is to be done with smart-phones only. Although you are allowed to use any photo-app, feel free to take photos with simple camera app or apply minor effects.
You will be graded on:
- The contextual quality of the information you present in your photo essay: content
- The technical quality of your images: exposure, focus, composition
- The quality which you present this information: cleanness, organization
Calendar
Oct 7: project brief, discussion
Oct 9: workdays, have images ready for in progress critique (either on phone or on computer)
Oct 14: final selection of images, printing, mounting, finish digital presentation PDF
Oct 16: Final Presentation (works must be ready at the beginning of class)
Template: title page, one image per page (unless the image is composed by multiple ones)
Professional Samples
Chase Jarvis (check out “Photos” under “Best Camera” gallery)
Student Samples
by Ashlee Justice: Out of Place
by Ahsley Hall: Eyes
by Chelsea Patillo: Movement
by Bryan Couchman: The Journey
by Shawn Ogden: Shadows
by Anna Pinson
by Sara Beth Almquist: operations
by Erika Ito
by Hannah Henderson: perspective
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