Photo Essay
Order Description
follow the instruction on the assignment sheet. The assignment instruction will be upload as image file. Please quote all sources and references as needed. Feel free to pick a topic/theme to write about. For example, hip hop and graffiti / hip hop and gender / hip hop and family etc.
By including a variety of types of photos in your essay, you will make it both
interesting and informative. The following types of photos, presented together, can
create a successful photo essay. Not only is it important to choose powerful photos,
but also to present them in an order that is effective. While the order of some photos
(the lead, the scene, and the clincher) are set, the order of the rest in your essay are
up to you. Your photo essay should have no less than 8 photos and no more than
12. You are welcome to take your own pictures if desired. The types of photos
required for your essay are below:
1. The Lead Photo: Similar to the first two sentences of a newspaper article, your
lead photo should immediately draw in your audience. This is usually the most
difficult photo to choose. It could be an emotional portrait or an action shot, but
ultimately it should provoke the curiosity of the viewer. You only need one of
these and it must be the first photo in your essay.
2. The Scene: Your second photo should set the stage and describe the scene of
your story. An overarching photo taken with a wide-angle lens is often effective.
You may not use a close-up for this photo. Panoramic or wide-angle only. The
goal is as much scenery as possible.
3. The Portraits: Your photo essay should include at least one portrait. These can
go anywhere in your essay except for the second slot. Capturing an emotional
expression or telling action shot can give your story a “face.” These photos often
create strong emotions and empathy in the viewer (whether it is a positive and
enthusiastic emotion, or a sympathetic and concerned emotion.)
4. The Detail Photos: Detail photos focus in on one element, be it a building, a
face, or a relevant object. These photos are your best opportunity to capture
specific objects. The captions of these photos should be informative and
educational. You need at least two detail photos and they can go anywhere other
than the second or last slot.
5. Action Photos: These types of photos are all about being at the right place at
the right time. It should show someone or something doing something. These are
great shots to use when trying to show how people live or engage in certain
activities. You need at least one of these and it can go anywhere but the second
slot.
6. The Close-up Photos: Similarly, close-up photos provide an opportunity to focus
in on specific objects. These photos are tightly cropped, simple shots that
present a specific element of your story. Again, this is an excellent opportunity to
present information in the caption. . You need at least one close-up photo and it
can go anywhere other than the second or last slot.
7. The Clincher Photo: The final photo, the clincher, should evoke the emotion you
want the viewer to walk away with, be it a feeling of hope, inspiration, or sadness.
Decide on this mood before you select this photo.
Creating a photo essay is a combination of art and critical writing – it also a great way to
create your own media message. As with a written essay, the elements of a photo essay
should be structured in a way that easily tell a story to the viewer. Each individual photo
contributes to the overall story, theme, and emotions of the essay. The photos you
choose must not only be visually appealing, but also informative and educational.
Finding or creating photos that have both qualities can be very challenging, but the result
can be very powerful.
Your photo essay must contain 750-1,000 words with a maximum of 7 photos, each
photo should not be bigger than half of the page. Your essay must be under 10 pages.
Your essay will be a thematic photo essay that centers on the theme from the list below
that you select. All of your photos must be relevant to your theme.
THEMES (HIP HOP AND…)
Education Discrimination
Performance Fitting ln
Graffiti Age
Power Protests
Gender War
Dance Family
Literature Helping Out
The following elements need to be considered during the creation of your photo essay:
1. The story: Your essay should be able to stand alone, without a written article,
and make logical sense to the viewer.
2. A range of photos: A variety of photos (wide angle, close-up, portraits, etc.)
should be included. See the types of photos section later in the document to see
how many of each you need to include.
3. The order of the photos: It is important that the order of your photos tell a story in
an interesting and logical sequence.
4. Information and emotion: Your photos should include both information and
emotional photos. Those essays that effectively evoke emotion while providing
information tend to demonstrate their message the best.
5. Captions: In a photo essay, captions need to be used to describe what is
happening in words so that the viewer can understand. Include information
content in these captions if necessary. Each caption should be between two to
three sentences – no more.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET AN AMAZING DISCOUNT 🙂
