Photojournalist Narrative Project
Photography provides a unique avenue for telling a story. In some ways, photography is able to say more than words in that it allows the viewer to fully visualize a situation. Certainly words do have an important role to play in telling a story, but in this project students will be experimenting with just using pictures to tell a story. Whether the situation is fact or fiction photography can be used to sequentially tell a story.
Dorothea Lange Video
Dorothea Lange Video
Project Guiding Question
How might digital photography be used to tell a narrative both sequentially and through a single image?
Project Description:
Students will be creating a sequential narrative using pictures. The student will create a story that is fiction or non-fiction as they complete the planning stage of the project.
1. Sequential Narrative Pictures – The sequential narrative pictures of this project will meet the following requirements: The student will create a narrative they would like to tell through pictures. This can be fictional or factual to real life. It can include people or objects that tell the story. New pictures will be taken on the day homework is assigned. For the homework assignment at least 30 pictures must be taken to provide options for the student to use during the editing process. You may be taking more pictures as needed based on peer and teacher suggestions. At a minimum, 10 final pictures will be used within the final sequential narrative of the project.
2. PowerPoint Sequential Narrative – The PowerPoint sequential narrative should meet the following requirements: Using at least 10 different pictures, the student will tell a sequential narrative. Each picture will be present on their own slide and edited in such a manner so as to keep the pictures consistent in how they feel. The picture size should be 5 Inches by 5 Inches at a 300 resolution. Powerpoint will be presented to the class as part of an in-class critique.
3. Single Narrative Pictures – Students will use the knowledge they gained through creating a sequential narrative to instead tell a narrative through a single image. Students will first create a narrative they want to portray through an image. They will then arrange the scene for the picture and take at minimum 30 pictures from different angles and compositional arrangements so as to provide options during the editing process. New pictures will be taken on the day homework is assigned. Additional pictures may be necessary based on personal, peer, and teacher feedback during the working phase of this project.
4. Single Narrative Printing – Students will select one picture that will be printed as the final submission for this project. The picture will be thoughtfully edited to add narrative qualities to the artwork. After personal, peer, and teacher feedback, the student will size the picture for printing and then write an artist statement concerning their picture. 7.5 Inches by 10 Inches, 300 resolution, and created in Photoshop. Accommodations can be made on the size of the image to avoid cropping out needed details within the picture as appropriate.
Six additional pictures that were taken for this project will be compiled into a single page and printed. These pictures should represent the additional homework pictures that were taken from which the final picture was chosen.
How might digital photography be used to tell a narrative both sequentially and through a single image?
Project Description:
Students will be creating a sequential narrative using pictures. The student will create a story that is fiction or non-fiction as they complete the planning stage of the project.
1. Sequential Narrative Pictures – The sequential narrative pictures of this project will meet the following requirements: The student will create a narrative they would like to tell through pictures. This can be fictional or factual to real life. It can include people or objects that tell the story. New pictures will be taken on the day homework is assigned. For the homework assignment at least 30 pictures must be taken to provide options for the student to use during the editing process. You may be taking more pictures as needed based on peer and teacher suggestions. At a minimum, 10 final pictures will be used within the final sequential narrative of the project.
2. PowerPoint Sequential Narrative – The PowerPoint sequential narrative should meet the following requirements: Using at least 10 different pictures, the student will tell a sequential narrative. Each picture will be present on their own slide and edited in such a manner so as to keep the pictures consistent in how they feel. The picture size should be 5 Inches by 5 Inches at a 300 resolution. Powerpoint will be presented to the class as part of an in-class critique.
3. Single Narrative Pictures – Students will use the knowledge they gained through creating a sequential narrative to instead tell a narrative through a single image. Students will first create a narrative they want to portray through an image. They will then arrange the scene for the picture and take at minimum 30 pictures from different angles and compositional arrangements so as to provide options during the editing process. New pictures will be taken on the day homework is assigned. Additional pictures may be necessary based on personal, peer, and teacher feedback during the working phase of this project.
4. Single Narrative Printing – Students will select one picture that will be printed as the final submission for this project. The picture will be thoughtfully edited to add narrative qualities to the artwork. After personal, peer, and teacher feedback, the student will size the picture for printing and then write an artist statement concerning their picture. 7.5 Inches by 10 Inches, 300 resolution, and created in Photoshop. Accommodations can be made on the size of the image to avoid cropping out needed details within the picture as appropriate.
Six additional pictures that were taken for this project will be compiled into a single page and printed. These pictures should represent the additional homework pictures that were taken from which the final picture was chosen.
Vocabulary
Photojournalism - Definition
Narrative - Definition
Sequential - Definition
Depth of Field - Definition
Zoning - Definition
Narrative - Definition
Sequential - Definition
Depth of Field - Definition
Zoning - Definition
Sequential Narrative
The first stage of this project is to create create a story that can be portrayed through pictures. This stage is called the sequential narrative because the pictures will be combined into a slideshow that progressively tell a story from start to finish. Below are a few examples of this kind of sequential narrative.
Coffee Shop (2008)
This work has a humorous personality as the main focus of the sequential narrative. |
The Process of Mourning (2005)
In this work, the artist was portraying the stages of mourning that someone might go through after losing someone close to them. Even as one goes throughout their daily routine, the pain of loss may affect them. In the end, the artist suggests through focusing solely on processing the loss, grief can be overcome while still remembering and honoring those that we lose. |
Sequential Narrative Presentation
Students will be presenting their sequential narratives to the class. Their final images will be compiled into a PowerPoint presentation including a title slide with the name of their artwork and the name of the artist (themselves). Students will then show their presentation to the class providing enough time for everyone to view their pictures, 5 - 7 seconds per slide. After completing the presentation, students will discuss the following questions about their work:
1 - What are the key parts of the narrative within the artwork? (Plot, Conflict, Climax, Resolution)
2 - In what way does the sequence (order) of the pictures support the narrative?
3 - How successful do you think your pictures are at telling a narrative?
1 - What are the key parts of the narrative within the artwork? (Plot, Conflict, Climax, Resolution)
2 - In what way does the sequence (order) of the pictures support the narrative?
3 - How successful do you think your pictures are at telling a narrative?
David Griffin - National Geographic Photojournalist TED Talk
TED Talk
Reflection Assignment
Download the document below and answer the questions regarding the David Griffin TED Talk.
Reflection Assignment
Download the document below and answer the questions regarding the David Griffin TED Talk.
david_griffin_reflection.docx | |
File Size: | 108 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Once you have completed the questions, print the document and turn it in. Remember to put your name, todays date, and period at the top of your page.
Single Image Narrative
After creating a narrative through a series of photographs, students will be experimenting with creating a story through a single image. Several examples of fictional single picture narratives can be seen below.
Photojournalism is prominent in every news organization around the world. Narrative can also relate to factual events that occur in real life.
Some great examples can be seen through the following link or pictured below.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/
Some great examples can be seen through the following link or pictured below.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/