What is a Photo Essay?
- A photo essay is a collection of images and photographs that are set to tell a certain narrative.
- A photo essay involves putting the photos in a certain order that would tell a certain story.
- They can express progression of the events, express emotions and show ideas.
- Your pictures or images are usually accompanied by some text for further explanation.
- Photo narratives usually tell an interesting story that can catch your readers’ attention and motivate them to examine your essay thoroughly.
- You can choose a place and follow a certain timeline to show the progress or decline.
- You can also travel to a certain place and choose
to explore the customs and traditions related to a certain practice.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1. 8-10 Pictures: Compile/ find a collection of 8-10 pictures that articulates your own personal sense of “place” and “space” in Canada. For the purpose of this assignment, pictures of the landscape work quite well. The pictures must be of places in Canada.
*Photo Essay Marking Scheme*Photo Essay- Marking Scheme
Where do you find the pictures?
a. Grab a camera and take some pictures. Try to see familiar places in a new way.
b. Go through family photo albums.
c. Find pictures on the internet
Step 2. The “Essay”
For each picture, provide a short (3 – 4 sentences) commentary that explains the significance of the photo. Do not describe the picture. Instead, describe why the photo is important. Think of this assignment as an essay supported by the pictures. Try to create a smooth narrative that ties all of the pictures together.
What will I be looking for?
a. The short comments that make up the text of this ‘essay’ should flow together smoothly.
b. There should be some kind of organizational pattern to both the photos and your comments.
c. Your comments should be carefully crafted and ‘poetic’.
d. Your comments should be carefully edited and proofread. Because your comments will be quite short, any spelling and sentence errors will be very obvious.
In Saskatchewan, the seemingly endless horizon is littered with the remains of long forgotten farms.
In these skeletal remains can be seen both the hopes and dreams of the pioneers who built them and the harsh realities of an unforgiving climat
Step 3. Layout
Your photo essay should be arranged so that the picture and the corresponding comment can be seen at the same time.
Some suggestions:
a. Borrow some empty pages from a photo album. Place the picture on the page, create your comment on a piece of paper, and slip the piece of paper into the album beside the picture.
b. Create the photo essay in Microsoft Word.
c. Create a PowerPoint presentation.
d. Use a blank piece of paper, attach the picture to the page, and then write the comment underneath.
* Please do not send/ use photos that you are scared of losing or only have one copy*
Once you have completed the assignment, please email it to your teacher with your name clearly marked on your photo essay to get credit for your ideas and learning.