Assignment 5: Designing a Photographic Essay

A photographic essay is a set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or evoke a series of emotions in the viewer. It allows the photographer to tell more than what is possible with a single image. Essays can range from purely photographic (no text) to photographs with captions, small texts or full text essays accompanying them. Photo essays are typically either thematic (addressing a specific topic or issue) or narrative (tells a story, usually in chronological sequence). 

The assignment:

Create a series of photographs that work together to conceptualize a theme or story idea. You should have at least 5 photos in your series.  

Write an introduction paragraph to begin the photo essay, and a caption for each photograph in the series. Include a description of what you are trying to communicate about the subject and why you found this subject matter interesting.

Choose one of the concepts listed below, or create your own, and discover your own essay through the lens of your camera.

Photo Essay #1: Document a Local Event. 

Photo Essay #2: Exhibition. 

Photo Essay #3: Transformation (Short-term). 

Photo Essay #5: A Day in the Life. 

Photo Essay #6: Raise Awareness. 

Photo Essay #7: Turn a Day Out into Reportage. 

Photo Essay #8: Give Meaning to Street Photography. 

Photo Essay #9: Neighbors. 

Photo Essay #10: Education. 

Concept and text by Jeremiah Gilbert and Rebecca Cauchon

http://improvephotography.com/30816/10-ideas-creative-photo-essays/

Due date:  Concept posted with explanation of your visuals - November 18

                  Final images posted - November 22

Assignment # 5: What to do when it rains...

Tutorials:

Learn how to use Spot Removal Tools in Lightroom:
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/lightroom-healing-brush-visualization.html?set=lightroom--fundamentals--retouch-photo

How to Color Correct Photos in Lightroom:
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/color-balance-photos.html?set=lightroom--get-started--essential-beginners

How to Correct Parts of a Photo in Lightroom (using Adjustments Brush)
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/dodge-burn-adjustment-brush.html

How to use Radial Filter
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/introducing-radial-filter.html?set=lightroom--key-techniques--advanced-photo-editing

How to use Tone Curve to adjust Color
https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/how-to/lightroom-adjust-tone-curve.html?set=lightroom--key-techniques--advanced-photo-editing

More Info on Enhancing Isolated Parts of an Image (using Radial and Gradient tools)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fUvfUfdfGU#t=36

More Tips on using Adjustment Brush
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lplFkS1RJCA#t=183

Assignment 4: What is a "Walkabout", and what would it look like?

A Photographic Walkabout is to free your mind from itself, to appreciate the world around you, to see through your lens what you might have been missing or maybe see 

for the first time.

You will be using this class to go on a Photographic Walkabout with your partner.  

Decide what direction you want to go then begin capturing.  Stay together, no matter what.  After a minimum of 45 minutes, come back to the class, upload your images, 

and select, between the two of you, those you think are the 

most creative from the same location. 

You may use Lightroom or Photoshop to enhance.

As you head out, imagine the elements around you from their perspective.  Your surroundings look much different from waist high, the ground up, something other than eye level, and you may be missing some incredible photographic opportunities if you spend the majority of your time looking at your subjects from eye-level.  

Change your perspective – what’s in front of you?  Behind you?  Beside you?

Due:  End of class, Tuesday, February 9