• To develop a photo story (photo essay) in more
  than one image.
  
  
• NUMBER OF PHOTOS = 3 to 7 IMAGES
  
  
• Can you tell a story in one image? Yes.
  
  
• Can you tell a richer story in more than one image? Yes, and for this assignment you will. [this takes nothing away from the power of one image to deliver message] Some stories will require more images to tell a memorable story.
  
  
• To continue working with Equivalent Exposures calculations.
  
  

• 100 ISO speed color negative film (or faster)
  
  
• Development of film onto a photo CD
  
  
• Use of a Tripod or other firm support device if you are photographing at slow shutters (1/15 or slower) and you want sharp images.
  
  
• Upload your low res jpegs through the assignment uploading tool.
  
  
• Check 'Procedure' below for the naming convention to use for your files.

Procedure

• CLICK ON & VIEW "THE BALKANS". This story link exhibits the work of Dr. Fritz Wentzel whose photo story on the Balkans was shot between 1906-1910. It is lovingly presented by his son, a gentleman who is probably in his 70's or 80's now. His words and his father's images deliver a timeless message.
  
  [note: story telling is universal and can deliver powerful messages in the present and to future generations.]
  
  
• Work on concept: what is my story? Try drawing some thumbnail sketches that will serve as an outline for your photo story.
  
  
• Lighting conditions are 'open'.
  
  
• Determine proper f/stop and shutter speed settings for the actual light conditions as you interpret them. Confirm your assessment by double checking your camera's metering system.
  
  
• Use the Alternate Lighting Conditions list to help you determine normal exposure, and then let your meter confirm the assumptions you've made.
  
  
• SIMPLE STORIES will ultimtely be the most SUCCESSFUL. It does not have to be a GRAND story. The small details of life can be equally effective, dramatic and memorable.
  
  
• Additional Tips:
  
  Remember LESS IS OFTEN MORE in image making.
  
  Leave something to the IMAGINATION. In other words, try to avoid telling everything there is to know about your subject, let people come to their own conclusions (I call it avoiding the Sledge Hammer Approach of image making).
  
  Remember to create equivalent exposure combinations everytime you adjust f/stop or shutter speed (readjust aperture). Also keep in mind that shutter speeds slower than 1/30 sec. will probably need a tripod or firm support, unless you intentionally want to introduce blur.
  
  
  
• Process Film to a photo CD (if you don't ask for prints you can get 1-hour turnaround at CostCo)
  
  
• Upload 3-7 images through the Assignment tool in WebCT
  
  
• The naming convention for this assignment will be as follows: John Smith (student)
  
  smithPS_1.jpg
  smithPS_2.jpg
  smithPS_3.jpg
  
  and so on.
  

Tips

• Avoid literal, predictable story-telling; we don't want to anticipate what your next photo is, and
  be right; surprise us!
  
  
  
  
• The story does not have to END in your last frame; embrace the viewers imagination and let them develop your story further from the information you've supplied.
  
  
  
  
• If you were forced to
  take one photo out of your series, which
  would it be? Did you really need it in the first place?
  
  
  
  
• Find a 'story' that really means something to you; if you don't care about it, how do you think your apathy will translate to us? If you said 'boring', you're right.
  
  
  
  
• Try to distinguish between devloping a 'story' with interest from a visual translation of 'sequential events'; one captivates mind and provokes new thought while the other merely informs.

Technical Applications

• Equivalent Exposures

• Consider Slower Shutter Speeds for their Emotional Response