A
PHOTOGRAPHIC
ESSAY


An
Introduction
to
Documentary
Photography
&
Photojournalism


What
is
a
photographic
essay?

A photo essay is a set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story, raise awareness, and stir an emotional
response about a certain topic or subject. Photo essays range from purely photographic works, to photographs with captions
or small notes, to full text essays with a few or many accompanying photographs. They can be sequential, (viewed in a
particular order), or they may consist of non-ordered photographs that can be viewed all at once or in an order chosen by the
viewer. Essentially, All photo essays are collections of photographs, but not all collections of photographs are photo
essays. Photo essays almost always address a certain issue, or attempt to capture the character of people, places and events.
Photojournalists such as Lauren Greenfield, Bruce Davidson, Jan Sochor, Peter Menzel, James Nachtwey, and
Joachim Ladefoged, all use photo essays of visual images to tell a story about a group of people, a place, or a world event
that’s taking place. Works like theirs not only inform us, but also shape our judgments about what we see in the world.

Step
1.
Look
at
some
work! (2
pages
in
sketchbook,
40
points)
DUE:
_______________
To start, visit the photojournalist websites on the class blog. Each of these will show you what a professional photo essay
looks like. As you look at them, think about how these photographers capture the mood, nature, and “truth” about what
they’re taking pictures of. Then:

1) Print out and glue, or sketch three images from one of the photo essays you enjoy the most. Include the title of the
essay, along with a brief explanation of what story the photo essay is trying to tell.
2) Do a quick analysis. Identify a formal aspect, (composition, point-of-view, color, etc.) that this photographer uses to
add visual impact to their photo essay. How do these formal decisions help illustrate the mood of the story or make an
impact?
3) In one short paragraph, identify and explain what this photographer is trying to express or illustrate about
this subject/topic by documenting it.

Next, look at the slideshow of artists and photographers who use the “documentary” approach in their work.

1) Select two works that you feel are especially interesting. Print out and glue, or sketch these works in your sketchbook.
Include artist names and titles.
2) Do a quick analysis of each. Identify a formal aspect, (composition, point-of-view, color, etc.) that this photographer
uses to add visual impact to their work. How does the presentation of the work help make the subject more interesting
to look at?
3) Choose one work, and using one short paragraph, identify and explain what this photographer is trying to
express or illustrate about this subject/topic by documenting it.



Step
2.
Choose
a
Photo
Essay
Topic
&
Write
a
Proposal (Sketchbook
25
points)

DUE:________________
Directions: Brainstorm three potential ideas for a photo essay. Use the thought web on the back to expand your ideas. Then,
respond to the following questions for one of these ideas using complete sentences.

• Why is this topic important or interesting to you?

• What do you personally hope to reveal or explore about this topic by making your photo essay?
• How will you collect information about this subject beyond just photographing it? (Consider interviews,
movie footage, research)
• What do you hope people will learn or realize about this topic after looking at your work?
• How will you begin? What will you have to organize, plan ahead, or schedule to pull this off?
 What is unusual or
special about the
location or people
who inhabit this
place? What are the normal
uses for this object or
What kind
thing? How can these
significance does
be made to appear What traces or
this place have for How does this extraordinary? marks do people
you? place change over leave behind after
time, (days, hours, using this object?
minutes?)

What might a an What historical or

happen to this Identify as many personal values do
place different types of object
place in the these objects
future? these objects as or thing have?
possible:
Is this a
personal/private Where are these objects
place or a usually found? How do
public space? they move and change?

documentary
photography

What is the
significance of the
event?

Where do they live?

How is this place
revealing of them? a person When and where
or group does this event
What physical an
evidence is left usually happen?
behind after this
event
event takes place?

What is interesting about

them? What are you
What makes this
trying to study about What objects and/or event unusual,
them? props are found or
What are the unique, or
used during this extraordinary?
stereotypes or
event?
generalizations
about these people?
Ordinary/everyday
or rare and unusual?