Transferring essay skills to photography

This week, I have been guiding students through the process of creating photo essays. I look for ways to teach analysis and intention without assigning a typical essay; not only does it break the 5 paragraph doldrums a little, it helps students see that these skills translate from one assignment to another. 

Well, that's what I hope they are taking away, at least! 

We kept the photography skills simple: Rule of Thirds, perspective. (See my module page for the resources we used.) After showing students some sample photos and analyzing them with these two rules, I sent the students out to try their hands at intentional photography.

I think they were surprised to find that, if they returned with a photo that didn't meet these skills adequately, I sent them back out to try again. Ha! See? Even the revision process translates!

Here is a sampling of the photos students in my module took - and I have to say, I'm pleased with the results! Not only do the photos align with the basic photography principles we reviewed, the student photographers were able to explain their reasoning behind the photo they took.

​(click on each photo to see the entire image)

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Next step: themed photo essays! Each student was tasked with creating three photo essays, each of which consists of five photos on a chosen theme. In addition, one photo essay contains color photos, one contains black and white photos, and the third contains edited photos.

Here is a sampling of photo essays uploaded so far:

• Flower photos by Cassidy
• Man vs. nature by Jennifer
• South Main architecture by Lexi