3 Camera Stories Overview

Camera Stories Overview

Single Frame Consolidation and Overview

Students have now established a basic working vocabulary to use with their photo stories and experimented with the ideas of how to tell a story visually with a single photo and with words in a companion written story. They have discussed and had the opportunity to explore the idea of expressing point-of-view through the camera lens and on paper, and have practiced the literacy skills inherent in oral and written communication. A significant focus of these introductory lessons is a collaborative teacher and peer editing process aimed at paying attention to coherence and clarity in expression. This devilish pair of ‘C’s is a constant test for even practiced writers.

Perhaps most importantly, they should also have had ample opportunity to practice and have fun with the camera as they explore its technical and documentary possibilities. Often the best learning happens when we are curious, excited and self-directed.

You too will have had opportunity to assess and evaluate the progress of your students to see where skills need more development and if more time needs to be spent working on single frame storytelling before moving on to multiple photo narratives.

Photo Series

Now comes elaboration - telling the story through a series of photographs that expands on the ideas of narrative. Here we move into a more comprehensive idea of plot: recognizing and addressing the idea that plot is not just a series of unrelated incidents but rather a series of significant events and particular people which are dependant on each other in a certain time and place. The people or characters define these events through what they do, say, think or feel. There is consequence to action and therefore relationships or connections to be made.

Students should now be ready to add to their understanding of simple plot by looking at traditional plot structure. A simplified pyramid version establishes the parts of plot as introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and conclusion/ resolution.

This will become their new vocabulary and the focus of the next series of photo stories will be to consciously structure the segments of their narratives in these sections. Because traditional plot structure falls into 5 neat areas, the next group of photo stories will be shot in a series of 5, with one shot assigned to each of the 5 parts.

For older students, this format also nicely dovetails their early essay writing lessons within the language arts curriculum. Most teachers will follow the 5-paragraph pattern of introduction, 3 support body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph regardless of whether the intent of the essay is to describe, persuade, compare, explain or in this case to narrate.

As a segue into this expanded story telling, students will begin with an exercise that requires them to study comic strips as simplified stories.