Storytelling through Photos

Presentation to Russell Grantees

April 13, 2010
1
About Resource
Media
Communications Strategy
Media Outreach Campaigns
Environmental Policy Focus
San Francisco Seattle Boulder Kalispell Sacramento

30 Staff

9 Offices
Bozeman Portland Salt Lake City Anchorage
 Overview:

2 Storytelling Basics
Strategic Communications
Taking Better Photos
Sharing
Why do we tell stories?

“Once upon a time…”

“There was once a…”

“A funny thing happened to me

today…”
What makes a good
story?

Protagonist
Mission
Tension
Resolution
Create a Lasting Impression

Sailor kissing a nurse in

Times Square, New York
City on Aug. 14, 1945, vs.
following the announcement
of V---J Day.

By Alfred Eisenstaedt
Communicate by showing, not telling

=
Be Strategic
Where do you want to go?

How will this story and these images

get us there?
Know your Audience

•  Which audiences do you want

to reach with these stories? Why?

•  What do you want those

audiences to do?

•  What will move them to act?

What moves your
audience?

•  What do you want them to do?

•  What will move them to act?

•  Appeal to their values

By Eric Hurt
 Camera Controls

3
The Photo Story
Compositional Techniques
Advice from the Pros
Editing & Cropping
Shutter Speed: Controls how long the exposure lasts

Picture a stage curtain:

The longer the curtain is

open, the more the actors
are exposed
Shutter Speed Affects: Action

Fast shutter speed

Slow shutter speed

Aperture: Controls how big a hole the light goes through

Picture a culvert:

The bigger the culvert, the

more water gets through
Aperture Affects: Large Aperture
Depth of field

Small Aperture
Landscape:

Both foreground and

background are in focus
Action:

Fast shutter speed to

freeze motion
Portrait:

Only foreground in focus,

background soft
Macro:

Allows super close-ups

Nighttime

Long exposure, followed

by a flash
The Photo Story

•  Wide shot ---

sets the scene

•  Medium shot – the

main action

•  Tight shot – a detail

By: W. Eugene Smith

The Photo Story:

•  Wide shot ---

sets the scene
The Photo Story:

•  Medium shot –
the main action
The Photo Story:

•  Tight shot –
a detail
Photo story: The Green River

Clockwise from top left: scene-setter, main action, detail

 Example:
Photo story,
EarthCorps

Counter-clockwise from top:

scene-setter, main action,
detail
Show the world
how you see it
Compositional techniques:

•  The decisive moment

•  Fill the frame

•  Perspective
“The Decisive Moment”

"There is nothing in this

world that does not have a
decisive moment.”
-- Cardinal de Retz, circa 1650
“The Decisive Moment”
•  Set up your “architecture”
and pounce

•  Look for patterns and

rhythms and anticipate

Henri Cartier-Bresson
“The Decisive Moment”
Which one is more compelling?

By Thomas E. Franklin
Fill the Frame

Think about what

you leave in…

…and what
you leave out.
Fill the frame—without distractions Shish Kebab

Amputated

Background Clutter
Perspective
Which one is more interesting?
Advice from the pros:

“If your photos

aren’t good
enough, you’re not
close enough.”

- Robert Capa, killed by

stepping on a mine
How many pictures should I take?
Ask a National Geographic photographer:

During seven weeks of shooting my recent

story on wildfires, published in July 2008,
I shot...12,000 images.

National Geographic staff

photographer Mark Thiessen
Editing

You’re only as good

as your worst photo

Which one is best?

Cropping

How would you crop this?

Cropping

A decisive moment,
filling the frame, with
no distractions
Some “Don’ts”
Don’t…
• …be afraid to get close to your subjects.
• …only shoot posed photos.
• …put all your photos online – edit!
• …make people stand with their backs against a
wall for a headshot, blasting them with a flash.
• …use your flash unless you have to – Mother
Nature’s light it better.
 •  Set your camera for the shot you’re trying to get (e.g.,
action, portrait, landscape, etc.)

•  Remember the three elements of a photo story and seek

Photo out shots that fulfill each element
recap: •  Fill the frame with important stuff; leave out stuff that isn’t

•  Look for candid, decisive moments

•  Shoot a lot, but edit tightly, only showing your best work
Storytelling recap:
Think about your audience •  What story do they need to hear?

Who’s the hero? •  Personalize their story

What’s the mission? •  Make it relatable

Where’s the tension? •  Make it real

Do you have a solution? •  Show it!

4 Sharing
Getting the word out

What avenues would be most effective

in reaching my target audience?

What tools are available, as

audiences and objectives change?
S h a r e
Some tools for your toolbox
Blogs

- Most bloggers don’t have the

budget to pay for photos.

- Always provide them with the

correct attribution and a caption.

- Don’t send an attachment.

Pitching the media
Timing is key—they want
to see the action

Ensure access to people

and places

Pay attention to photo

credits

Describe the photo opp. in

the media advisory
Reuse & Recycle
…Your Content!
 Remember your goal and your
• 
audience

•  Be purposeful with your photos

In Conclusion… o Get close to your subjects

(physically and emotionally)
You’re only as good as your
o 
worst photo

• Appeal to your audiences’

values

Your photos aren’t good if no

• 
one can see them, so share.
Contact Information:

Sian Wu: sian@resource-media.org

Matt Brashears: mattb@resource-media.org
Resource Media
159 Western Ave. W., Ste. 480
Seattle, WA 98119
206-374-7795