13+ Photo Essay Examples &

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We all know that photographs tell a story. These still images may be
seen from various perspectives and are interpreted in different ways.
Oftentimes, photographers like to give dramatic meaning to various
scenarios. For instance, a blooming flower signifies a new life.
Photographs always hold a deeper meaning than what they actually are.

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Narrative Photo Essay

Student Photo Example

Great Depression Essay

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In essay writing, photographs along with its supporting texts, play a

significant role in conveying a message. Here are some examples of
these kinds of photo-text combinations.

Narrative Photo Essay

 nytimes.com
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Student Photo Example

 getty.edu
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Great Depression Essay

 thshistory.files.wordpress.com
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What Is a Photo Essay?

From the name given, a photo essay is a written article consisting of a
collection of images and texts. It has the ability to tell a story through a
progression of events, emotions, and concepts. You see, there are times
when photographs cannot stand alone.

You can present a picture of an old, worn-out chair and nobody will see
it more than it is. If you create a photo essay to explain how such a chair
was used by President Roosevelt, then people will begin to look at the
photograph with awe. This is the same for free essays, as it is sometimes
difficult to create mental images through mere wording.

Overall, a photo essay is still the same as a normal short essay, except
that ideas are translated into visual images.

How to Write a Photo Essay

First of all, you would need to find a topic that you are interested in.
With this, you can conduct thorough research on the topic that goes
beyond what is common. This would mean that it would be necessary to
look for facts that not a lot of people know about. Not only will this
make your essay interesting, but this may also help you capture the
necessary elements for your images.

Remember, the ability to manipulate the emotions of your audience will

allow you to build a strong connection with them. Knowing this, you
need to plan out your shots. With the different emotions and concepts in
mind, your images should tell a story along with the essay outline.

Travel Photo Example

 theguardian.com
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Free Photo Essay

 vasantvalley.org
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Purpose of a Photo Essay

With good writing skills, a person is able to tell a story through words.
However, adding images for your essay will give it the dramatic effect it
needs. The photographs and the text work hand in hand to create
something compelling enough to attract an audience.

This connection goes beyond something visual, as photo essays are also
able to connect with an audience emotionally. This is to create an essay
that is effective enough to relay a given message.

5 Tips for Creating a Photo Essay

 Don’t be afraid to experiment. Find the right angle and be dramatic
with your description, just be creative.

 Pay attention to detail. Chances are, your audience will notice every
single detail of your photograph.

 Shoot everything. Behind a single beautiful photo is a hundred more

shots.

 Don’t think twice about editing. Editing is where the magic happens. It
has the ability to add more drama to your images.

 Have fun. Don’t stress yourself out too much but instead, grow from
your experience.

Most Interesting Photo Essays of 2019

Now that you are educated with the fundamentals of photo essays, why
not lay eyes on some great photo essays for inspiration. To give you a
 glimpse of a few epitomes, we collected the best and fascinating photo
essays for you. The handpicked samples are as follows:

Toys and Us

journals.openedition.org
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This photo essay presents its subject which is the latest genre of
photography, toy photography. In this type of picture taking, the
photographer aims to give life on the toys and treat them as his/her
model. This photography follows the idea of a toy researcher, Katrina
Heljakka, who states that also adults and not only children are
interested in reimagining and preserving the characters of their toys
with the means of roleplay and creating a story about these toys. This
photo essay is based on the self-reflection of the author on a friend’s
toys in their home environment.

The Faces of Nature

godandnature.asa3.org
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This photo essay and collection caters the creativity of the author’s mind
in seeing the world. In her composition, she justified that there are
millions of faces that are naturally made that some of us have not
noticed. She also presented tons of photos showing different natural
objects that form patterns of faces. Though it was not mentioned in the
essay itself, the author has unconsciously showcased the psychological
phenomenon, pareidolia. This is the tendency to translate an obscure
stimulus that let the observer see faces in inanimate objects or abstract
patterns, or even hearing concealed messages in music.

The Country Doctor

 us1.campaign-archive.com
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This photo essay depicts the medical hardships in a small rural town in
Colorado called Kremling. For 23 days, Smith shadowed Dr. Ernest
Ceriani, witnessing the dramatic life of the small town and capturing the
woeful crisis of the region. The picture in this photographic essay was
photographed by Smith himself for Life magazine in 1948 but remained
as fascinating as it was posted weeks ago.
 New York City Coffeehouses
lens.blogs.nytimes.com
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Café Latte, cappuccino, espresso, or flat white—of course, you know

these if you have visited a coffee shop at least once. However,
the photographer of this photo essay took it to a whole new level of
experience. Within two to three days of visiting various coffee places,
Mr. Gavrysh stayed most of his day observing at the finest details such as
the source of the coffee, the procedure of delivering them, and the
process of roasting and grounding them. He also watched how did the
baristas perfect the drinks and the reaction of the customers as they
received their ordered coffee with delights in their faces. Gavrysh did
not mean to compose a coffeehouse guide, but to make a composition
that describes modern, local places where coffee is sipped and treated
with respect.

Hungry Planet: What The World Eats

 time.com
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One of the basic necessity of a person to live according to his/her will is

food. In this photo essay, you will see how these necessities vary in
several ways. In 2005, a pair of Peter Menzel and Faith D’ Aluisio
released a book that showcased the meals of an average family in 24
countries. Ecuador, south-central Mali, China, Mexico, Kuwait, Norway,
and Greenland are among the nations they visited. This photo essay is
written to raise awareness about the influence of environment and
culture to the cost and calories of the foods laid on the various dining
tables across the globe.

Photo essays are not just about photographic aesthetics but also the
stories that authors built behind those pictures. In this collection of
captivating photo essays, reflect on how to write your own. If you are
allured and still can’t get enough, there’s no need for you to be frantic
about. Besides, there are thousands of samples and templates on our
website to browse. Visit us to check them all out.