9 In Class Practice: First Steps in Analyzing a Photo Essay
- Count off into groups of three.
- Introduce yourselves to each other!
- Each person in each group has a role. Decide who will do what:
Scribe: types/writes the group response (make sure everyone’s name is on the response!) and emails the response to your instructor at the end of class for participation credit.
Facilitator: keeps the group on track, leads the group through the questions, asks questions if needed.
Reporter: speaks for the group when we reconvene as a large class for discussion.
4. On Canvas, in the Week One Module, “Sample Professional Photo Essays,” there are five photo essays. In your group, look through the first one, “Five in the Bed! Life with a Chinese Family in New York.” Take your time when looking through the photo essay. Study the photos and read the captions. Then, answer the following questions:
- What community is the author presenting? How do you know?
- What overall message does the author want to convey about this community? What is their specific point of view or perspective about this community? How do you know?
- Why do you think the author chose the photos they did? How do they contribute to the author’s perspective about this community? Choose several to talk about and be specific.
- Why do you think the author organized the photo essay in this particular order? That is, look at what comes first, second, etc. and what closes the essay. Is the author building an argument? If so, how?
- What photo(s) are most effective in conveying the author’s overall message about this community? Why?
- What photo(s) are least effective in conveying the author’s overall message about this community? Why?
- Look at the captions. What do they add to your understanding of the photos?
- Can you see any problems that are affecting this community? If so, who is it affecting and how?
- If you finish with the first photo essay, move on to the 2nd one and answer the same questions.
Links to Sample Professional Photo Essays:
