Sunday, December 28, 2008

What Is A Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a type of photo presentation whereby a series of photos are arranged in such a way to tell a story or evoke emotions in their viewers. A photo essay may be accompanied by a text or commentary or may not.

Just like in a verbal narrative, the photos in a photo essay may be arranged sequentially (temporally or spatially) or in any other modes of arrangement depending on the message that the author or the photographer wants to convey or the emotions he or she wants to evoke. A photo essayist may even choose to let the viewers or audience decide for themselves the order by which they want to "read" the visual narrative. In relation to the way the photos are presented, therefore, the narrative of a photo essay may be descriptive, expository, argumentative or a combination of any of them in its orientation.

The plot of a photo essay may also vary: Single, multiple, linear or flashback, and simple or complicated. However, considering the nature of still photographs, it may, in my opinion, be a little bit difficult to have multiple plots in a photo essay.

A photo essay may concentrate on events, places, or people. Regardless of its subject, a photo essay strives to present the essence of the subject that becomes its theme.

The following is an example of photo essay. I decided not to include a commentary on this one.

Text and pictures by Eki Qushay Akhwan, all rights reserved.

FLYING FOX







6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am learning so much from you Eki..I will have to try these ideas. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

My children have done a zip line but I think I prefer being on the ground. I like your photo essay
!

Iskandar Ab. Rashid said...

A very clear article. Thank you for posting.

Lynda Lehmann said...

An interesting post and exciting photo essay! I'm wondering if this is part of a camp or school adventure, or just a recreational activity?

My daughter has done this under the rainforest canopy, in Costa Rica!

annfrendly said...

hye..saya sangat meminati bidang fotografi dan saya sangat sukakan blog kamu.. good work... keep it up...

boleh jadi perempuan yang duduk disebelah kau said...

photo essay: it reminds me of my college days.

i love ur photos.

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