Composition and storytelling through photography

Understanding Photography as Storytelling

Appreciate that photography is not just about snapping pictures, but narrating stories through images.
Consider the story that each photo tells, observe the emotion each image conveys.

Choosing Your Subject

Identify your subject, considering what it represents and what story you want to tell through it.
Make the subject the main focal point of your photo; it should draw the eye immediately.

Framing and Composing the Story

Utilise framing to direct attention to your subject and remove distracting elements.
Use the Rule of Thirds to place the subject and create a pleasing composition.

Incorporating Symbols and Metaphors

Use symbols and metaphors in your images to deepen the narrative, adding layers to your story.
Realise that everyday objects can carry significant symbolic weight in the context of a photo narrative.

Using Light to Convey Emotion

Understand how different lighting conditions can evoke different feelings — warm light often feels happy and inviting, while cold light can seem eerie or sad.
Understand high-key and low-key lighting as they alter the mood of your photos — high-key light creates a bright and airy effect, while low-key light makes for dramatic and moody images.

The Importance of Perspective

Experiment with different perspective to change the story you tell.
Try unusual angles or viewpoints to add a unique twist to your narrative.

Narrative through Series of Photos

Learn to tell a story through a series of photos, also called a photo essay or a series.
Ensure a common theme or narrative thread runs through the photos in the series to create coherence.

Captioning Your Photos

Use captions thoughtfully to fill in details, provide context, or add another storytelling layer.
Remember the captions shouldn’t contradict the story told by the image but should complement it.

In conclusion, telling a compelling story through photography is about more than just clicking a camera button. Mastering the art of visual storytelling involves careful consideration of various elements, from subject choice and framing to metaphoric usage and thoughtful captioning.