STEP BY STEP IMPLEMENTATION

INTRODUCTION: Our brains process images significantly faster than text, so photos are the ideal tool for telling stories digitally. Many photos can have the power to stand alone as a story. Even if storytellers are using a caption to convey more of the story, their image needs to be captivating enough to draw intrigue.
Narrative photography is the idea that photographs can be used to tell a story.

You can show this video or a similar one to your students as introduction: How to Tell Stories through Photos (Take Better Photos)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u704HqVzFI8

Tell students that the first rule to telling a good short story in pictures, is to keep it simple. They will have to think of a singular plot: beginning, middle, and end. They can then fill in the gaps with interesting takes and angles. The biggest, and best, tip to give to anyone before taking on any creative project, is to imagine the emotion and feeling they want to evoke at the end of the project. Then work their way backward.

Step 1: Divide the students in 4 groups (mixing them by gender and technical knowledge). 1 smart phone per group. Give them 10 minutes and ask them to decide on a theme (short story, song…etc).
Step 1: Plan ahead. 10 minutes. Ask them to think through the story they want to tell; to decide on the details, picture the sequences in your head, and feel the story. Think through the items and characters that play a major role in the shoot. Half the battle is won by good meticulous planning, even if it’s just in their head. What is the overarching emotion, look, feel, and colour of the shoot that they want to achieve? Pare everything back that doesn’t fit in with that look and feel.

Step 2. Coordinate colours and props. 5 minutes. Tell them to go for a family of colours like blues and greens, or reds and purples, or warm yellows and oranges. They can add a splash or contrasting colour for focus. But it is always good to reign in the colour palette keeping it to 3 or 4 colours maximum. Props need not be bought, or expensive. Tell them to use what you have in the class or tell students to bring it from home: fruits, books, toys, cushions, quilts, etc. Just make sure there are colours that complement your chosen theme.

IMPORTANT: Ask them not to be over ambitious: they need to keep goals simple. It’s one of the most difficult things to do. Keep it short by focusing on one or two actions or scenarios. A plot is not always necessary, they can even just aim for capturing some interactions between the students. The props are to create some new context for them, hold their attention for a few short minutes, and keep them engaged during that time.

Step 3: Ask them to plan a beginning and end shot/pictures. 15 minutes. The beginning and the end are crucial to a story because they bring the theme together. Make sure they have an establishing first shot, and a feel-good last shot. Details are always a good idea for a contextual or establishing shot. They not only enrich emotion, and reinforce a story, but also strengthen memories. Interesting close-ups, and expressions or unusual crops are also good for closing shots and stay in the viewer’s memory for a second longer.

Step 4: Ask them to edit their images with a plan. 10 minutes. They must edit them according to their vision. there is no one else to please but themselves.

Step 5: Share. The photoshoot they have planned is for the group to show to the whole class, so they must be true to their original vision and be brave, then sit back and enjoy their creative story in pictures. Ask them to be creative on how they show their creation: a powerpoint presentation can be enough, but they can also look at the photos and give their view/understanding of the story.

Step 6: Discuss. hold a group discussion with the whole class, below some questions that can help addressing the debate:

Did you know
The history of women photographers’ dates back to the beginnings of photography itself. The contribution of women in photography has been diluted or erased from history altogether. Yet there is no doubt that the omission of women, both unintentionally and intentionally, leaves a gaping hole in the narrative of photography.
Photography captures a point of view, freezing one person’s perspective in time forever. Male perspectives, however, have largely been the one’s in the foreground, leaving the work of their female peers in the dark(room). Here we turn the spotlight on the lesser known, but equally remarkable, work of early women photographers. As Berenice Abbott said, “photography helps people to see.”:
Link to 7 women photographers you should know and make groups to discuss about it: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/7-early-women-photographers-you-should-know/4wKyJIdyxSbjIg

Ask them questions like: