Storytelling 101: Let them eat cake

Ever wonder how to tell a story with your images? Here is an excerpt from the Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images (Part 2) course material to whet your appetite.

storytelling101_01
Let’s look at a slice of lemon meringue pie that I ate outside in a small cafe. It was summertime and I was sitting under a tree eating my lunch. For dessert I ordered what turned out to be a lovely lemon meringue pie, garnished with a single nasturtium — a lovely bright orange flower that can be eaten. Only it was too pretty for me to eat…so I photographed it, instead.

These images were not styled. The fork landed on my plate the way it’s shown. The light was filtering through the leaves the way the image is shown. All I did was notice the beauty and capture it.

 

BEFORE…AND AFTER

This is probably the simplest way to show a story arc. Two shots with one showing “before” and the other, “after”. Each image can stand alone, but together, they tell a story.

storytelling101_02

WHAT CHANGED BETWEEN SHOTS?

Do you see how almost everything is the same? All that’s missing in Shot #2 is one thing (the cake). That’s one way to build continuity in your story.

The CAMERA ANGLE is the same.
The FRAMING is the same.
The DEPTH OF FIELD (DOF) is the same.
The BACKGROUND is the same.
The LIGHTING is the same.

Did you notice there were no hands in either of those shots? Okay, then how did I tell the story?

Answer: By using implied action. I showed the same subject both “before” and “after”. The action is implied, but remember that I needed TWO images to show the action. One image was not enough.

When viewed alone, does each image tell the SAME story as when shown together? Let’s find out…

storytelling101_03

STORY “A”

When you see a piece of pie with a fork, what story does that imply? What thoughts passed through your head when you looked at that image?

I want to eat that piece of pie.
Drats, I can’t eat pie.
It looks pretty…but I don’t like pie.
I like that flower though.
I should buy myself some pretty flowers.

storytelling101_04

WHAT ABOUT STORY “B”?

When you see an image of a flower on a plate next to a fork, with no food, what story does that tell? What thoughts passed through your head when you looked at the second image, by itself?

Nice flower. But…um…why is there a used fork next to it?
I wonder if that flower is edible.
Pretty picture.

Did any thoughts of PIE pass your mind when you just look at that image by itself, without having seen the first image? Probably not.

 

CONTEXT

Each image adds context. Did you see how the story changed, based on adding another image?

 

SIGN UP NOW FOR THESE CLASSES TO LEARN STORYTELLING

Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images Part 1

Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images Part 2

No post processing skills necessary to take these courses. You may even use your phone!

“Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images Part 1” gets you started photographing how you want your life to look and what you want more of in your life.

Part 2 takes you further by focusing on capturing the essence of your loved ones — think about the little things that you’ll always remember, such as how they hold their favorite coffee mug in their hands!

Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images Part 1 Celebrate Your Life in Beautiful Images Part 2

 

Other BPSOP storytelling courses taught by Brit Hammer

Amazing Travel Photos Made EasyAmazing Travel Photos Made Easy

Learn how to capture these experiences:

  • landscapes
  • seascapes
  • cities & architecture
  • wine & dining experiences
  • nature
  • wildlife

 

Get a taste of how Brit will work with you:

 

You can also work with Brit privately

Mentoring: Schedule a live session with Brit via Skype

Get a private image video review: Private Video Image Reviews

Find out about all of Brit’s courses, including Photographing Fine Art & Craft

“I just wanted to thank you for another wonderful class. I have to confess that each week when I read the new assignment, my first reaction was mild panic and a deep certainty that I would not be able to produce anything worthwhile that fit within the parameters you had set. But before I knew it, the ideas started to flow, and I quickly became obsessed (no, that isn’t too strong a word!) with exploring the possibilities. I can honestly say that the photos I produced in response to your assignments are among my favorites. Thanks for bringing out a creative side I didn’t know I had!”

Barbara Geiger
Understanding Color

“Thank you so very much for this course! It’s allowed me to take the blinders off and present my images for what I want them to be without being a slave to the “reality” of the camera. I would also add that in conjunction with your printing course, this has been the most useful course I’ve ever taken. Your notes are more than comprehensive and your comments and critiques are direct, clear, and always directed to the improvement of the art.”

Bill
After the click

” I want to thank you for this class and for your patience and availability to answer all of my questions. I have learned very much through this class. I have used LR in the past, but mostly for editing images. I now have a better grasp in the organization of my images, an even better understanding of editing images, and an understanding of the value of presets. I still have a lot to learn, but this has put me on the road to be able to improve my photography. Again, thank you! ”

Dale Yates
Lightroom Quickstart

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