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Assignment: Tell a Story

Don't be bashful! If you want comments, give comments. You don't need to be an expert photographer to express your opinion about the work of others. You don't need to go into great depth. A simple remark about cropping, composition, color, subject matter, etc. can be of just as much help to a budding photographer as an in-depth critique.

Take a photo that captures a child’s image — with a sibling or parent or not — telling a story. You can use a prop if you want, but be careful not to be too cutesy or have the subject(s) too posed. That is the challenge. It might literally be posed, but to the viewer it should look natural. Practice some of the attitudes you have learned in terms of involving yourself with the child in order to evoke a sense of comfort and flow. This should reflect back into your image.

Here the assignment was completed with this photograph of a little girl showing the photographer how old she is. It illustrates an understanding of a child at 3. Children of this age love to tell you how old they are. Focusing just on the fingers throws the child’s face out of focus and puts the emphasis on her age while still allowing you to see her in the background. Taken at 1/250 second, f/4.5 at ISO 100.

Remember to visit www.photoworkshop.com/books after you complete this assignment and share your favorite photo! It’s a community of enthusiastic photographers and a great place to view what other readers have created. You can also post comments, and read other encouraging suggestions and feedback.