A picture is worth .....
Underlying our understanding of how visual images create story is the semiotics (study of signs) of meaning, content and context of photographs. Claire Harrison's investigation into the understanding of how still images make meaning provides insight into how social semiotics are applied to icons, index and symbols.
The structures and processes of representations are categorized into
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Analyzing images is a good starting point.
Select ONE of the images found on the '35 Powerful Photos That Tell a Story' OR another photography collection site (e.g. Dewitt Jones' site Celebrate What's Right). Use this Explaining the Image worksheet to conduct an investigation into the story behind an image. These images would not all be appropriate for student use but will help YOU look differently at your own image capture and extend your ability to collect powerful photos for your own stories. |
Try this Five Card Flickr activity to get your creative storytelling started. You will be given five random images from the Flickr collection. From these images you will construct a plausible or imaginative story containing plot, characterization, sequence and conclusion.
Visual images - interpretation and construction
Try to capture some of the following photos. (list found on Headless DS106 week 5: Telling Stories in Photos)
Collections of images for educators can be found in a variety of digital locations. Here are a few to get you started.
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Understanding copyright and licensing of images in digital publication is an essential first step. Examine the following links to develop your awareness of how and when to use images in your public and private digital spaces.
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Visual Literacy is increasingly more prevalent in classroom practice. Taking time to investigate and practice visual note taking, crafting a collection of common icons, sharing digital image libraries can support the digital storytelling process. Here are some resources about these particular forms of visual literacy that take storytelling beyond the photograph and into the realm of graphic art.
- Image is Everything - Exploring Critical Thinking with Visual Literacies - video
- Visual Notetaking - a curated blog covering topics such as visual note taking, visual recording, graphic facilitation and sketchnotes
Time to explore your own digital creations
Reflect on the process of creating and storying visual images for a variety of purposes and audiences.
How does this process change your perspective of visual literacy for your students?
- Use available digital technology (cell phone camera, digital camera, tablet or computer camera) to take up to 10 images in a variey of ways.
- Create effective visual images by applying techniques found in the document Discovering How Images Communicate e.g. create a visual viewfinder (pg. 4).Understand the 'rule of thirds' (pg. 6-7).
- Work with camera angles - a sample worksheet to work with students on camera angles is included in the Ontario Online Teaching Resources for Media Literacy.
- Explore more about photography with links from this DS106 resource document on How to Be a Better Photographer and photo tip links from Photo Wings
Reflect on the process of creating and storying visual images for a variety of purposes and audiences.
How does this process change your perspective of visual literacy for your students?