The Life Formula for the photo story is a classic formula practiced by photographer W. Eugene Smith, who worked for Life magazine. in 1948 Eugene Smith’s photo story "Country Doctor" was published in Life magazine. The story was an instant classic, setting Smith firmly on a path as a master of the unique art form of the photo essay. He spent 23 days in Kremmling, Colorado, shadowing general practitioner Ernest Ceriani.
The Life formula for the photo essay is considered an effective method of building a photo story with visual variety and consistency. For a typical story assignment, the photographer should shoot at least eight basic types of photos to ensure complete coverage of the situation and to guarantee enough good pictures for a layout.
The photo types are as follows:
1] Introductory or overall – usually a wide angle or aerial shot that establishes the scene.
2] Medium – focuses on one activity or one group.
3] Close Up – zeroes in on one element, like a person's hands or an intricate detail of a building.
4] Portrait – usually either a dramatic, tight head shot or a person in his or her environmental setting.
5] Interaction – people conversing or in action.
6] Signature – summarizes the situation with all the key storytelling elements in one photo – often called the decisive moment.
7] Sequence – a how-to, before and after, or a series with a beginning, middle and end (the sequence gives the essay a sense of action).
8] Clincher – a closer that would end the story.
Assignment:
1. Pick a partner to interview.
2. Ask them questions that will lead to you being able to plan a photo session for them that includes one of each of the types of photos that are in the Life formula.
3. Blog the questions that you asked the person. Blog their answers.
4. Create a storyboard of the 8 shots you have planned. The storyboard can be hand drawn. You can then take a photo of it and post it to your blog.
The interview is a participation grade.
The storyboard is a daily grade.
The blog post will be included in your end of the six weeks "Blog" grade which will be a major grade.
All work should be posted to the blog by the beginning of class Thursday, October 8.
Storyboard rubric:
90-100 All 8 picture types are clearly labeled and clearly represented.
80-90 Less than 8 picture types are represented. Those that are shown are mostly labeled correctly and mostly show clearly the focus of the photo and why it is important to the person's story.
70-80 Some of the picture types are represented. Those that are shown are somewhat labeled correctly and the focus is somewhat clear.
60-70 Pictures included in the storyboard don't contribute to the person's story and don't show a clear focus or plan.