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PHOTO ESSAY : Mga makasaysayang simbahan sa Pilipinas, naaalagaan o napababayaan?

Noong Oktubre, nasira ng lindol ang ilang makasaysayang simbahan sa Bohol at Cebu. Maraming Pilipino ang nalungkot dito sapagkat apat na siglo nang bahagi ng ating kultura at kasaysayan ang mga nagibang simbahan. Sa buong bansa, 37 simbahan ang tinaguriang National Cultural Treasure ng National Commission for Culture and the Arts o NCCA. Ang National Cultural Treasure ang pinakamataas na kategoryang pwedeng maibigay sa isang heritage site. Samantala, 249 naman ang idineklarang historical church ng National Historical Commission of the Philippines o NHCP. Dahil dito, dapat pangalagaan ang mga makasaysayang simbahang ito upang tiyaking tatagal ang mga ito. Dagdag pa rito, hindi lamang dapat basta-bastang baguhin ang mga bahagi ng simbahan. Nakasaad sa Presidential Decree No. 1505 na dapat may permiso ng NHCP at NCCA ang anumang pagbabagong nais gawin sa mga lugar at istrukturang idineklarang National Historical Landmark o National Cultural Treasure. Sa pagsisiyasat ng “Investigative Documentaries,” pinuntahan ng programa ang ilang makasaysayang simbahan upang suriin ang kalagayan ng mga ito at ang mga isinasagawang pagbabago rito.  

Basilica de San Martin de Tours

Itinayo noong 1865 ang Basilica de San Martin de Tours sa Taal, Batangas. Ito ang pinakamalaking simbahang Katoliko sa Asya. Orihinal pa rin ang pader nito na gawa sa adobe. Nagpoprotesta ang ilang residente ng Taal laban sa pamunuan ng simbahan dahil umano sa hindi maayos na preserbasyon nito. Pinangungunahan ng iskultor at architect na si Ramon Orlina ng Taal Church Historical Authentic Restoration Movement ang protesta laban kay Bishop Jose Salazar ng Taal Basilica. Ilan sa mga dahilan ng pagpoprotesta ni Orlina:

May mga crack na sa harap ng simbahan subalit pinapalitadahan lamang ang mga ito o tinatakpan lamang kaya nandoon pa rin ang mga crack.

Hindi nagtutugma ang mga kulay ng pintura sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng simbahan. Hindi tugma ang altar na gawa sa pilak at ang mga pinturang ginto. Ani Orlina, “Hindi pwedeng gold and silver. Para kang may singsing at necklace na magkaiba.”

May adoration chapel at jubilee hall din na ‘di raw dapat itinayo dahil walang permiso ng NCCA at NHCP. St. Joseph Parish Church

“Rurog” o “kalansay” sa Tagalog – ganito inilarawan ni Marjorie Baquiran, presidente ng Parish Pastoral Council, ang St. Joseph Parish Church sa Dingras, Ilocos Norte. Itinayo ang Dingras Church noong 1500s. Noong 1987 ito napabilang sa listahan ng historic sites ng NHCP. Halos limang dekada nang sira ang simbahan. Makailang ulit nang napinsala ng lindol at sunog ang Dingras Chirch, at minsan na rin itong tinamaan ng kidlat. 1938 nang huli itong napinsala ng lindol.

Kuwento ng mga taga-St. Joseph of Dingras Foundation, Inc. na binubuo ng mga Dingrenyos na naninirahan sa Maynila at ibang bansa, wala raw silang natanggap na pondo mula sa gobyerno kahit idineklarang heritage site ang kanilang simbahan. Sila na tuloy ang nangalap ng pondo para maipagawa ang kanilang simbahan. “Parishioners initiative ito, iyong mga naunang mga pari at saka iyong mga matatandang Catholic Women's League. Sila ang malakas na nagpursige para ma-initiate iyong mga unang hakbang ng pag-restore,” sabi ni Baquiran.

Unang tinutulan ng NHCP ang restoration na pinangunahan ni Msgr. Victor Hernando, kura paroko ng Dingras Church, para ayusin ang harapan ng gumuhong simbahan na unti-unti nang tumatagilid. Plano ng simbahan na tibagin ang orihinal na pader at palitan ito ng bago. “May limang cracks sa facade. Iyong crack ay vertical, ibig sabihin galing sa ibaba so to retrofit o restore it from the original, imposible na iyan,” paliwanag ni Msgr. Hernando. Hindi kalaunan, pumayag ang NHCP subalit tumutol naman ang NCCA. “Ang pinakamataas na value ay iyong original. Kung reconstructed, mababa kasi para ka na lang gumawa ng bagong gusali na ginaya mo lang iyong lumang gusali. Wala na siyang  kasaysayan,” sabi ni Atty. Trixie Angeles, NCCA Legal Consultant and Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Monuments and Sites. San Bartolome Church

PHOTO COURTESY OF: MALABON PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Itinayo ang San Bartolome Church sa Malabon noong 1614. Isa itong heritage site. Sa paglipas ng mga taon, unti-unti itong naging makabago at moderno. Sinimulan ni Fr. Ricardo Torrefiel, kura paroko ng San Bartolome, ang pagpapaayos ng simbahan. “Napansin ko sa unang taon ko pa lang [sa San Bartolome], ang daming anay. Iyon lang tubig dagat nagiging sanhi ng pagkalaho ng mga yero,” paliwanag niya.

Isa sa kaniyang binago ay ang dome ng simbahan na dati’y gawa sa kahoy. “Nakita namin na hindi puwede iyong ganoong kahinang kahoy. Kung lalagyan mo ng magagandang material outside or ceiling inside sayang lang ang pera. So pinalitan namin ng bakal iyong dome at ibinalik panlaban sa kalawang,” paliwanag niya. Tutol naman ang arkitektong si Richard Bautista na tubong Malabon. Hindi raw wasto ang ginawang pagsasaayos sa simbahan. “Pagkatapos ng giyera, more or less, iyong simbahan ay inayos naman. Nagkaroon ng mga pinta pero hindi tulad ng makikita mo ngayon na pinuno ang pader at kisame,” paliwanag niya.

Bukod sa mga pintura, tutol din si Bautista sa mga magarbong disensyong idinagdag sa simbahan tulad ng paintings na pinalibutan ang dingding ng simbahan at ang kisame nito. “Ang aking alaala mula pagkabata ay parang binura at hindi lang doon, pati iyong aking mga kababayan ay  parang tinanggalan ng lugar sa mundo,” sabi niya. Immaculada Conception

Maliban sa itinayong fast food chain, naging paradahan at terminal din ng FX ang harapan ng Immaculada Conception na ikinalungkot naman ng arkitektong si Trixie Angeles ng NCCA. “Kapag hindi natin ibinibigay ang nararapat na respeto (sa National Cultural Treasures) parang hindi natin nirerespeto ang characteristic natin bilang Pilipino,” aniya.

PHOTO COURTESY OF: FILIPINAS PHOTO COLLECTION

Pagdating sa legalidad ng restoration ng simbahan, kumuha ng permiso sa NHCP ang mga namumuno. Bukod pa sa tamang direksyon na ito, siniguro rin ng simbahan na gawa pa rin sa apog at adobe ang mga ipapalit na bloke para umayon sa orihinal na hitsura nito.

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How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (with Examples)

Photo essays tell a story in pictures. They're a great way to improve at photography and story-telling skills at once. Learn how to do create a great one.

Learn | Photography Guides | By Ana Mireles

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Photography is a medium used to tell stories – sometimes they are told in one picture, sometimes you need a whole series. Those series can be photo essays.

If you’ve never done a photo essay before, or you’re simply struggling to find your next project, this article will be of help. I’ll be showing you what a photo essay is and how to go about doing one.

You’ll also find plenty of photo essay ideas and some famous photo essay examples from recent times that will serve you as inspiration.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s jump right in!

Table of Contents

What is a Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a series of images that share an overarching theme as well as a visual and technical coherence to tell a story. Some people refer to a photo essay as a photo series or a photo story – this often happens in photography competitions.

Photographic history is full of famous photo essays. Think about The Great Depression by Dorothea Lange, Like Brother Like Sister by Wolfgang Tillmans, Gandhi’s funeral by Henri Cartier Bresson, amongst others.

What are the types of photo essay?

Despite popular belief, the type of photo essay doesn’t depend on the type of photography that you do – in other words, journalism, documentary, fine art, or any other photographic genre is not a type of photo essay.

Instead, there are two main types of photo essays: narrative and thematic .

As you have probably already guessed, the thematic one presents images pulled together by a topic – for example, global warming. The images can be about animals and nature as well as natural disasters devastating cities. They can happen all over the world or in the same location, and they can be captured in different moments in time – there’s a lot of flexibility.

A narrative photo essa y, on the other hand, tells the story of a character (human or not), portraying a place or an event. For example, a narrative photo essay on coffee would document the process from the planting and harvesting – to the roasting and grinding until it reaches your morning cup.

What are some of the key elements of a photo essay?

• Tell a unique story – A unique story doesn’t mean that you have to photograph something that nobody has done before – that would be almost impossible! It means that you should consider what you’re bringing to the table on a particular topic.
• Put yourself into the work – One of the best ways to make a compelling photo essay is by adding your point of view, which can only be done with your life experiences and the way you see the world.
• Add depth to the concept – The best photo essays are the ones that go past the obvious and dig deeper in the story, going behind the scenes, or examining a day in the life of the subject matter – that’s what pulls in the spectator.
• Nail the technique – Even if the concept and the story are the most important part of a photo essay, it won’t have the same success if it’s poorly executed.
• Build a structure – A photo essay is about telling a thought-provoking story – so, think about it in a narrative way. Which images are going to introduce the topic? Which ones represent a climax? How is it going to end – how do you want the viewer to feel after seeing your photo series?
• Make strong choices – If you really want to convey an emotion and a unique point of view, you’re going to need to make some hard decisions. Which light are you using? Which lens? How many images will there be in the series? etc., and most importantly for a great photo essay is the why behind those choices.

9 Tips for Creating a Photo Essay

Credit: Laura James

1. Choose something you know

To make a good photo essay, you don’t need to travel to an exotic location or document a civil war – I mean, it’s great if you can, but you can start close to home.

Depending on the type of photography you do and the topic you’re looking for in your photographic essay, you can photograph a local event or visit an abandoned building outside your town.

It will be much easier for you to find a unique perspective and tell a better story if you’re already familiar with the subject. Also, consider that you might have to return a few times to the same location to get all the photos you need.

2. Follow your passion

Most photo essays take dedication and passion. If you choose a subject that might be easy, but you’re not really into it – the results won’t be as exciting. Taking photos will always be easier and more fun if you’re covering something you’re passionate about.

3. Take your time

A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That’s why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you’re not passionate about it – it’s difficult to push through.

4. Write a summary or statement

Photo essays are always accompanied by some text. You can do this in the form of an introduction, write captions for each photo or write it as a conclusion. That’s up to you and how you want to present the work.

5. Learn from the masters

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Making a photographic essay takes a lot of practice and knowledge. A great way to become a better photographer and improve your storytelling skills is by studying the work of others. You can go to art shows, review books and magazines and look at the winners in photo contests – most of the time, there’s a category for photo series.

6. Get a wide variety of photos

Think about a story – a literary one. It usually tells you where the story is happening, who is the main character, and it gives you a few details to make you engage with it, right?

The same thing happens with a visual story in a photo essay – you can do some wide-angle shots to establish the scenes and some close-ups to show the details. Make a shot list to ensure you cover all the different angles.

Some of your pictures should guide the viewer in, while others are more climatic and regard the experience they are taking out of your photos.

7. Follow a consistent look

Both in style and aesthetics, all the images in your series need to be coherent. You can achieve this in different ways, from the choice of lighting, the mood, the post-processing, etc.

8. Be self-critical

Once you have all the photos, make sure you edit them with a good dose of self-criticism. Not all the pictures that you took belong in the photo essay. Choose only the best ones and make sure they tell the full story.

9. Ask for constructive feedback

Often, when we’re working on a photo essay project for a long time, everything makes perfect sense in our heads. However, someone outside the project might not be getting the idea. It’s important that you get honest and constructive criticism to improve your photography.

How to Create a Photo Essay in 5 Steps

Credit: Quang Nguyen Vinh

1. Choose your topic

This is the first step that you need to take to decide if your photo essay is going to be narrative or thematic. Then, choose what is it going to be about?

Ideally, it should be something that you’re interested in, that you have something to say about it, and it can connect with other people.

2. Research your topic

To tell a good story about something, you need to be familiar with that something. This is especially true when you want to go deeper and make a compelling photo essay. Day in the life photo essays are a popular choice, since often, these can be performed with friends and family, whom you already should know well.

3. Plan your photoshoot

Depending on what you’re photographing, this step can be very different from one project to the next. For a fine art project, you might need to find a location, props, models, a shot list, etc., while a documentary photo essay is about planning the best time to do the photos, what gear to bring with you, finding a local guide, etc.

Every photo essay will need different planning, so before taking pictures, put in the required time to get things right.

4. Experiment

It’s one thing to plan your photo shoot and having a shot list that you have to get, or else the photo essay won’t be complete. It’s another thing to miss out on some amazing photo opportunities that you couldn’t foresee.

So, be prepared but also stay open-minded and experiment with different settings, different perspectives, etc.

5. Make a final selection

Editing your work can be one of the hardest parts of doing a photo essay. Sometimes we can be overly critical, and others, we get attached to bad photos because we put a lot of effort into them or we had a great time doing them.

Try to be as objective as possible, don’t be afraid to ask for opinions and make various revisions before settling down on a final cut.

7 Photo Essay Topics, Ideas & Examples

Credit: Michelle Leman

• Architectural photo essay

Using architecture as your main subject, there are tons of photo essay ideas that you can do. For some inspiration, you can check out the work of Francisco Marin – who was trained as an architect and then turned to photography to “explore a different way to perceive things”.

You can also lookup Luisa Lambri. Amongst her series, you’ll find many photo essay examples in which architecture is the subject she uses to explore the relationship between photography and space.

• Process and transformation photo essay

This is one of the best photo essay topics for beginners because the story tells itself. Pick something that has a beginning and an end, for example, pregnancy, the metamorphosis of a butterfly, the life-cycle of a plant, etc.

Keep in mind that these topics are linear and give you an easy way into the narrative flow – however, it might be difficult to find an interesting perspective and a unique point of view.

• A day in the life of ‘X’ photo essay

There are tons of interesting photo essay ideas in this category – you can follow around a celebrity, a worker, your child, etc. You don’t even have to do it about a human subject – think about doing a photo essay about a day in the life of a racing horse, for example – find something that’s interesting for you.

• Time passing by photo essay

It can be a natural site or a landmark photo essay – whatever is close to you will work best as you’ll need to come back multiple times to capture time passing by. For example, how this place changes throughout the seasons or maybe even over the years.

A fun option if you live with family is to document a birthday party each year, seeing how the subject changes over time. This can be combined with a transformation essay or sorts, documenting the changes in interpersonal relationships over time.

• Travel photo essay

Do you want to make the jump from tourist snapshots into a travel photo essay? Research the place you’re going to be travelling to. Then, choose a topic.

If you’re having trouble with how to do this, check out any travel magazine – National Geographic, for example. They won’t do a generic article about Texas – they do an article about the beach life on the Texas Gulf Coast and another one about the diverse flavors of Texas.

The more specific you get, the deeper you can go with the story.

• Socio-political issues photo essay

This is one of the most popular photo essay examples – it falls under the category of photojournalism or documental photography. They are usually thematic, although it’s also possible to do a narrative one.

Depending on your topic of interest, you can choose topics that involve nature – for example, document the effects of global warming. Another idea is to photograph protests or make an education photo essay.

It doesn’t have to be a big global issue; you can choose something specific to your community – are there too many stray dogs? Make a photo essay about a local animal shelter. The topics are endless.

• Behind the scenes photo essay

A behind-the-scenes always make for a good photo story – people are curious to know what happens and how everything comes together before a show.

Depending on your own interests, this can be a photo essay about a fashion show, a theatre play, a concert, and so on. You’ll probably need to get some permissions, though, not only to shoot but also to showcase or publish those images.

4 Best Photo Essays in Recent times

Now that you know all the techniques about it, it might be helpful to look at some photo essay examples to see how you can put the concept into practice. Here are some famous photo essays from recent times to give you some inspiration.

Habibi by Antonio Faccilongo

This photo essay wan the World Press Photo Story of the Year in 2021. Faccilongo explores a very big conflict from a very specific and intimate point of view – how the Israeli-Palestinian war affects the families.

He chose to use a square format because it allows him to give order to things and eliminate unnecessary elements in his pictures.

With this long-term photo essay, he wanted to highlight the sense of absence and melancholy women and families feel towards their husbands away at war.

The project then became a book edited by Sarah Leen and the graphics of Ramon Pez.

Picture This: New Orleans by Mary Ellen Mark

The last assignment before her passing, Mary Ellen Mark travelled to New Orleans to register the city after a decade after Hurricane Katrina.

The images of the project “bring to life the rebirth and resilience of the people at the heart of this tale”, – says CNNMoney, commissioner of the work.

Each survivor of the hurricane has a story, and Mary Ellen Mark was there to record it. Some of them have heartbreaking stories about everything they had to leave behind.

Others have a story of hope – like Sam and Ben, two eight-year-olds born from frozen embryos kept in a hospital that lost power supply during the hurricane, yet they managed to survive.

Selfie by Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer whose work is mainly done through self-portraits. With them, she explores the concept of identity, gender stereotypes, as well as visual and cultural codes.

One of her latest photo essays was a collaboration with W Magazine entitled Selfie. In it, the author explores the concept of planned candid photos (‘plandid’).

The work was made for Instagram, as the platform is well known for the conflict between the ‘real self’ and the one people present online. Sherman started using Facetune, Perfect365 and YouCam to alter her appearance on selfies – in Photoshop, you can modify everything, but these apps were designed specifically to “make things prettier”- she says, and that’s what she wants to explore in this photo essay.

Tokyo Compression by Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf has an interest in the broad-gauge topic Life in Cities. From there, many photo essays have been derived – amongst them – Tokyo Compression .

He was horrified by the way people in Tokyo are forced to move to the suburbs because of the high prices of the city. Therefore, they are required to make long commutes facing 1,5 hours of train to start their 8+ hour workday followed by another 1,5 hours to get back home.

To portray this way of life, he photographed the people inside the train pressed against the windows looking exhausted, angry or simply absent due to this way of life.

You can visit his website to see other photo essays that revolve around the topic of life in megacities.

Final Words

It’s not easy to make photo essays, so don’t expect to be great at it right from your first project.

Start off small by choosing a specific subject that’s interesting to you –  that will come from an honest place, and it will be a great practice for some bigger projects along the line.

Whether you like to shoot still life or you’re a travel photographer, I hope these photo essay tips and photo essay examples can help you get started and grow in your photography.

Let us know which topics you are working on right now – we’ll love to hear from you!

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

Penelope G. To Ana Mireles Such a well written and helpful article for an writer who wants to inclue photo essay in her memoir. Thank you. I will get to work on this new skill. Penelope G.

Herman Krieger Photo essays in black and white

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How to Create a Photo Essay in 9 Steps (with Examples)

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What is a photo essay?

• Photo essays vs photo stories
• How photo essays help you
• 9 Steps to create photo essays

How to share your photo essays

Read Time: 11 minutes

Gather up a handful of images that seem to go together, and voila! It’s a photo essay, right? Well… no. Though, this is a common misconception.

In reality, a photo essay is much more thoughtful and structured than that. When you take the time to craft one, you’re using skills from all facets of our craft – from composition to curation.

In this guide, you’ll learn what makes a photo essay an amazing project that stretches your skills. You’ll also learn exactly how to make one step by step.

• Photo essay vs photo story

A photo essay is a collection of images based around a theme, a topic, a creative approach, or an exploration of an idea. Photo essays balance visual variety with a cohesive style and concept.

What’s the difference between a photo essay and a photo story?

The terms photo essay and photo story are often used interchangeably. Even the dictionary definition of “photo essay” includes using images to convey either a theme or a story.

But in my experience, a photo essay and a photo story are two different things. As you delve into the field of visual storytelling, distinguishing between the two helps you to take a purposeful approach to what you’re making .

The differences ultimately lie in the distinctions between theme, topic and story.

Themes are big-picture concepts. Example: Wildness

Topics are more specific than themes, but still overarching. Example : Wild bears of Yellowstone National Park

Stories are specific instances or experiences that happen within, or provide an example for, a topic or theme. Example: A certain wild bear became habituated to tourists and was relocated to maintain its wildness

Unlike a theme or topic, a story has particular elements that make it a story. They include leading characters, a setting, a narrative arc, conflict, and (usually) resolution.

With that in mind, we can distingush between a photo essay and a photo story.

Themes and Topics vs Stories

A photo essay revolves around a topic, theme, idea, or concept. It visually explores a big-picture something .

This allows a good deal of artistic leeway where a photographer can express their vision, philosophies, opinions, or artistic expression as they create their images.

A photo story  is a portfolio of images that illustrate – you guessed it – a story.

Because of this, there are distinct types of images that a photo story uses that add to the understanding, insight, clarity and meaning to the story for viewers. While they can certainly be artistically crafted and visually stunning, photo stories document something happening, and rely on visual variety for capturing the full experience.

A photo essay doesn’t need to have the same level of structured variety that a photo story requires. It can have images that overlap or are similar, as they each explore various aspects of a theme.

Photo essays can be about any topic. If you live in a city, consider using your nature photography to make an essay about the wildlife that lives in your neighborhood . 

The role of text with photos

A photo story typically runs alongside text that narrates the story. We’re a visual species, and the images help us feel like we are there, experiencing what’s happening. So, the images add significant power to the text, but they’re often a partner to it.

This isn’t always the case, of course. Sometimes photo stories don’t need or use text. It’s like reading a graphic novel that doesn’t use text. Moving through the different images that build on each other ultimately unveils the narrative.

Photo essays don’t need to rely on text to illuminate the images’ theme or topic. The photographer may use captions (or even a text essay), or they may let the images speak for themselves.

Definitions are helpful guidelines (not strict rules)

Some people categorize photo essays as either narrative or thematic. That’s essentially just calling photo stories “narrative photo essays” and photo essays “thematic photo essays.”

But, a story is a defined thing, and any writer/editor will tell you themes and topics are not the same as stories. And we use the word “story” in our daily lives as it’s defined. So, it makes far more sense to name the difference between a photo essay and a photo story, and bask in the same clarity writers enjoy .

Photo stories illustrate a particular experience, event, narrative, something that happened or is happening.

Photo essays explore an idea, concept, topic, theme, creative approach, big-picture something .

Both photo essays and photo stories are immensely powerful visual tools. And yes, the differences between them can certainly be blurred, as is always the case with art.

Simply use this distinction as a general guideline, providing extra clarity around what you’re making and why you’re making it.

To dig into specific types of images used to create powerful photo stories, check out this training: 6 Must-Have Shots for a Photo Story. 

Meanwhile, let’s dig deeper into photo essays.

Photo essays are a chance to try new styles or techniques that stretch your skills and creativity. This image was part of an essay exploring simplicity and shape, and helped me learn new skills in black and white post-processing.

How photo essays improve your photography

Creating photo essays is an amazing antidote if you’ve ever felt a lack of direction or purpose in your photography. Photo essays help build your photographic skills in at least 3 important ways.

1. You become more strategic in creating a body of work

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut of photographing whatever pops up in front of you. And when you do, you end up with a collection of stand-alone shots.

These singles may work fine as a print, a quick Instagram post, or an addition to your gallery of shots on your website. But amassing a bunch of one-off shots limits your opportunities as a photographer for everything from exhibits to getting your work published.

Building photo essays pushes you to think strategically about what you photograph, why, and how. You’re working toward a particular deliverable – a cohesive visual essay – with the images you create.

This elevates your skills in crafting your photo essay, and in how you curate the rest of your work, from galleries on your website to selecting images to sell as prints .

2. You become more purposeful in your composition skills

Composition is so much more than just following the rule of thirds, golden spirals, or thinking about the angle of light in a shot.

Composition is also about thinking ahead in what you’re trying to accomplish with a photograph – from what you’re saying through it to its emotional impact on a viewer – and where it fits within a larger body of work.

Photo essays push you to think critically about each shot – from coming up with fresh compositions for familiar subjects, to devising surprising compositions to fit within a collection, to creating compositions that expand on what’s already in a photo essay.

You’re pushed beyond creating a single pleasing frame, which leads you to shoot more thoughtfully and proactively than ever.

(Here’s a podcast episode on switching from reactive shooting to proactive shooting .)

3. You develop strong editing and curation skills

Selecting which images stay, and which get left behind is one of the hardest jobs on a photographer’s to-do list. Mostly, it’s because of emotional attachment.

You might think it’s an amazing shot because you know the effort that went into capturing it. Or perhaps when you look at it, you get a twinge of the joy or exhilaration you felt the moment you captured it. There’s also the second-guessing that goes into which of two similar images is the best – which will people like more? So you’re tempted to just show both.

Ultimately, great photographers appear all the more skilled because they only show their best work. That in and of itself is a skill they’ve developed through years of ruthlessly editing their own work.

Because the most powerful photo essays only show a handful of extraordinary images, you’re bound to develop the very same critical skill (and look all the more talented because of it).

Photo essays are also a great stepping stone to creating photo stories. If you’re interested in moving beyond stand-alone shots and building stories, shooting photo essays will get your creative brain limbered up and ready for the adventure of photo stories.

A photo essay exploring the natural history of a favorite species is an exciting opportunity for an in-depth study. For me, that was a photo essay on emotive images of the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) as it hunts in streams. 

9 Simple steps to create your photo essays

1. clarify your theme.

Choose a theme, topic, or concept you want to explore. Spend some time getting crystal clear on what you want to focus on. It helps to write out a few sentences, or even a few paragraphs noting:

• What you want the essay to be about
• What kinds of images you want to create as part of it
• How you’ll photograph the images
• The style, techniques, or gear you might use to create your images
• What “success” looks like when you’re done with your photo essay

You don’t have to stick to what you write down, of course. It can change during the image creation process. But fleshing your idea out on paper goes a long way in clarifying your photo essay theme and how you’ll go about creating it.

2. Create your images

Grab your camera and head outside!

As you’re photographing your essay, allow yourself some freedom to experiment. Try unusual compositions or techniques that are new to you.

Stretch your style a little, or “try on” the style of other photographers you admire who have photographed similar subjects.

Photo essays are wonderful opportunities to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and grow as a photographer.

Remember that a photo essay is a visually cohesive collection of images that make sense together. So, while you might stretch yourself into new terrain as you shoot, try to keep that approach, style, or strategy consistent.

Don’t be afraid to create lots of images. It’s great to have lots to choose from in the editing process, which comes up next.

3. Pull together your wide edit

Once you’ve created your images, pull together all the images that might make the cut. This could be as many as 40-60 images. Include anything you want to consider for the final essay in the wide edit.

From here, start weeding out images that:

• are weaker in composition or subject matter
• stand out like a sore thumb from the rest of the collection
• Are similar to other stronger images in the collection

It’s helpful to review the images at thumbnail size. You make more instinctive decisions and can more easily see the body of work as a whole. If an image is strong even at thumbnail size to stand out from similar frames while also partnering well with other images in the collection, that’s a good sign it’s strong enough for the essay.

4. Post-process your images for a cohesive look

Now it’s time to post-process the images. Use whatever editing software you’re comfortable with to polish your images.

Again, a photo essay has a cohesive visual look. If you use presets, filters, or other tools, use them across all the images.

5. Finalize your selection

It’s time to make the tough decisions. Select only the strongest for your photo essay from your group of images.

Each image should be strong enough to stand on its own and make sense as part of the whole group.

Many photo essays range from 8-12 images. But of course, it varies based on the essay. The number of images you have in your final photo essay is up to you.

Remember, less is more. A photo essay is most powerful when each image deserves to be included.

6. Put your images in a purposeful order

Create a visual flow with your images. Decide which image is first, and build from there. Use compositions, colors, and subject matter to decide which image goes next, then next, then next in the order.

Think of it like music: notes are arranged in a way that builds energy, or slows it down, surprise listeners with a new refrain, or drop into a familiar chorus. How the notes are ordered creates emotional arcs for listeners.

How you order your images is similar.

Think of the experience a viewer will have as they look at one image, then the next, and the next. Order your images so they create the experience you want your audience to have.

7. Get feedback

The best photographers make space for feedback, even when it’s tough to hear. Your work benefits from not just hearing feedback, but listening to it and applying what you learn from it.

Show your photo essay to people who have different sensibilities or tastes. Friends, family members, fellow photographers – anyone you trust to give you honest feedback.

Watch their reactions and hear what they say about what they’re seeing. Use their feedback to guide you in the next step.

8. Refine, revise, and finalize

Let your photo essay marinate for a little while. Take a day or two away from it. Then use your freshened eyes and the feedback you received from the previous step to refine your essay.

Swap out any selects you might want to change and reorder the images if needed.

9. Add captions

Even if you don’t plan on displaying captions with your images, captioning your images is a great practice to get into. It gives context, story, and important information to each image. And, more than likely, you will want to use these captions at some point when you share your photo essay, which we dive into later in this article.

Add captions to the image files using Lightroom, Bridge, or other software programs.

Create a document, such as a Google or Word doc, with captions for each image.

In your captions, share a bit about the story behind the image, or the creation process. Add whatever makes sense to share that provides a greater understanding of the image and its purpose.

Photo essays allow you to explore deliberate style choices, such as a focus on shapes, patterns, textures, and lines. Since each photo is part of a larger essay, it encourages you to be bold with choices you might not otherwise make. 

5 Examples of amazing nature photo essays

1. “how the water shapes us” from the nature conservancy.

This gorgeous essay, crafted with the work of multiple photographers, explores the people and places within the Mississippi River basin. Through the images, we gain a sense of how the water influences life from the headwater all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Notice how each photographer is tasked with the same theme, yet approaches it with their own distinct style and vision. It is a wonderful example of the sheer level of visual variety you can have while maintaining a consistent style or theme.

View it here

2. “A Cyclist on the English Landscape” from New York Times’ The World Through A Lens series

This photo essay is a series of self-portraits by travel photographer Roff Smith while “stuck” at home during the pandemic. As he peddled the roads making portraits, the project evolved into a “celebration of traveling at home”. It’s a great example of how visually consistent you can be inside a theme while making each image completely unique.

3. “Vermont, Dressed In Snow” from New York Times’ The World Through A Lens series

This essay by aerial photographer Caleb Kenna uses a very common photo essay theme: snow. Because all images are aerial photographs, there’s a consistency to them. Yet, the compositions are utterly unique from one another. It’s a great example of keeping viewers surprised as they move from one image to the next while still maintaining a clear focus on the theme.

4. “Starling-Studded Skies” from bioGraphic Magazine

This beautiful essay is by Kathryn Cooper, a physicist trained in bioinformatics, and a talented photographer. She used a 19th century photographic technique, chronophotography, to create images that give us a look at the art and science of starling murmurations. She states: “I’m interested in the transient moments when chaos briefly changes to order, and thousands of individual bodies appear to move as one.” This essay is a great example of deep exploration of a concept using a specific photographic technique.

View it here   (Note: must be viewed on desktop)

5. “These Scrappy Photos Capture the Action-Packed World Beneath a Bird Feeder” from Audubon Magazine

This photo essay from conservation photographer Carla Rhodes explores the wildlife that takes advantage of the bounty of food waiting under bird feeders . Using remote camera photography , Rhodes gives viewers a unique ground-level perspective and captures moments that make us feel like we’re in conversation with friends in the Hundred Acre Woods. This essay is a great example of how perspective, personality, and chance can all come into play as you explore both an idea and a technique.

25 Ideas for creative photo essays you can make

The possibilities for photo essays are truly endless – from the concepts you explore to the techniques you use and styles you apply.

Choose an idea, hone your unique perspective on it, then start applying the 9 simple steps from above. 

• The life of a plant or animal (your favorite species, a species living in your yard, etc)
• The many shapes of a single species (a tree species, a bird species, etc)
• How a place changes over time
• The various moods of a place
• A conservation issue you care about
• Math in nature
• Urban nature
• Seasonal changes
• Your yard as a space for nature
• Shifting climate and its impacts
• Human impacts on environments
• Elements: Water, wind, fire, earth
• Day in the life (of a person, a place, a stream, a tree…)
• Outdoor recreation (birding, kayaking, hiking, naturalist journaling…)
• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Lunar cycles
• Sunlight and shadows
• Your local watershed
• Coexistence

As you zero in on a photo essay theme, consider two things: what most excites you about an idea, and what about it pushes you out of your comfort zone. The heady mix of joy and challenge will ensure you stick with it. 

Your photo essay is ready for the world! Decide how you’d like to make an impact with your work. You might use one or several of the options below.

1. Share it on your website

Create a gallery or a scrollytelling page on your website. This is a great way to drive traffic to your website where people can peruse your photo essay and the rest of the photography you have.

Putting it on your website and optimizing your images for SEO helps you build organic traffic and potentially be discovered by a broader audience, including photo editors.

2. Create a scrollytelling web page

If you enjoy the experience of immersive visual experiences, consider making one using your essay. And no, you don’t have to be a whiz at code to make it happen.

Shorthand helps you build web pages with scrollytelling techniques that make a big impression on viewers. Their free plan allows you to publish 3 essays or stories.

3. Create a Medium post

If you don’t have a website and want to keep things simple, a post on Medium is a great option.

Though it’s known for being a platform for bloggers, it’s also possible to add images to a post for a simple scroll.

And, because readers can discover and share posts, it’s a good place for your photos to get the attention of people who might not otherwise come across it.

4. Share it on Instagram

Instagram has changed a lot over the last couple of years, but it’s still a place for photographers to share their work thoughtfully.

There are at least 3 great ways to share your photo essay on the platform.

– Create a single post for each image. Add a caption. Publish one post per day until the full essay is on your feed. Share each post via Instagram Stories to bring more attention and interaction to your photo essay.

– Create a carousel post. You can add up 10 photos to a carousel post, so you may need to create two of them for your full photo essay. Or you might create a series of carousel posts using 3-4 images in each.

– Create a Reel featuring your images as a video.  The algorithm heavily favors reels, so turning your photo essay into a video experience can get it out to a larger audience.

I ran a “create a reel” challenge in my membership community. One member created a reel with her still images around a serious conservation issue. It gathered a ton of attention and landed her opportunities to share her message through YouTube and podcast interviews and publishing opportunities. Watch it here.

5. Exhibit it locally

Reach out to local galleries, cafes, pubs, or even the public library to see if they’re interested in hanging your photo essay for display. Many local businesses and organizations happily support the work of local artists.

6. Pitch your photo essay to publications

One of the best ways to reach an audience with your work is to get it published. Find publications that are a great fit for the theme and style of your photo essay, then pitch your essay for consideration. You gain a fantastic opportunity to share your work widely and can earn a paycheck at the same time.

Remember that if you want to get your photo essay published, you may want to hold back from sharing it publicly before you pitch it to publications.

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‘If we can’t fish any more, we’re going to die’: the volunteer sea patrols protecting precious Philippine waters

Dedicated groups called Bantay Dagat aim to conserve the abundant marine life surrounding their thousands of islands, which has been under pressure for years from intensive overfishing

• Photographs by Marla Tomorug/Edges of Earth

I t is midnight on a beach in southern Negros Oriental, a province in the central Philippines , and everything is dark and silent. Except, that is, for the scene playing out in front of a small guardhouse made of bamboo. There, seven people have congregated: one middle-aged man is splayed on a bench, a man and a woman in sports vests hug their knees to their chest while chatting, and others walk back and forth barefoot with torches and green laser pointers shining out beyond the sand. All eyes are set on a portion of the ocean loosely cordoned off by some white buoys.

These are the Bantay Dagat, the sea patrol, a team of village-appointed volunteers who take turns staying up all night to guard their waters. They fend off any local people trying to illegally fish in the community marine sanctuaries, and any commercial fishers trying to trespass into municipal waters within 15km (nine miles) of the coastline.

“The only chance for us to survive is to police among ourselves,” says the 48-year-old Antonio “Toni” Yocor, who helped found the local Bantay Dagat in 2005 and has spent thousands of nights on watch ever since, searching for the telltale glare of underwater lights. Just the night before, they had to chase eight intruders off into the darkness.

The ocean surrounding the 7,641 islands of the Philippines is one of the world’s most abundant in marine biodiversity. With a reef system that spans more than 22,000 sq km , it is the crown jewel of the Indo-Pacific Coral Triangle.

But this underwater treasure has been steadily depleted due to warming and acidifying seas, chemical and plastic pollution and, crucially, intensive overfishing and destructive harvesting techniques. Throughout the decades, commercial fishers have trawled and scraped through entire coral beds with superfine-mesh nets destroying everything in their wake.

For the 1.1 million Filipinos fishing in these reefs and, for the main part, living in poverty, the sea has just been thought of as a means to an end for eating and sustaining their family. “People are thinking about how to get as much fish as they can, but they don’t think about sustainability,” says Ceasar Ruiz, who was brought up in a small fishing village.

While fish were once so abundant they seemed to jump on to the hooks, fishers began to find their catch getting smaller.

To counter the trend, in the 1970s, the government introduced marine protected areas (MPAs) – no-fishing zones. MPAs, also known as marine sanctuaries, would not only protect precious coral reefs from further destruction to preserve biodiversity but also act as nurseries for juvenile fish.

Filipino waters are now home to more than 1,500 MPAs but while some of them are overseen and funded by the national government, more than 90% of sanctuaries are small and community-managed, relying heavily on local government and village volunteers for enforcement.

And getting local communities on board with the sanctuaries hasn’t been easy, with MPA boundaries frequently being vandalised or ignored. Even authorities turned a blind eye to any wrongdoing because the fishers were often “their compadres”, says Yocor.

When Yocor started the patrol team, many family members and neighbours saw him as a traitor who’d turned his back on the town’s food security needs. He says he would routinely take a gun to his Bantay Dagat night shifts in case tensions rose and encounters got “nasty”.

Today, MPA intruders are less frequent and less violent, and mostly local poachers who are trying to sneak in for a large catch of fish just when their family has nothing to eat or a big debt to pay off. “It’s a very hard encounter, they are desperate. I understand, I’m a fisherman too,” says Yocor. The wardens flash their lights at the intruders, chase them away on foot or by boat, and sometimes manage to apprehend and fine them according to the powers they’ve been given.

Data on the progress of the wildlife in these MPAs is collected by citizen scientists from the nonprofit organisation Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP), who come out to the MPAs daily to survey the corals, invertebrates and fish. MCP also provides a large part of the funding needed to support the Bantay Dagat and other volunteer efforts, such as the team of 35 bantay women who safeguard the island’s mangrove forests, which are fundamental for flourishing ocean ecosystems as fish use them to spawn.

“People don’t care about the mangroves, they say their fishing nets get stuck in the mangroves, but preserving them will benefit the whole community living in this area, and all coastal areas,” says Evelyn Buca, who heads the volunteer project, as she looks out on to the mangroves she has been watching over since she was 11 years old.

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Rose Anne Yocor, Toni’s niece, runs MCP’s coastal plastic-collecting programme. The Philippines is the one of the world’s largest ocean plastic polluters, and her team collects an average of 400kg of plastic every day from the water and beaches.

These collective efforts have helped change the narrative about how all ocean-safeguarding efforts are interconnected and fundamental for the sake of food security. “Everybody has started understanding that we need to conserve and protect our marine environments because it’s the last frontier, if we can’t fish here any more, we’re going to die,” says Mario Neil Montemar, the president of the local Fisherfolks Association and a former member of one of the Bantay Dagat chapters. “Fisherfolk are the poorest of the poor.”

But the issue of illegal fishing “will go on and on” if central government doesn’t provide proper resources, says Montemar. “The Bantay Dagat also needs to eat, they are fishers who also need to give their family food on the table.”

More than 20,000 commercial vessels entered Philippine municipal waters in 2023. When these ships encroach and rake in hundreds of thousands of kilos of fish – the second type of infraction Bantay Dagat need to look out for – a couple of volunteers sailing out on a small bangka (the boats used to fish and get around many Philippine islands) is not a very effective deterrent. Montemar once went face to face with a big commercial fishing operator and was told his life was worth less than the 5,000 pesos (£70) the mogul would pay to have him killed.

Even if all the municipal water restrictions were robustly enforced, Philippine law mandates that 15% of municipal waters be designated as no-fishing zones – but fewer than 1% of them are.

The Philippines would benefit from a network of connected and well-maintained MPAs with support from central and local governments, says Rene Abesamis, a marine biologist at the University of the Philippines and a leading expert on MPAs.

Bantay Dagat should also become professionalised, trained, and paid like the rangers on the Great Barrier Reef, says Abesamis, something that’s being discussed in the national parliament. “We may have a chance if we get things right,” he says.

At midday on another beach in southern Negros Oriental, wind chimes made of shells and coral branches tinkle in the wind, and a man and woman sit on the makeshift porch of a bamboo guardhouse looking out to sea. Spotting illegal fishers during daylight is a little easier: 64-year-old Carmen Pajula, who spearheaded the Fisherfolks Association before Montemar and has spent her fair share of days and nights patrolling MPAs, says she sees only one way forward for her people – molampos , which means “to prosper”.

• Seascape: the state of our oceans
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As the ocean is never full of water, so is the heart never full of love.

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Budlaan Falls

by: Clark Banuelos

Isang memorableng lugar kung saan kami, mga miyembro dito sa sanysay, ay pumunta pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng pasulit. Dito kami nagpalipas ng oras dahil kahit sa sandali na iyon nakapag pahinga kami at nagkasiyahan kami sa araw na iyon, kahit sa sandali na iyon nagkaroon kami ng oras para sa amin magbabarkada.

Palm Beach sa Minglanilla

by: Concito P. Galan

Ito ang dagat na aming pinuntahan ng kami magkaklase pagkatapos ng pasulit para maglibang at mawala ang mga problema kahit sandali. Dito sa dagat na ito, mas naging malapit kami magkaklase.

Anika Beach Resort

by: Hannah Maxine Albuena

Basdaku White Beach

by: Cyril Jane Chavez

Lambug Beach

by: Cyril Cañete

Sa dagat sa Badian, dito kami nagsama-sama ng aking pamilya. Nagkasiyahan, nagkaisa sa aking mga mahal sa buhay at kinalimutan ang mga problema sa sandaling panahon.

Tangkaan Falls

by: Shylove Bayawa

Di talaga magiging malungkot ang araw mo kapag kasama mo ang iyong tropa. Kahit saan man magpunta, kahit pera may magkulang at kahit mamoblema kung pano uuwi ay di parin mapapalitan ang kasiyahang kanilang ipinadama.

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Published by Hannah Maxine

I am in love with the sound of waves,it helps me feel at ease, relax. I love the late night talks with close friend and just sitting on the sand with bonfire at the center. I love those simple things💖 View all posts by Hannah Maxine

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23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

A Post By: Kevin Landwer-Johan

Looking for inspiration? Our 23 photo essay ideas will take your photography skills to new heights!

A single, strong photograph can convey a lot of information about its subject – but sometimes we have topics that require more than one image to do the job. That’s when it’s time to make a photo essay: a collection of pictures that together tell the bigger story around a chosen theme.

In the following sections, we’ll explore various photo essay ideas and examples that cover a wide range of subjects and purposes. From capturing the growth of your children to documenting local festivals, each idea offers an exciting opportunity to tell a story through your lens, whether you’re a hobbyist or a veteran professional.

So grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and let’s delve into the wonderful world of photo essay examples!

What is a photo essay?

Simply put, a photo essay is a series of carefully selected images woven together to tell a story or convey a message. Think of it as a visual narrative that designed to capture attention and spark emotions.

Now, these images can revolve around a broad theme or focus on a specific storyline. For instance, you might create a photo essay celebrating the joy of companionship by capturing 10 heartwarming pictures of people sharing genuine laughter. On the other hand, you could have a photo essay delving into the everyday lives of fishermen in Wales by following a single fisherman’s journey for a day or even a week.

It’s important to note that photo essays don’t necessarily have to stick to absolute truth. While some documentary photographers prefer to keep it authentic, others may employ techniques like manipulation or staging to create a more artistic impact. So there is room for creativity and interpretation.

Why you should create a photo essay

Photo essays have a way of expressing ideas and stories that words sometimes struggle to capture. They offer a visual narrative that can be incredibly powerful and impactful.

Firstly, photo essays are perfect when you have an idea or a point you want to convey, but you find yourself at a loss for words. Sometimes, emotions and concepts are better conveyed through images rather than paragraphs. So if you’re struggling to articulate a message, you can let your photos do the talking for you.

Second, if you’re interested in subjects that are highly visual, like the mesmerizing forms of architecture within a single city, photo essays are the way to go. Trying to describe the intricate details of a building or the play of light and shadows with words alone can be challenging. But through a series of captivating images, you can immerse your audience in the architecture.

And finally, if you’re aiming to evoke emotions or make a powerful statement, photo essays are outstanding. Images have an incredible ability to shock, inspire, and move people in ways that words often struggle to achieve. So if you want to raise awareness about an environmental issue or ignite a sense of empathy, a compelling series of photographs can have a profound impact.

Photo essay examples and ideas

Looking to create a photo essay but don’t know where to start? Here are some handy essay ideas and examples for inspiration!

1. A day in the life

Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else’s life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house. 

The subject matter you choose is up to you. But start in the morning and create a series of images showing your subject over the course of a typical day.

(Alternatively, you can document your subject on a special day, like a birthday, a wedding, or some other celebration.)

2. Capture hands

Portraits focus on a subject’s face – but why not mix it up and make a photo essay that focuses on your subject’s hands?

(You can also focus on a collection of different people’s hands.)

Hands can tell you a lot about a person. And showing them in context is a great way to narrate a story.

3. Follow a sports team for a full season

Sports are all about emotions – both from the passionate players and the dedicated fans. While capturing the intensity of a single game can be exhilarating, imagine the power of telling the complete story of a team throughout an entire season.

For the best results, you’ll need to invest substantial time in sports photography. Choose a team that resonates with you and ensure their games are within a drivable distance. By photographing their highs and lows, celebrations and challenges, you’ll create a compelling photo essay that traces their journey from the first game to the last.

4. A child and their parent

Photographs that catch the interaction between parents and children are special. A parent-child connection is strong and unique, so making powerful images isn’t challenging. You just need to be ready to capture the special moments as they happen. 

You might concentrate on a parent teaching their child. Or the pair playing sports. Or working on a special project.

Use your imagination, and you’ll have a great time with this theme.

5. Tell a local artist’s story 

I’ve always enjoyed photographing artists as they work; studios have a creative vibe, so the energy is already there. Bring your camera into this environment and try to tell the artist’s story!

An artist’s studio offers plenty of opportunities for wonderful photo essays. Think about the most fascinating aspects of the artist’s process. What do they do that makes their art special? Aim to show this in your photos.

Many people appreciate fine art, but they’re often not aware of what happens behind the scenes. So documenting an artist can produce fascinating visual stories.

6. Show a tradesperson’s process

Do you have a plumber coming over to fix your kitchen sink? Is a builder making you a new deck?

Take photos while they work! Tell them what you want to do before you start, and don’t forget to share your photos with them.

They’ll probably appreciate seeing what they do from another perspective. They may even want to use your photos on their company website.

7. Photograph your kids as they grow

There’s something incredibly special about documenting the growth of our little ones. Kids grow up so quickly – before you know it, they’re moving out. Why not capture the beautiful moments along the way by creating a heartwarming photo essay that showcases their growth?

There are various approaches you can take, but one idea is to capture regular photos of your kids standing in front of a distinct point of reference, such as the refrigerator. Over a year or several years, you can gather these images and place them side by side to witness your childrens’ incredible transformations.

8. Cover a local community event

A school fundraiser, a tree-planting day at a park, or a parade; these are are all community events that make for good photo essay ideas.

Think like a photojournalist . What type of images would your editor want? Make sure to capture some wide-angle compositions , some medium shots, and some close-ups.

(Getting in close to show the details can often tell as much of a story as the wider pictures.)

9. Show fresh market life

Markets are great for photography because there’s always plenty of activity and lots of characters. Think of how you can best illustrate the flow of life at the market. What are the vendors doing that’s most interesting? What are the habits of the shoppers?

Look to capture the essence of the place. Try to portray the people who work and shop there.

10. Shoot the same location over time

What location do you visit regularly? Is there a way you can make an interesting photo essay about it?

Consider what you find most attractive and ugly about the place. Look for aspects that change over time. 

Any outdoor location will look different throughout the day. Also think about the changes that occur from season to season. Create an essay that tells the story of the place.

11. Document a local festival

Festivals infuse cities and towns with vibrant energy and unique cultural experiences. Even if your own town doesn’t have notable festivals, chances are a neighboring town does. Explore the magic of these celebrations by documenting a local festival through your lens.

Immerse yourself in the festivities, arriving early and staying late. Capture the colorful displays and the people who make the festival come alive. If the festival spans multiple days, consider focusing on different areas each time you visit to create a diverse and comprehensive photo essay that truly reflects the essence of the event.

12. Photograph a garden through the seasons

It might be your own garden . It could be the neighbor’s. It could even be the garden at your local park.

Think about how the plants change during the course of a year. Capture photos of the most significant visual differences, then present them as a photo essay.

13. Show your local town or city

After spending several years in a particular area, you likely possess an intimate knowledge of your local town or city. Why not utilize that familiarity to create a captivating photo essay that showcases the essence of your community?

Delve into what makes your town special, whether it’s the charming streets, unique landmarks, or the people who shape its character. Dedicate time to capturing the diverse aspects that define your locale. If you’re up for a more extensive project, consider photographing the town over the course of an entire year, capturing the changing seasons and the dynamic spirit of your community.

14. Pick a local cause to highlight

Photo essays can go beyond passive documentation; they can become a part of your activism, too!

So find a cause that matters to you. Tell the story of some aspect of community life that needs improvement. Is there an ongoing issue with litter in your area? How about traffic; is there a problematic intersection?

Document these issues, then make sure to show the photos to people responsible for taking action.

15. Making a meal

Photo essay ideas can be about simple, everyday things – like making a meal or a coffee.

How can you creatively illustrate something that seems so mundane? My guess is that, when you put your mind to it, you can come up with many unique perspectives, all of which will make great stories.

16. Capture the life of a flower

In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. Flowers, with their mesmerizing colors and rapid life cycles, offer a captivating subject for a photo essay. Try to slow down and appreciate the intricate details of a flower’s existence.

With a macro lens in hand, document a single flower or a patch of flowers from their initial shoots to their inevitable wilting and decomposition. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to bring viewers into the enchanting world of the flower. By freezing these fleeting moments, you’ll create a visual narrative that celebrates the cycle of life and the exquisite beauty found in nature’s delicate creations.

17. Religious traditions

Religion is often rich with visual expression in one form or another. So capture it!

Of course, you may need to narrow down your ideas and choose a specific aspect of worship to photograph. Aim to show what people do when they visit a holy place, or how they pray on their own. Illustrate what makes their faith real and what’s special about it.

18. Historic sites

Historic sites are often iconic, and plenty of photographers take a snapshot or two.

But with a photo essay, you can illustrate the site’s history in greater depth.

Look for details of the location that many visitors miss. And use these to build an interesting story.

19. Show the construction of a building

Ever been away from a familiar place for a while only to return and find that things have changed? It happens all the time, especially in areas undergoing constant development. So why not grab your camera and document this transformation?

Here’s the idea: Find a building that’s currently under construction in your area. It could be a towering skyscraper, a modern office complex, or even a small-scale residential project. Whatever catches your eye! Then let the magic of photography unfold.

Make it a habit to take a photo every day or two. Watch as the building gradually takes shape and evolves. Capture the construction workers in action, the cranes reaching for the sky, and the scaffolding supporting the structure.

Once the building is complete, you’ll have a treasure trove of images that chronicle its construction from start to finish!

20. Document the changing skyline of the city

This photo essay example is like the previous one, except it works on a much larger scale. Instead of photographing a single building as it’s built, find a nice vantage point outside your nearest city, then photograph the changing skyline.

To create a remarkable photo essay showcasing the changing skyline, you’ll need to scout out the perfect vantage point. Seek high ground that offers a commanding view of the city, allowing you to frame the skyline against the horizon. Look for spots that give you an unobstructed perspective, whether a rooftop terrace, a hillside park, or even a nearby bridge.

As you set out on your photography expedition, be patient and observant. Cities don’t transform overnight; they change gradually over time. Embrace the passage of days, weeks, and months as you witness the slow evolution unfold.

Pro tip: To capture the essence of this transformation, experiment with various photographic techniques. Play with different angles, framing, and compositions to convey the grandeur and dynamism of the changing skyline. Plus, try shooting during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset , when the soft light bathes the city in a warm glow and accentuates the architectural details.

21. Photograph your pet

If you’re a pet owner, you already have the perfect subject for a photo essay!

All pets , with the possible exception of pet rocks, will provide you with a collection of interesting moments to photograph.

So collect these moments with your camera – then display them as a photo essay showing the nature and character of your pet.

22. Tell the story of a local nature preserve

Ah, the wonders of a local nature preserve! While it may not boast the grandeur of Yosemite National Park, these hidden gems hold their own beauty, just waiting to be discovered and captured through the lens of your camera.

To embark on this type of photo essay adventure, start by exploring all the nooks and crannies of your chosen nature preserve. Wander along its winding trails, keeping an eye out for unique and captivating subjects that convey the essence of the preserve.

As you go along, try to photograph the intricate details of delicate wildflowers, the interplay of light filtering through a dense forest canopy, and the lively activities of birds and other wildlife.

23. Show the same subject from multiple perspectives

It’s possible to create an entire photo essay in a single afternoon – or even in a handful of minutes. If you don’t love the idea of dedicating yourself to days of photographing for a single essay, this is a great option.

Simply find a subject you like, then endeavor to capture 10 unique images that include it. I’d recommend photographing from different angles: up above, down low, from the right and left. You can also try getting experimental with creative techniques, such as intentional camera movement and freelensing. If all goes well, you’ll have a very cool set of images featuring one of your favorite subjects!

By showcasing the same subject from multiple perspectives, you invite viewers on a visual journey. They get to see different facets, textures, and details that they might have overlooked in a single photograph. It adds depth and richness to your photo essay, making it both immersive and dynamic.

Photo essay ideas: final words

Remember: Photo essays are all about communicating a concept or a story through images rather than words. So embrace the process and use images to express yourself!

Whether you choose to follow a sports team through a thrilling season, document the growth of your little ones, or explore the hidden treasures of your local town, each photo essay has its own magic waiting to be unlocked. It’s a chance to explore your creativity and create images in your own style.

So look at the world around you. Grab your gear and venture out into the wild. Embrace the beauty of nature, the energy of a bustling city, or the quiet moments that make life special. Consider what you see every day. What aspects interest you the most? Photograph those things.

You’re bound to end up with some amazing photo essays!

Now over to you:

Do you have any photo essay examples you’re proud of? Do you have any more photo essay ideas? Share your thoughts and images in the comments below!

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

Kevin Landwer-Johan is a photographer, photography teacher, and author with over 30 years of experience that he loves to share with others.

Check out his website and his Buy Me a Coffee page .

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THE CARILLON

The Carillon is the official UP alumni newsletter, published since the 1950s. Its publication and distribution are managed by the UP System Office of Alumni Relations with the Director as official editor. With the objective of giving UP alumni a continuing communication link with and a sense of connection to the University and fellow alumni, The Carillon contains original feature articles from the different UP units, UP alumni chapters, and from fellow individual alumni. The new 2022 issue has UP Visayas Diwata ng Dagat statue in its front cover which may be viewed in Augmented Reality using iPhone (running at least iOS 13), iPad (running at least iPadOS 13), and Android. Feature stories include the Diwata ng Dagat and UPV’s 75-Year History as Cover Story; the story of five decades of alumni engagement of the UP SILAK Brotherhood and UP SILAB Sisterhood in UP Visayas; and a Spotlight on the Ilonggo-born brotherhood and sisterhood of UP Hamili and UP Hamilia. A special treat is the centerspread photo essay of select locations in Revisiting the University of the Philippines Visayas. Additionally, the issue also includes stories of our alumni in the Philippines and abroad. Regular sections like In Memoriam, Accolades, and Topnotchers List are still part of the issue to recognize our supportive and outstanding alumni.

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The Carillon issue (2022)

The January – December 2022 issue of Carillon, the University’s official alumni magazine is finally here! UP Carillon 2022

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Books to read: these are the winners of the carlos palanca memorial awards for literature.

Photo: Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, which staged its 70th edition after a two-year hiatus, recently held its annual ceremony to honor the winning writers, poets, and playwrights. A total of 59 writers, 28 of which are first-time awardees, were chosen as this year’s recipients.

The total number of writing categories awarded was 22, as the Novel and Nobela categories were open this year, with the surprise addition of a Special Prize for each. All winning entries were evaluated by an elite roster of literary luminaries handpicked for their respective expertise.

It was Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson who stood as the Guest of Honor and Speaker at this year’s awarding ceremony. A professor emeritus of the U.P. Film Institute and former Dean of the U.P. Diliman College of Mass Communication, he has shaped many young minds in the fields of film, media, literature, and theater. Dr. Tiongson is also a founding member and former chair of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino , among other organizations he helped establish. He has published various studies on Philippine film and theater and harnessed the power of the written word to create the films, books, articles, reviews, and interviews that earned him various accolades throughout his career.

Named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr., the Palanca Awards continuously seeks to cultivate Philippine Literature by providing incentives for writers and serving as a treasury of these literary gems. It is considered the gold standard in writing excellence, highly coveted by Filipino writers, young and old, here and abroad alike.

Following is the list of winners of the 70th Palanca Awards:

Kabataan Division

Kabataan sanaysay.

1st Prize: Glorious Zavannah Exylin C. Alesna for Pamimintana

2nd Prize: Hansly Kendrich C. Saw for Ang Larong Naipanalo Ko

3rd Prize: John Clarence D. Espedido for Mga Bantas ang Nagsilbi kong Guro

Kabataan Essay

1st Prize: Glorious Zahara Exylin C. Alesna for Home is a Bowl of Warm Soup

2nd Prize: Jenine A. Santos for Covid-19 is My Alter Ego

3rd Prize: Gavin Micah T. Herrera for The Social Pandemic

Filipino Division

Maikling kuwento.

1st Prize: Charmaine M. Lasar for Ang Value ng X Kapag Choppy si Mam

2nd Prize: Abegail E. Pariente for Barangay Alitaptap

3rd Prize: Alec Joshua B. Paradeza for Kung sa Bawat Pagtawag ay Pagtawid sa Dagat

Maikling Kuwentong Pambata

1st Prize: Mark Norman S. Boquiren for Si VeRaptor1 Laban kay Trolakuz

2nd Prize: Wilfredo Farrales Sarangaya for Balong Batsit, ang Bidang Bulilit at Bayaning Bulinggit

3rd Prize: Benedick N. Damaso for Mirasol para kay Lola Sol

1st Prize: Venice Kayla Dacanay Delica for Kung Magkapalad Ka’t Mangmang

2nd Prize: Jhon Lester P. Sandigan for Tatlong Pancit Canton

3rd Prize Nathaniel R. Alcantara for Isang Dekadang Kontrata sa Piling ng mga Mikrobyo

1st Prize: Ralph Lorenz G. Fonte, M.D. for Uyayi ng mga Patay na Buwan

2nd Prize: Enrique S. Villasis for Pintula

3rd Prize: Sonny C. Sendon for Mga Anino sa Guho at iba pang mga tula

Tula Para sa mga Bata

1st Prize: Christian R. Vallez for Tula, Tula, Paano ka Ginawa?

2nd Prize: Rebecca T. Anonuevo for Ale Bangbang

3rd Prize: Ninia H. dela Cruz for Mga Pahina sa Alaala ng Nanay

Dulang may Isang Yugto

1st Prize: Andrew Bonifacio L. Clete for Punks Not Dead

2nd Prize: Layeta P. Bucoy for Dance of the Foolies

3rd Prize: Ryan Machado for Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria

Dulang Ganap ang Haba

1st Prize: Joshua Lim So for Mga Silid ng Unos: Tomo Uno

2nd Prize: Rodolfo C. Vera for Anak Datu

3rd Prize: Steven Prince C. Fernandez for Badung

Dulang Pampelikula

1st Prize: Avelino Mark C. Balmes, Jr. for Amoy Pulbos

2nd Prize: Noreen Besmar Capili for DOS

3rd Prize: Ehdison M. Dimen for Ang Pananalangin sa Getsemani

Regional Division

Short story – cebuano.

1st Prize: Noel P. Tuazon for Barang

2nd Prize: Manu Avenido for Ikigai

3rd Prize: Januar E. Yap for John Wayne ug ang Goldfish kong Inahan

Short Story – Hiligaynon

1st Prize: Peter Solis Nery for Ang Macatol Kag Ang “Queen of Relief”

2nd Prize: Early Sol A. Gadong for Malipayon nga Katapusan

3rd Prize: Ritchie D. Pagunsan for Esperanza

Short Story – Ilokano

1st Prize: Oswald Ancheta Valente for Ti Kimat Ken Ti Silag

2nd Prize: Remedios S. Tabelisma-Aguillon for Ti Ubing

3rd Prize: Rodolfo D. Agatep Jr. for Karton

English Division

Short story.

1st Prize: Ian Rosales Casocot for Ceferina in Apartment 2G 2nd Prize: Exie Abola for Ardor 3rd Prize: Hammed Bolotaolo for The Money Changer

Short Story for Children

1st Prize: NO WINNER 2nd Prize: Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba for Cloud Keeper 3rd Prize: Heather Ann Ferrer Pulido for My Grandma who lives in Half a House

1st Prize: Alfonso Tomas P. Araullo for Letter from Tawi-Tawi

2nd Prize: Michaela Sarah De Leon for Filipino Millennial Monomyth

3rd Prize: Alexandra Francesca A. Bichara for The Helmsman’s Daughter

1st Prize: Ramil Digal Gulle Bol-anon for Prodigal

2nd Prize: Soleil David for A Few Dawns from now, A Sunfish

3rd Prize: Lawrence Anthony R. Bernabe for The Blueline

Poetry Written for Children

1st Prize: Elyrah L. Salanga-Torralba for An Empty Chair in the Corner

2nd Prize: Peter Solis Nery for Picnic, Symphony and other concepts a 4th Grader needs to know

3rd Prize: NO WINNER

One-Act Play

1st Prize: Ronald S. Covar for The Cave Dwellers

2nd Prize: Bonifacio P. Ilagan for Salvaged Eman

3rd Prize: Maria Kristine B. Roxas-Miller for Agencia Feliz

Full-Length Play

1st Prize: Layeta P. Bucoy for Orgullo Compound

2nd Prize: Jay Mariano Crisostomo IV for Black Bordello

3rd Prize: Dustin Edward D. Celestino for The Lost Filipino Patriots of America

Grand Prize: Raymundo T. Pandan, Jr. for Bittersweetland

Special Prize: Alvin Dela Serna Lopez for 1762

Grand Prize (Pangunahing Gantimpala): Khavn for ANTIMARCOS

Special Prize (Natatanging Gantimpala): Edgar Calabia Samar for Teorya ng Unang Panahon

What do you think? Share your thoughts below!

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