THE PICTURE STORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the different types of picture stories and the applicable technical requirements.

Knowing the detailed techniques for developing a picture story are requirements for senior journalists. However, at the J03 and J02 levels, you should be familiar with the various categories of picture stories.

TYPES OF PICTURE STORIES

There are seven basic types of picture stories and they are classified as follows:

Illustrated text

Photo-text combination

Pure picture story

Picture story within text

Single picture story

Abstract picture

Informal portrait

Illustrated Text

For this type of picture story, the text or story is written first, then one or more photographs are used to illustrate, or dramatize, its content. In reality, this is not a true picture story, since the photographs are incidental, rather than an integral part of the text. The photographs are used to dress up the page, make it attractive, give it character or establish a mood. Many magazines use the illustrated text format. They frequently introduce each story with a single illustration, full page size, that serves to attract the readers' attention and leads them into reading the story.

Photo-Text Combination

As the name indicates, the photo-text combination type of picture story uses a combination of both photographs and text. However, the photographs carry the weight of the story. The story is told primarily by related photographs arranged in some form of continuity. The text is important and provides worthwhile information relative to the photographs, but it is subordinate to the photographs. This is the easiest type of photograph story to develop and the one most commonly used in the Navy.

Pure Picture Story

In the pure picture story there is no text except for a brief introduction cutline. Of the seven picture story types, the pure picture story is the most difficult to develop. It is frequently presented in sequences of photographs taken at brief intervals. For example, a pure picture story of a VIP's arrival might show the aircraft landing, the disembarkation from the aircraft, handshaking with the greeting party, the inspection of an honor guard and the VIP entering a limousine. Pure picture stories normally are used only when the action is simple and familiar enough to the average reader so that no lengthy word description is required.

Picture Story Within Text

The picture story within text actually presents two separate but related stories. One story is told in words, the other in photographs. Both are complete in themselves. The text may be used without. the picture story, or the picture story maybe used without the text. Nevertheless, the combination of the two in a single layout makes the spread much more effective than either would be alone.

Single Picture Story

The single picture story is the most basic form of photojournalism. Single photographs, filled with impact, allow the viewer to "feel" the action and thus become involved with the subject.

The single picture story is similar to the lead photograph used in a longer picture story. It sums up the subject, evokes some emotion, or keys the action or the setting. The single picture, while strong, is also simple

Every photographic situation is different so there is no magic formula to tell you how to put impact or strength into a photograph to make it meaningful. Occasionally, the single meaningful picture is simply a matter of luck - being at the right place at the right time. More often, the photograph is the result of careful planning. In either case, the event is only captured because of the photographer's timing (fig. 12-19). "Timing" means capturing the moment of greatest significance. There is no exact way of predicting that moment. To be successful, you must anticipate what is coming and be ready when it arrives.

Abstract Picture

You may be objective or subjective in your approach to a subject. This is considered an abstract picture approach. When you use the objective approach, try to record the subject as faithfully as possible, presenting the subject for the viewer's own interpretation. When your approach is subjective, you engage your own feelings in your work. You approach the subject from the standpoint of your reactions. You want the viewer to

Art Giberson 165.8

Figure 12-19. - Photograph used in a single picture story.

feel as you felt when you recorded the subject. With this approach, the viewer is handed the reactions of the photographer and sees the subject as the photographer saw it.

It is the subjective approach that must be used to photograph the abstract - thoughts, emotions, and so forth. These are the subjects that primarily involve feelings rather than facts.

A photograph that captures an abstract idea or emotion conveys to viewers something with which they can identify. It stimulates their imagination and causes them to react emotionally.

To sense and capture abstract elements, you must have an understanding of what makes people react. Additionally, you must react yourself. You must see beauty and ugliness, feel love or hate, wonder at the

Tony Giberson 165.9

Figure 12-20. - Abstract photograph.

PH2 Ron Garrison

Figure 12-21. - Informal portrait.

great and small, and sense and appreciate your own emotions (fig. 12-20).

To communicate the abstract in photographs, you must develop and use your inner sensitivity. The more it is used, the more you photographs will be a successful reflection of your experiences and emotional nature. Plus, the more these elements appear in your work, the more viewers become involved with the photographs.