Language of the Lens: Photography and Visual Storytelling

Faculty Advisor: Adjunct Professor, New York University; Photographer

Research Program Introduction

How can we use images to communicate and to tell stories? How can we use pictures to document one’s self, one’s home, one’s family, or one’s community? How can we use images to shed light on social, cultural, or political issues or effect change? 

This program teaches students how to develop and execute personal and documentary photography projects. They will explore themes that interest them, produce images and written work, and consider how pictures and text can communicate persuasively with viewers. We will also address technical issues of photography and image-making according to students’ interest levels and experience.

Throughout the program, we will discuss students’ projects, examine photo essays and projects by prominent photographers, discuss the elements of an effective photograph, and, if relevant to students’ projects, discuss the ethical aspects of pursuing documentary work.

Students will also learn general and subject-specific research and academic writing methods used in universities and scholarly publications. After completing the program, they will focus on individual topics and generate their own work products.

Final Deliverables

Students will produce a photo essay or project to complete this program. They will also write an academic paper to explicate their work.

Possible Topics for Final Projects

• Self-portraiture or other examinations of personal identity

• Historic events (for example, Covid and its effects)

• Political or social issues

• Culture, religion, or ritual stories

• Family and/or family history

• Documenting one’s city, neighborhood, or community

• Other professor-approved research topics in this subject area that you are interested in

Program Details

• Cohort size: 3 to 5 students

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Workload: Around 4 hours per week (including class and homework time)

• Target students: 9 to 12th graders interested in English writing, photography, or cinematography. Visual artists who work in mediums other than photography and want to produce a personal project are also welcome to join.

  Required equipment: Each student needs to prepare a phone with a decent camera.