Photojournalism Discussion and Photo Essay Assignment

This lesson includes two video resources which highlight the accomplishments of photographers Annie Leibovitz and Dorothea Lange. Students answer discussion questions based on the videos. The lesson also includes a photo essay assignment including a set of critique questions.
In this lesson, we will study some tips for improving photographs of people, including working with light and some creative ways of capturing the essence of the character. We will discuss the choice of posed vs. candid (non-posed, natural) photographs. Students will look at portraits by Dorothea Lange & Annie Leibovitz. Students will borrow strategies used by these artists to create a series of portraits that capture the distinctive character of their subject.