Understanding how composing and framing of a photo can help deliver different narratives
The facilitator prepares a collection of photographs from the photobank (at least one for every participant)
the photos should include one or more subjects (person or object) in a large space (so that they can be easily reframed) .
If printed domestically, we suggest to print the photos on a paper A5 size, if not available, print tho photos on a A4 and separate them
Materials needed
✓ For the physical version: Printed Photographs and Scissors.
✓ For the digital version: a collection of digital photographs,
as well as a smartphone with simple photo-editing tools
Proposed location
✓ Location with different light angles, Possibility to go outside.
Steps
1.
The facilitator shows the photos to the participants, each participant chooses one photo (5 min)
(Digital Version: the photos are shared among the phones through WhatsApp chat, email or any digital sharing service available)
2.
The participants describe what the chosen photo represents according to them, what feeling they get from the photo (1 min each)
3.
Each participant takes the chosen photo and a pair of scissors and cuts the photo in a way that changes the position the elements of the photo fit into the frame (7 min)
(Digital Version: Using the editing tools of the photo gallery it is possible to cut the frames in multiple formats and save different copies)
4.
The participants exchange the cut photo with one another.
5.
Each participant describes the new photo they just received, what does it represent? What feeling do they get from the photo? When comparing it to the previous version of the same photo did something change? 1-2 min each
Closing up
- Reflect together about how composing and framing can change the perception of a photo
To go further
- Using digital tools permits the participants to experiment more with editing by coping and cutting the same photo multiple times (if you want to do it physically you need several printed copies of the same photo) and to edit the photo changing luminosity, saturation and contrast, challenging the participant to experiment with these new tools and see how it also can change perception of the photo.
