A Photojournalist’s Field Guide: In the trenches with combat photographer Stacy Pearsall

Creating Visual Variety

A photo story should be able to stand alone without written words and make logical sense to the viewer. Much the same as a written story, photo stories should have a setting, plot, and characters. Of course, not every story will be as in-depth as the next, and depending of the type of photo story, may not contain a conflict and resolution. But it’s important to explore the story to see how deep it can take you. The further you dive down into your subject matter, the more likely you are to bond the subject with the viewers. A good photo story connects the audience and evokes an emotional response—whether that’s anger, contentment, exhilaration, or bewilderment.

There’s nothing more stagnant then a photo story shot with ...