Before I explain my research findings on photo essays, it is also important to clarify what colorism is and its difference from racism. “The most common explanation you’ll get from Americans about colorism roots and routes has to do with American slavery,” but in reality, it is a “result of white supremacist ideology” which has existed long before slavery in the United States (Webb). While slavery didn’t help the problem, with preferential treatment for lighter skinned slaves and eventually lighter skinned free Blacks, colorism has existed long before that in various different societies (Webb). Although, it is still important to examine its relation to slavery, especially when looking at the African American community specifically. Colorism grows from racism, but it is more specific, forming a “color hierarchy” (Tharps). Darker skin tones can negatively impact “one’s health, wealth and opportunity…sometimes irrespective of one’s racial background” (Tharps). Because colorism has historical roots, it is important to study its evolution over time, which is what I am doing in my photo essay.
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Photo essays are essentially essays that replace words with pictures, while still continuing to tell a story. Some photo essays are all pictures while others are more text heavy. They also usually focus on the emotion that each photo will elicit in the viewer. The most important thing that I learned through research on photo essays is that photo essays are “a combination of art and journalism” (Collective Lens). The term “photojournalism” also explains this genre. Photo essays are a way for photos to tell a story, and they can be organized thematically or chronologically, depending on the subject and emotion you’re trying to portray to a specific audience.
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Because photographs drive the story, it is also important to consider what kind of photos you are using and the purpose they will serve. There are many different types of roles photos can fill- for example, portraits can “humanize your story” and lead photos, which are the first photos your viewers see, are supposed to “draw in your audience” and “follow the theme of your essay” (Collective Lens). In addition, a clincher photo, which ends your piece, should “evoke the emotion you want the viewer to walk away with” (Collective Lens). The types of photos are extremely important because they replace the sentences that would normally explain a story. Photo essays are the physical embodiment of the idea “show don’t tell” or “a picture is worth a thousand words” (WikiFoundry).
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Because there are so few words in a photo essay, the format of any included text really matters. Photo essays are a visual experience, so things like font size, font styles, captions, and bold text make a huge difference (WikiFoundry). There is limited time and space in a photo essay to get one’s point across with words, so every sentence needs to be selected and formatted carefully.
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One great example of a photo essay that was able to use text effectively was called “roni.” This essay can be found on the same website that I’m using use for my own photo essay and it tells the story of Roni, a fisherman, but through photos. While there are words, they aren’t totally necessary. The writer also made a deliberate choice when deciding to use a single font throughout the paper, which allowed the pictures to visually stand out in contrast. Without the words, I would still get a feel for who Roni is and what he does. One thing that I love about the design of this model is that some pictures have no words on them until you scroll your mouse over it and a caption appears. It makes the essay extremely interactive and visually appealing. Instead of having to imagine I’m with Roni as he fishes, I’m actually there with him on a boat and under sea. The pictures provided me with concrete details and vivid colors that would normally have been left to my imagination. The words that are there support me on this journey and create a path for me to follow while providing some details that may not be explicit in the photographs.
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The second model I found was an article by The New Yorker called “The Trans Community of Christopher Street.” This article spoke to me because not only is it an example of another beautiful photo essay, it also is on a topic similar to colorism because it focuses on a disadvantaged identity. I appreciate the way the article tells the story and history of Christopher Street while incorporating photos with captions about the people who live there. The end of the article drops the storyline and uses a series of pictures with captions to finish it. It was impactful to see how photos can sometimes tell more of a story than words can. I also loved how each portrait allowed me to feel like I knew the subject, making it inviting and relatable.
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As mentioned before, my photo essay will also be slightly similar to the genre of a case study because “case studies are in-depth investigations of a single person, group, event or community” (McLeod). In this photo essay, I am not only focusing on my grandmother, but also on the Black community as a whole. Of course, case studies normally involve extensive research, but my interview process is one form of investigation. Interviews help gather specific and in-depth information about a subject. Even though case studies are specific to the individual, the information they find can still be used in an attempt to understand a community as a whole (McLeod).