To begin a location-based photo essay, you’ll need a camera and a location. The location doesn’t have to be somewhere special. You could photograph your neighborhood, a nearby park, or even the zoo if you have one nearby. The best thing to remember for location essays is that there is no right or wrong starting point. If you want to start at the exit, by all means do so! Wherever you decide to start, make sure there is some sort of pattern. Don’t just take random photos; the essay needs to flow smoothly from one photo to the next. Someone should be able to look at the essay and get a sense that they are there with you, walking next to you. That isn’t going to work very well if one photo is of an oak tree and the next photo is the maple tree all the way on the other side of the park. If it’s easier for you, just take photos without thinking about how they fit together. When you’ve finished, look over the photos and pretend you are going to show them to someone who has never been to that location. What would you show them first? How would you end the essay? Most of all remember to have fun! This isn’t graded, and no one is going to chastise you for doing it differently than someone else might.
