Photo Challenges

OVERVIEW

Photo challenges can be recurring activities, or a task added to other activities. Photo challenges are an opportunity for participants to address a question, tell a story, or convey meaning through an image they have created. There are variations and extensions of photo challenges that involve mapping images and intervening on images, included later in this section.

*Photo challenges are flexible and creative. They can be done with as much or as little frequency as desired. They can be a reflection exercise for other activities, and can be completed during a workshop or as a take-home activity.

OBJECTIVES

• To respond to a prompt, address a question, tell a story, or convey meaning through a photograph

• To present an original photograph image with peers

SUGGESTED SUPPLIES

• A photography device (phone, camera, etc.)

• A prompt or challenge

• A device to project or screen images

STEP-BY-STEP FACILITATION GUIDE

Assigning the challenge: The photo challenges are a way to have participants capture ideas through images. Photo challenges should be designed around project topics. These images will then be shared with the group, and discussed closely. Here are examples of place-based photography challenges:

• Take a picture of a place you are familiar with

• Take a picture of something you notice on a path you usually take that other people may not notice

• Take a picture of somewhere you feel comfortable

• Take a picture of a place you want to change

Participants can be given a day or a few days to complete the challenge.

Discussing the challenge: When sharing their photographs with the group, it’s preferred to look at the photo together on a shared display or screen (rather than passing around the photography device). Before the photographer describes their photo, invite the participants to describe what they notice in the photograph by asking prompting questions:

• What do you notice?

• What stands out in this photograph?

• What might the photo be conveying or telling us?

The photographer will then explain their photograph and how it responds to the photo challenge. Participants can ask questions about decisions they made in taking the photograph, or other information about the photograph or place they want to know more about.

TIP FOR FACILITATORS

As photographs are being shared across the group, encourage participants to slowly review images before responding. Creating pauses before participants respond will deepen the discussion and avoid evaluative responses, e.g., “This photo is nice”. The goal is to draw out attentive responses and questions, e.g., “I notice this photo was taken as the sun was setting. Is this your favourite time of the day to be there?”