How to let your photographs tell stories this summer

There's a summer head with stories to tell, even though it has to happen with safe social distancing. But that doesn't mean you can't find different ways to share them.

Photography is an effective way of documenting life from a safe distance, whether it's for yourself or sharing with others… If you’ve been wondering about the best way to capture a moment in an image, BBC Bitesize has spoken to professional photographer Gareth Jones to get a few tips.

Find the right moment to capture

“A single photograph can tell you so much,” said Gareth. “Just think that every time you click that camera, it’s one moment in time that may not happen again. That very moment is recorded on film, or digitally, so what you are doing is documenting history forever.”

Examples of such ‘moments’ run throughout photographic history. One example is ‘Lunch atop a skyscraper’, the 1932 shot of a row of construction workers, fearlessly lined up on scaffolding far above the streets of New York’s Manhattan while taking a break. It captured the spirit of life in depression-hit America and has been replicated many times since, including a version by the cast of Friends.

And sometimes, the moment itself is more important than how well a picture is set up or framed.

Gareth explained: “No matter how good the photograph is technically, it can reach into someone’s heart in ways not many things can. Whether that be for someone else, or for the photographer who took the image. A single photograph can tell so much.”

Memorable moments are great to look at - but please don't put yourself in any danger to take a photograph, whether that's climbing scaffolding or anything else risky. It's best to stay firmly on the ground.

Get creative with the subject

If you’re documenting things through photography for the first time, it’s good to know the different ways to approach a picture.

Gareth said: “Think and be creative. Try and shoot a photograph from an angle. Not every photograph needs to be taken stood up. Get close to the subject.”

With social distancing rules still in operation, getting close to people outside your household is difficult (although you can use zoom from a distance of at least two metres), but it’s easier with inanimate objects. Remember to get permission from people before taking and publishing their picture too.

“If you’re photographing a plant, get up close to it,” Gareth continued. “Be confident as well. If you are photographing people, try to take control. Tell them, politely, what to do. Believe me, they always listen to a photographer!”

In these circumstances, a photographer is like a director on a movie, making sure everything is in the right place to realise their idea. Organise the person or group into the position you want for your shot and don’t be afraid to be imaginative when sorting out the poses (a group of people stood in a row isn’t always the best way to tell a tale).

Gareth added: “The more photos you take, the more confident you will become. If you are using a camera [instead of the one on your smartphone or tablet], try and have a steady hand. The main thing is to enjoy taking pictures, and don’t worry, we all take photos we aren’t happy with.”

Encourage people to be involved

Documenting life doesn’t always involve people, think of the powerful images of deserted streets in major cities when much of the world was in lockdown.

But people will always be good subjects for a picture (think of the construction workers on the scaffolding). This is where a photographer learns to be persuasive, and may have to encourage someone to pose, especially if they have an interesting story to tell but feel shy in front of a camera.

“In a way, every single person can make a good subject,” said Gareth. “Some people will say, ‘oh, I hate having my photograph taken,’ and sometimes it’s harder to capture a photograph of that person that you are happy with, but keep on trying until you are happy.”

And remember, if someone really doesn’t want to have their photo taken as part of any project, don’t force them.

Look at all sorts of images for inspiration

That perfect angle or framing of a photograph may not come to you straight away. If so, don’t worry. There are lots of places you can look for a spot of inspiration. See how the same objects or landscapes have been captured in images on the internet, or in books. Or, as Gareth does, in a film, where hours can be spent setting up the look of a shot.

He said: “[During a film], I think, ‘wow’, if you freeze that particular frame, you can see it as a photograph. And with digital photography, if you need to give it a few goes to get a picture right, you can. Just keep on trying. You could also start with photographing something you already have an interest in. It could happen when you are out for a walk, in your own garden, or photos of a pet.”

Work with nature's lighting

We may play around with filters and effects when taking snaps on some social media apps, but in photography you may want to consider the lighting that's already there, especially outdoors.

Gareth said: “The more you take photographs, the more you appreciate the natural light the year has to offer. It could be a golden sunset or grey storm clouds, a cold frosty morning to the amazing colours the autumn has to offer.

But don't worry if, one week or one month in, you don't feel your shots measure up to those of other photographers. This isn't a skill that's picked up overnight.

Gareth added: “You never stop learning. I look at what other photographers take and think, ‘I want to replicate that’, or, ‘I wish I had taken that picture’.”