Journey into the Art of Visual Storytelling

Learning to Capture the Story Through Photography

Documentary photography has always come with great responsibility. Not just to tell the story honestly and with empathy, but also to make sure the right people hear it. -Giles Duley

In March of 2016, three Rhode Island photographers joined Laura Paton in a journey to learn the Art of Visual Storytelling. They learned how to tell their story through the four stages of documentary photography: pre-production, production, post-production and the presentation. During the process, they practiced techniques including composition, exposure, depth of field, post processing, lighting and most importantly, capturing the decisive moment.

In addition to photography instruction, Laura works as a photojournalist for Southern Rhode Island Newspapers. The three photographers studying under Laura’s guidance are Chris Curtis, Norma Smith, and Paul A. White.

Chris Curtis’ project, titled “Herbal Allies” – A Seven Month Journey into Herbal Medicine, which follows 12 students of herbal medicine under the guidance of Susan Clements. This program is designed for the student to create a connection with local indigenous plants and build a foundation to learn about the plant’s value for food and medicine.

Norma Smith’s project, titled “On My River” – The river flows a journey of millions of years. This is my journey on this river, though just a blink of time as it flows from the past and into the future. I call it my river as my life has center upon this specific water flow filled from the tears of the clouds overhead ending at their destination of the ocean. The power of this flow, yet the peace of it astound me. My years on this river and a touch of what it has meant to the generations that have gone before me have a strong impact on my life.

Paul A. White’s project, titled “Veterans and their Service dogs” – A study of the training and use of service dogs by veterans with combat connected disabilities. With the increase of veterans returning from overseas deployments with traumatic injuries caused by improvised explosive devices as well as post traumatic stress disorders, the use of service dogs has increased. The help these canines can provide, means everything to their owners.

Collectively, Chris, Laura, Norma, and Paul hope that through this exhibit, viewers can follow each of the stories and feel the emotions captured by them through their eyes.

“Journey Into the Art of Visual Storytelling,” featuring the documentary photography works of Chris Curtis, Norma Smith and Paul A. White will be on exhibition at the Narrows Center for the Arts March 11-April 15, 2017. An opening reception will be held on March 11 from 1-3pm. Admission is free and open to the public.

Image:
From left to top right & bottom right: Chris Curtis, Paula Smith & Paul A. White
(Click on image to expand)