The Power of Storytelling

Did you know that researchers and educators are always telling stories?

Scientific article, reports, presentations, classroom lessons, among other forms, are the most common ways we tell our stories. Images, including photos and videos, are commonly used to help us to illustrate what we want to say. But are you sure you know how to use these images to add to your story?

It's important that we understand the basics of storytelling. Usually, a good story starts with an introduction, where you present the topic and lay down some interesting questions. Following is the body of the story itself, where you outline your plot and core message. And finally an end, where you present your findings and sums up the story.

When photographing or filming your projects you can use the same storytelling strategy. Start by taking images from a wider perspective, like the area you are doing your study or where the object of your study is found. Then, start "zooming in" your subject and take images from the specific place you are doing your measurements, like a specific lake or a specific bird group. Take many images from the methodology you are using, as the materials you use and how you use it. Also, take numerous images of the subject of your study. Images presenting details of your subjects are always interesting to look at, and those are usually the images that attract the public.

Of course, most of the time you have to focus on the study and don't have the time to plan your images. In this case, take photos and film as much as you can. If you cannot do it, ask someone else to photograph and film for you. Doing so, you know that you will have plenty of images to choose from when making your presentation or communicating your study later on.