DEFINITION:
A visual narrative is a story told primarily through the use of visual media. The story may be told using still photography, illustration, or video, and can be enhanced with graphics, music, voice and other audio.
The term "visual narrative" has been used to describe several genres of visual storytelling, from news and information (photojournalism, the photo essay, the documentary film) to entertainment (art, movies, television, comic books, the graphic novel). In short, any kind of a story, told visually, is a visual narrative.
The visual narrative has also been of interest to the academic community as scholars, thinkers and educators have sought to understand the impact and power of image and narrative in individuals and societies.
Distinguishing characteristics of the visual narrative include:
The term "visual narrative" has been used to describe several genres of visual storytelling, from news and information (photojournalism, the photo essay, the documentary film) to entertainment (art, movies, television, comic books, the graphic novel). In short, any kind of a story, told visually, is a visual narrative.
The visual narrative has also been of interest to the academic community as scholars, thinkers and educators have sought to understand the impact and power of image and narrative in individuals and societies.
Distinguishing characteristics of the visual narrative include:
- a persuasive story with a point of view
- high quality images, still or moving
- subject matter with pressing social, environmental, or spiritual value
- an appeal (explicit or implicit) for transformation in attitudes and behaviours.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_narrative
Here is a presentation I found on Various examples of Visual ways of story telling. This Explores the basics of how images communicate. Looks at various types of visual narratives.
What Is A Visual Narrative?
A visual narrative is a type of story that is told primarily or entirely through visual media, such as photographs, illustrations, or video. There are no restrictions on the types of narratives that can be made in a visual manner — a visual narrative can be fiction or nonfiction of any genre. Some such narratives are even used primarily for practical purposes in order to communicate the same ideas to speakers of different languages. In general, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the quality and organization of the visual elements in visual narratives, as those elements are responsible for communicating the story to "readers." The visual aspects may, in some cases, be supplemented by text or audio, but the emphasis must remain firmly on the visual elements for the narrative to be considered primarily visual in nature.
Visual narrative as a storytelling style allows for a great deal of variety in methodology and presentation. Such a narrative could take the form of a film, a graphic novel or comic book, or simply a series of images. Even within these categories, artists and storytellers have a great deal of space for experimentation. The broad category of "visual narrative" allows storytellers to try to tell stories from many different angles and to use a wide range of methods to communicate various aspects of the narrative.
Written narratives and visual narratives have a great deal in common in that they usually have similar goals. A visual narrative is always intended to communicate a story of some form, just as a written story is. In many cases, a visual narrative, like its written counterpart, is used to communicate the values and ideals of the artist or storyteller as well. They also tend to use similar plot elements, such as complex characters, conflicts, and transformative events leading to the further development of the characters.
Though the visual narrative does primarily rely on images to communicate ideas, many such narratives incorporate other media in order to enrich the story. Films, for instance, often rely heavily on speech and other audio components, even though most of the action is visual in nature. Similarly, though a graphic novel is a form of visual narrative and relies primarily on images, important elements such as dialogue are presented in the form of text. Though many visual narratives do incorporate or rely on other media, some storytellers and artists prefer to communicate their narratives entirely through the use of images. Such a narrative, well prepared and presented, can be as complex and information rich as any film or written story.
Source link: (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-visual-narrative.htm)
Visual narrative as a storytelling style allows for a great deal of variety in methodology and presentation. Such a narrative could take the form of a film, a graphic novel or comic book, or simply a series of images. Even within these categories, artists and storytellers have a great deal of space for experimentation. The broad category of "visual narrative" allows storytellers to try to tell stories from many different angles and to use a wide range of methods to communicate various aspects of the narrative.
Written narratives and visual narratives have a great deal in common in that they usually have similar goals. A visual narrative is always intended to communicate a story of some form, just as a written story is. In many cases, a visual narrative, like its written counterpart, is used to communicate the values and ideals of the artist or storyteller as well. They also tend to use similar plot elements, such as complex characters, conflicts, and transformative events leading to the further development of the characters.
Though the visual narrative does primarily rely on images to communicate ideas, many such narratives incorporate other media in order to enrich the story. Films, for instance, often rely heavily on speech and other audio components, even though most of the action is visual in nature. Similarly, though a graphic novel is a form of visual narrative and relies primarily on images, important elements such as dialogue are presented in the form of text. Though many visual narratives do incorporate or rely on other media, some storytellers and artists prefer to communicate their narratives entirely through the use of images. Such a narrative, well prepared and presented, can be as complex and information rich as any film or written story.
Source link: (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-visual-narrative.htm)
Comics are examples of Visual Narratives.
Using Photography to Create Visual Narratives.
Cig will be sharing her work and creative process. Her photographs are intertwined with a rich narrative and autobiography, she uses the medium of photography as a way to tell stories.
Cig Harvey's photographs have been exhibited widely and are in the permanent collections of major museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the International Museum of Photography, George Eastman House, Rochester, NY. She was a recent finalist for the prestigious BMW Prize at Paris Photo and had her first solo museum show at The Stenersen Museum, Oslo, Norway, in the spring of 2012 in conjunction with the release of her monograph You Look At Me Like An Emergency, Schilt Publishing, 2012. Cig's devotion to visual storytelling has lead to innovative international campaigns and features with, New York Magazine, Harpers Bazaar Japan, Kate Spade and Bloomingdales.
Below is a video I found on Youtube Video where she goes more into depth.
Cig Harvey's photographs have been exhibited widely and are in the permanent collections of major museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the International Museum of Photography, George Eastman House, Rochester, NY. She was a recent finalist for the prestigious BMW Prize at Paris Photo and had her first solo museum show at The Stenersen Museum, Oslo, Norway, in the spring of 2012 in conjunction with the release of her monograph You Look At Me Like An Emergency, Schilt Publishing, 2012. Cig's devotion to visual storytelling has lead to innovative international campaigns and features with, New York Magazine, Harpers Bazaar Japan, Kate Spade and Bloomingdales.
Below is a video I found on Youtube Video where she goes more into depth.
Here is a link to her website where there are more examples of visual narratives.
CIG HARVEY'S WORK
http://www.cigharvey.com
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