THE PHOTO ESSAY page 2 This assignment described in these pages was commissioned by The Daily Telegraph. It has been chosen to demonstrate the basic techniques involved in photo essay because it represents reportage in its simplest form... a story about one man involved in one activity in one place. More complex photo essays will be covered in future articles, but let's start with some basic guidelines that should, if accompanied with high quality photography, ensure you are providing picture editors with material they are keen to publish.

How to gather a saleable set of pictures
The first important step is to discuss the assignment with the person who commissions it. What he or she expecting? When do they want it? Do they have any special requirements such as picture shapes, or a particular approach to the subject? Are they looking for a cover shot that will need space for a logo? If you are doing the picture essay on spec in order to submit it to a particular magazine, make absolutely certain you have studied the way the publication uses picture stories. You can save yourself a great many rejections if you KNOW YOUR MARKET.

A limited amount of work can be planned before you arrive at the assignment. In this case, the times of the tides left little room for manoeuvre. I would have preferred to take the pictures early or late in the day in order to use the best light, but low water was at midday, and that is the only time the fisherman can work.

Find out as much as possible about your subject before you arrive. Phone him for a chat and explain what you are trying to achieve. Ask his opinions and get his ideas - he knows his business better than you do, and he will be able to tell you what is possible and what isn't. But be wary of giving too much away and making things sound too involved - you don't want to frighten your subject off before your arrive.

On the day of the assignment, get there early so that you can reconnoitre and get a feel for the place. Photograph the general scene and anything else that catches your eye. There's an old maxim among photojournalists - 'Always be the first to arrive and the last to leave'. Stick to it.

	Get a head-and-shoulders picture in the bag first. This may be a throwback to the days when I used to cover hard news, but it still makes good sense. Imagine what an editor would say if you went along to photograph an attempt at the World Bungee jumping record and you failed to photograph the challenger before he jumped off the cliff without his bungee. Not that shrimp fisherman Bob Dickinson was in much danger - but just supposing... So be on the safe side, get the head-and-shoulders first. You can always do some more portraits later when you've got to know your subject better.
	While you are waiting for your subject to get ready, spend the time looking round. Photograph the scene and anything at all that catches your eye - like the wooden shed here with the old tractor inside.
	Look closely at the details and move in to photograph them. These small details will help the art editor when pages are being designed. Photograph as many as possible, and ensure you have a wide selection - give the designer as wide a choice as possible.

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