1. In late 2005, TIME Magazine released its annual batch of Photos of the Year. Peruse the 24 photos and choose two. For each of the two photos you choose, answer the following: Why is the photo compelling to you? Is there an argument embedded in the image? How does the photographer use color, composition, focus etc. to contribute to his or her rhetorical message?
2. Magnum In Motion is a web site dedicated to the art of the photo essay. Each presentation contains a series photographs, coupled with the photographer's commentary. Watch a few presentations, and then choose two you find particularly compelling. Explain what made the presentations you pick stand out in comparison to the others. Additionally, discuss how the art of the photo essay compares rhetorically to other more traditional means of persuasion.
3. Study the cover of a recent Weekly Planet or Tampa Bay Times (TBT). a) Do an analysis of the visual rhetoric of the cover without reading the corresponding article. What does the cover art say to the reader? b) Explain whether or not the cover complements the article that it refers to. Include the date of the issue, and provide a link to the cover if possible.
4. Carefully examine this series of photos entitled Jilted Bride by photographer Valerie Troyano. How do you think the rhetorical weight of this work is accomplished? What do you think the social impact of this series could be?
5. Take a close look at this series of photographs by Brian Goodger. Do these images constitute social action? If so, how? How is their rhetorical weight accomplished? What interaction do you see between the pieces and their titles?
6. Examine some of the photographs on the National Geographic Photography Page. What do you think the magazine's overarching rhetorical goals are? How do they use photography to accomplish these goals? Use examples from specific photographs you observed to support your claims.
