We all want our photographs to have impact, to leave a lasting impression of some sort. If the impact you seek is social impact, then I have good news. There's a time-tested way to have meaningful and memorable influence on your peers and society: Storytelling. Turbo charge that by adding visuals. Embrace Story. Learn it. Wield it.

The first Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress, Keith Ellison, is a peacemaker. He is also one who understands the power of story and its important role in conflict peacemaking. In his podcast interview with photographer John Nolter, Ellison notes that a major barrier to peace in Israel-Palestine stems from each side's need to make sense of their own peoples' narrative. Or for some, it is: "Who's story will win?" He asserts that while borders and water rights can be negotiated it is equally essential to preserve the dignity of each side's story. 

In a TIME poll of 1,002 registered voters, about 30% of respondents said a movie had changed their mind about an issue. More and more, Hollywood is betting on its powers of social engineering. Stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney and Charlize Theron have taken pay cuts and strolled red carpets for features that further humanitarian or political agendas. (TIME article) I'll be the first to admit that both narrative films and documentaries influence me. I enjoy contemplating and wrestling with their themes, agendas, and messages. I walk away changed every time.

The world's major religions are narrative-based. It is stories---both historical and mythical--- that define and breath life into their ethics, philosophies, and rituals. For example, stories of Krishna, Mohammed's story at Mecca and Medina, Jesus' use of parables, and the Hebrew peoples' story of miraculous exodus from slavery in Egypt. These stories take root and embed into group identity. They are memorable and become a guiding force in one's life and a means to train the next generation.

Our grandparents tell us stories. We tell stories at parties. We get stories in the news that help us understand current affairs. Stories are intrinsically human. Dear Visual Peacemaker, embrace story, learn it, wield it.

Every person has a story with thousands of smaller embedded stories. In non-fiction storytelling our characters' lives are like a slab of marble. You cannot tell a person's entire story. In fact, we cannot even remember every detail of our own story. There are, however, ingredients and tools to storytelling that we can use to chip away the marble stone until a recognizable story is sculpted. Just as with a marble slab, a variety of diverse stories can be constructed from the same truths and facts.
 

So stories are powerful, but how can I make them?

Like all rules, you can break them when you understand why and how you're breaking them. But in general, a story begins with an inciting incident, aka a hook. The hook answers "Why should I pay attention to this?" Then, the beginning of the story gives context and establishes a character with a goal or mission. For example, seeking justice for water rights in a local village or Frodo throwing the Ring into a volcano. The beginning might answer "Where and when, as well as who, what are they after, and what is stopping them?"

The middle of a story builds tension, surprises us, adds depth to characters, and complicates the conflict. The conflict can be anything from conflicting sides of an opinion or issue to an opposing force working to stop the character from their goal. The climax is the high point---a realization, an accomplishment, a solution, a failure or success. It is the most intense point in the story. And finally, the story must end with some type of satisfying resolution. Even if there's no happy ending or closure, the open-endedness needs to make sense. In the end, flat characters don't change and rich characters undergo transformation. Your audience connects to characters and their transformation.

Universal themes can be effective in Visual Peacemaking. Themes of love, purpose, forgiveness, redemption, self-discovery, and overcoming adversity cause us to recognize our place in the shared Human Experience. In this way, audiences become part of the story, taking ownership and action themselves.

Documentary filmmaker Michael Jorgensen simplifies story to an equation.

Character + Active Quest + (Stakes)2 = Story

The quest involves both inner and physical quest. When searching for your next non-fiction story, try keeping this equation in mind along with universal themes.
 

I now leave you with 5 more resources to help you think about and create story.

1. Cinematic Documentary Storytelling - a webinar with Michael Jorgensen. 
2. The Hero's Journey - a basic pattern found in narratives throughout time and the world. And Joseph Campbell's book The Hero With a Thousand Faces, which was followed by George Lucas in creating Star Wars as well as many other successful storytellers. 
3. Finding Joe is a documentary about how real people embody "The Hero's Journey" and how we can each turn our own lives into an adventure. Will you respond to the call? Can you find someone who has and document their story? 
4. The Story - Nina Rosenblum, acclaimed documentary film director, guides you through the basics of how to make a documentary film treatment. 
5. Not All Photo Stories are Created Equal by Matt Brandon 
    

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Disclaimer: While IGVP strives for unity and clarity of vision, each blog author is responsible for his or her own words, links, and references. They do not necessarily represent the many voices and opinions of individuals within the visual peacemakers movement, the Guild, or the IGVP Founders.