Attention, Please

For each essay, prepare to produce or identify one image that stands out from the rest. This image, known as the key or hook shot, serves as the story’s attention grabber. It should be the visually strongest, an image that constantly intrigues the audience. It’s good enough to serve as a publication cover, an opener, or a stand-alone “advertisement” for the story.

No matter how the image is used, the key shot is an indicator of how interesting the story will be for others and gives a hint of what the story is about. As you shoot, you might come across a situation that you can imagine as your key shot. However, you’re probably going to be so focused on shooting that you won’t discover this specific image until you’re editing. It’s a valuable image to locate; don’t hesitate to involve it in your story.