B2 – Types of Photography

Description

A B2-level ESL lesson on types of photography, ideal for learners passionate about visual storytelling.

This lesson features a reading activity with real-world examples of famous photographs, vocabulary practice focused on photography genres, and engaging speaking tasks about personal experiences and preferences. Includes group discussion, brainstorming on lesser-known photography styles, and critical thinking activities to promote fluency and accuracy in a creative context.

Warmer: Photography Preferences

Start the lesson by encouraging students to share their personal experiences with photography by asking them the following questions:

• Do you like taking photos?
• What kind of photos do you usually take?
• What makes a good photograph?

These simple questions help to activate students’ background knowledge and get them thinking about their own photography experiences. Once students have shared their answers with the whole class, move on to the first activity.

Matching: Photography Genres

Introduce students to the concept of photography genres by showing them a set of photographs that represent various styles: portrait, landscape, wildlife, architectural, street, and travel photography. Students match the photos with their correct genres. This helps them get familiar with the vocabulary before getting into more detailed descriptions. Play along and check if you can match the photographs to their genres!

Reading: Understanding Photography Styles

Provide students with short descriptions of different photography genres and let them check their answers from the matching exercise. I thought it’d be cool to use a bunch of images along with the descriptions, so I looked at what’s already out there on Wikipedia. With some help from ChatGPT, I simplified the descriptions from a C1 level to a B2 level. Going over these descriptions will help students see what makes each genre stand out. Plus, it could spark a fun conversation about photos that fit into more than one category – like the Afghan Girl, which could be seen as both a portrait and travel photo. As a group, brainstorm some other ideas!

Speaking: Discussing Photography Genres

Now that students have a good grasp of the vocabulary, it’s time to get them talking! Ask them to discuss the following questions:

• Which type(s) of photography mentioned in class today interest you the most? Why?
• Which of them are the most challenging? Why?
• Have you ever tried any of these photography genres? What was your experience like?

This speaking activity allows students to personalize the vocabulary and make connections with their own interests.

Brainstorming: Lesser-Known Photography Genres

Expand the discussion by asking students to think about lesser-known types of photography. Examples could include astrophotography, underwater photography, fashion photography, event photography, or macro photography. Have students write down their answers and share them with the group.

Finish the lesson with a discussion about what skills or techniques are required for each type of photography and the challenges photographers might face. This is a great way to consolidate vocabulary and build students’ confidence in speaking about photography.