Photo Format
Why choose photography?
Choose photography when a powerful visual can tell the story. A photograph can document reality, reveal something easily overlooked, capture change over time or create a striking visual message that makes people stop and think.
Photo journalism uses the power of imagery to raise awareness and inspire action on environmental and climate issues. Discover the various ways you can captivate an audience and make an impact through the lens of your camera… or your phone!
Explore below how young reporters have brilliantly highlighted environmental challenges through their powerful photos!
These are three photo formats:
One Take Photo
The purpose of the One Take Photo is to tell a story by truthfully capturing a real situation, event, or environmental issue at a specific moment in time.
The photo should be candid and unposed, capturing reality as it happens. Choose this format if you enjoy observing the world around you and telling authentic stories through photography.
Staged Campaign Photo
The purpose of the Staged Campaign Photo is to raise awareness, promote certain values, or inspire positive action through a carefully created photograph.
Unlike a One Take Photo, you may stage, edit, or design your image to communicate a specific message, but the base photograph must be your own. Choose this format if you enjoy design, visual storytelling, and campaigning.
Photo Story
The purpose of a Photo Story (3-5 Photographs) is to tell a story through a series of photographs to help the viewer better understand environmental issues, events, or phenomena.
Young Reporters’ Photo Examples
One Take Photo
YRE International Competition 2025–2026
1st place: Slovakia - Vavro Kováč, From Apartment Blocks Straight to the Garden
Also awarded: Photo of the Year
SLOVAKIA by YRE Competition on Exposure
Photo Story
YRE International Competition 2025–2026
1st place: Mexico - María Guadalupe Peña Garnica, Living off Cane, Tezonapa's Progress Dilemma
MÉXICO by YRE Competition on Exposure
Photo Story
YRE International Competition 2023–2024
3rd place: Mexico - Daniela María de León Gil and Jesica Naomi Galeana, Cool Outfits, World Destroyed Saved
Preparatoria UDEM San Pedro, Nuevo León
MÉXICO by YRE Competition on Exposure
Staged Photo Campaign
YRE International Competition 2023–2024
We’re eating microplastics…
By Nagi Saito, 17 years old
UNESCO ASPnet member Kyoto Gaidai Nishi High School
Japan by YRE Competition on Exposure
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
FEE Academy Course: Storytelling for Climate Action: Photography with YRE
Learn how to use photography as a powerful tool for environmental storytelling. This self-paced course guides young people through the YRE methodology, from investigating an environmental issue and researching solutions to capturing an impactful photograph and sharing it with a wider audience.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Age: 11–25
Format: Free online course on FEE Academy
Access: Start the course on FEE Academy
Participants under 18 will need permission from a parent or guardian to create a FEE Academy account.
