Social Media Short Story

Using a social media platform to share Alex's hiking journey was a double-edged sword. The photos I used captured Alex's hike beautifully, showcasing the hike's progression through time and space. However, relying solely on a caption limited the depth of the story and my ability to tell something creatively. While the photos illustrated his adventure literally, the caption had the potential to add context, emotions, and details that the images couldn't convey. Had I incorporated a more descriptive caption, sharing Alex's thoughts, challenges, or personal reflections during the hike, it could have enhanced the audience's connection to his experience. This was something I wish I could have done more creatively. Nonetheless, the progression of the story through photos engaged viewers, offering a vivid portrayal of Alex's hike, with some caveats of missing some opportunities for a richer narrative through the caption.

I decided to use a hand-drawn storyboard because it felt more organic and allowed for a personal touch in visualizing the story. I also used a paper and pencil because they offered freedom in sketching various scenes and framing without digital constraints. However, I did encounter issues with detail and editing. I now realize pencil drawings lack the clarity of digital imagery, which made it challenging to convey intricate expressions or little details. Erasing and refining drawings was also time-consuming for me and I definitely lost initial ideas as my time drawing went on. Organizing the sequence of images also posed the challenge of physical pages needing reordering for adjustments. Despite these limitations, the tactile experience of drawing on paper gave me a connection to the story more deeply. I had fostered a deeper creative involvement in visualizing Alex's hike.