Once upon a time…

Wait a minute, is it possible to focus on telling a story with our photos? 

I think so. Photos are a great way to capture memories, record events, and share experiences with others. They can also tell a story that creates an emotional reaction in our viewers–or perhaps, invite discussion.

I recall a creative writing activity in elementary school.  Ms. Johnston asked us to tear a picture from a magazine  and write a story about it. Seems funny, but I remember feeling such a sense of freedom to tell a story my way. Even today when I look through magazines, I look for stories the photos might tell, before I read.  

Do we do that with our own photography?

Do we try?

I decided to start with a photo I submitted to Arizona Highways Magazine years ago.  Aside from being cute, I titled it The Official Greeter as it was at the beginning of a local trailhead.  Interestingly enough, people who viewed the photo shared their own captions and I imagine you might do the same.  

I would like to think all my photos tell a story. They do to me, but what about to you? Storytelling goes a little further than: “Look, check out my photo”.  A good image needs good exposure, sharp focus and editing.

It also needs a story.

But how? How do we tell a story without using words? How do we let our photos speak for themselves?

Honestly, there are no rules here, but…

Focus on the Smaller Details: If you want a true photo of me, it won’t be in portrait form. It will be in a cup of coffee, hiking shoes, a view from a canyon or cave, or in morning motivation.

Capture Emotion: Emotion can be captured with sun movement, weather, special events, and/or surprises. But facial expression, eyes, and body language often shape the mood of a photo. And just like that my story changes.

There is incoming motivation for me to get out.

Keep the Story Open for Interpretation: It is called Wave Cave…..

Use One Photo or a Series: I think it is possible to capture an event with one photo. Sometimes. The Native American, World Hoop Fest makes that difficult, because with a series I can capture culture, expression, emotion, and movement.

Pay Attention to Random Subjects: The wild horses on the Salt River are a rare find. I titled this: Someone Tell Her.

But there is another story intertwined here today, The photos are a tiny sliver of our life in Arizona.

Our once upon a time….

Wind Kisses, Donna