Picture Tells a Story
Remember this picture? This was my first Picture Story Challenge Post. At that time, I called it Story Photo Contest, which eventually evolved into a regular category called, Picture Story.
This post was published on March 30, 2009. The first line of this post was “They say a picture tells a thousand stories.”
I believe this. The Picture Story posts evolved from this belief that others would also see the “thousand stories” possible in a photograph.
Picture Magic
Evita, photographer and author of Evolving Scenes was the first blogger to prove to me that photographs can be seen as something more than just a picture.
She once told me, “It is fun too to see how others see the world, and things. It never ceases to amaze me how two or more people looking at the same thing can see things so differently!”
I think these are wise words. They capture perfectly the reason why I do the Picture Story Challenges. I want to invite people who visit to look beyond the object in the picture and see something special.
I am also lucky to have some very imaginative readers. The Picture Story posts have always generated creative comments that never fail to surprise and delight me.
Picture Challenge Winners
I loved all the comments for last week’s Picture Story Post, Graffiti Artists in Switzerland. However, a special congratulations goes to the people who undertook Challenge Two from this post.
In this challenge, they answered all five questions used in the post, including making up a question of their own and answering it. Here they are:
Belinda, The Halfway Point
Hilary, Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Jannie, The Jannie Funster Blog
Lisa Newton, Travelin’ Local
Patty, Why Start Now?
SuZen, Erasing the Bored
Tony Single, Trottersville [note: Tony and Cassy have a new site -- check it out]
Thanks to all of you! You amazed me with your imaginative replies:~) Visit the post and check out their comments!
Also, thank you to all of the people who have participated in my Picture Story challenges. You have proven to me that our imaginations are endless creators of magic:~)
"Stand the test of time by placing your roots deeply!"
Like puzzles? Try this one. Using this photo, you can create a puzzle and put it together.Go to JigZone at 
Fireblossom32
Hilary
Patty - Why Not S...
talon
Belinda Munoz
Chris Edgar
Davina
Jannie Funster
Keith Davis
Tony Single
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Sara .. thanks for letting me know I behaved myself and answered all five! Your tree – must have had a wonderful life and it will go on to another story century – being buried by sand, to be found in times ahead as petrified tree perhaps unless the floods come back to the planet and those high dry places of dunes become lakes again .. who knows ..
I wrote about the baobab – the upside down tree .. that’s an amazing tree .. living for a thousand years .. – those tentacles into the sky -
As you say what we see will be different to others ..
Love the tree and dune grass behind ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
Hilary´s last blog ..A bet on the Eleven Cities Tour or the Winter Olympics being held?
Thank you!! I got a gold star on my comment?
It was fun. You incite creativity and joy with your Photo Stories, Sara.
And that guy above is a headless symphony director, each grain of sand and strand of kelp are the musicians he brings the best out in.
xo
BB sends his love to you, extra love.
Jannie Funster´s last blog ..(And I Thought “Leaven” Was Just A Bread-Baking Thing!!)
That photo is neat. It looked like a wood nymph imploring the world to listen…and listen hard.
No gold stars for me – lol! I’ve never been one to follow the rules!
It is fascinating how people view the world and how those views merge and blend and amazing when they are so insightful you catch a glimpse of the world through someone else’s eyes.
talon´s last blog ..Ethereal…
Sara, thank you so much for your visit to my Word Garden, and for your kind words at Jannie Funster’s. I see two familiar faces here… Jannie and Talon! Please feel free to visit anytime, and if i can figure out what’s going on with the picture challenge, I will join in, ok?
xo
Shay
Fireblossom32´s last blog ..Heirloom
Thank you. It’s great to get a chance to use my imagination when posting a comment. I don’t often get that chance.
LisaNewton´s last blog ..Sunday at the Theater – Million Dollar Theater Addition
I missed all the fun but I will catch up.
I first thought it was snow until I cheated and read Jannie’s comment. Now I see a gesture of surrender in the tree, like on its knees and arms up to the sky, saying “I surrender”.
I love being allowed to let my imagination take flight.
Love Wilma
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Learning to observe my Little Voice, my ego.
Sara, I loved the last challenge. What a fun way to unlock creativity! I’m new to the Picture Story series but I love the lessons we learn from it: that we see things differently, that we can learn from one another and often, there’s no right or wrong in how we see things.
And thank you for the linky love on this post. Your blog is such a fun place!
Hi Sara.
Our imaginations are endless… I love it!
I enjoy letting my imagination go with your picture story posts. And reading the comments is a real treat
Davina´s last blog ..This Effortless Brilliance
Hi Sara – Thanks so much for the link. I always have a blast when I visit picture story land; you create a wonderful space to be open to whatever comes. Love that!
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..Meaning Mondays: The Hummingbird Edition
Sara, how kind of you to include Trottersville on that list! Thank you! I’ve checked out some of the others, and I feel a bit sheepish to be counted among their number… their blogs are full of superior writing, and more eloquently expressed and relevant views! I may have to slink away to a hole somewhere…
I agree about pictures being a lot of different things to different people. I enjoy having folks see my art because they’ll usually see something in it that no one else has (including me). We are made to engage with the world creatively… I truly believe that.
I enjoy what your blog has to offer. Please keep it up!
Tony Single´s last blog ..Lend Me Your Eyes
@ Hilary — I recently found this “tree” again on the beach. It was almost covered by sand. All you can see is the arms and the head. It goes to show how nature is constantly rearranging her house:~)
I would love to read about the upside down tree. That’s really cool. Isn’t nature amazing:~)
@ Jannie — Of course you got a gold star…I love it when people will give the challenges a try:~) Also, thanks for the nice words, Jannie. It means a lot to me because starting the Picture Story posts was sort of gamble, but I love doing this post now.
A symphony director a good representation of this picture. I can see him directing the beach music:~)
@ Talon — You might not get a gold star for that particular challenge, but you get one for being a frequent visitor and one whose comments I always enjoy:~)
I loved your comment about the picture. A wood nymph fits and with her arms up like are, I can see that she’s asking the world to pay attention. This comment just goes to prove exactly what you said about catching “a glimpse of the world through someone else’s eyes.” Thanks for sharing this:~)
@ Fireblossom32 — I loved your poetry and so the visit was well spent. I would recommend any of my readers to also visit your site.
Regarding finding people you recognize from my site to yours, that’s the neatest thing about blogging to me. I go to new places and almost always find that one of my friends has already visited. I think it’s a unique form of synergy that connects us. Thanks for the visit and do come back soon:~)
@ Lisa — I am so pleased that you enjoyed the challenge. You take such beautiful photos and I love your commentaries about the places you visit. I always learn something new at your site. Thanks for sharing in this challenge:~)
@ Wilma — I love that you thought it was snow. The beaches on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida tend to be more white sand, especially in North Florida. This picture was taken at Cape San Blas.
I liked what you see in the picture — surrender. It fits in that this driftwood has surrendered itself to nature. In my reply to Hilary, I said this wood is almost completely covered by sand now. I imagine when I go back, I might not find it, but I know that in time it will be uncovered again. It’s like nature is an artist and every once in awhile she takes down her works of art and then puts them back up again at a later date.
I pleased that you let your imagination take flight:~)
@ Belinda — I agree totally with your words, “…there’s no right or wrong in how we see things.” As I said in the post, I’m always amazed by the different things people will see in pictures. Sometimes what I see seems so clear that I almost expect others to see the same thing. It doesn’t usually happen, which makes it all the more fun for me.
BTW I am so pleased I found your site and that you enjoy to mine. I love the way you write! I also enjoyed visiting your husband’s site and listening to his music. As I said, between the two of you, there’s so much talent:~)
@ Davina — I couldn’t have said it better…”Our imaginations are endless…” I’m pleased that you enjoy the picture story posts:~)
@ Patty — I like it that you have a blast when you visit and thank you for your kind words. The Picture Story posts are fun for me, as well. I never know what a person will see in the picture:~)
@ Tony — Your comment was wonderful and so are your blog post and your illustrations. I also really like what you said: “We are made to engage with the world creatively… I truly believe that.” This is so true.
I see you have a new post and I’ll be visiting you soon to check it out. Your new site is fabulous:~)
@ Tony — There’s no “slinking away to a hole somewhere” allowed on my site:~) I loved what you said about “the creature.” I also really like this line from your comment: “We are made to engage with the world creatively… I truly believe that.” This is so true, Tony!
I see you have a new post and I’ll be visiting you soon to check it out. Your new site is fabulous:~)