First photo of the Story Photo Challenge series
Sharing with friends
I have good news to tell you. Linda from Rainbows to Roses has used one of my photographs and written a short story to go with it. I am very honored by this.
I encourage you to drop by her site and find out which picture she used and to read her story, “Stepping into the Picture.” I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Linda’s action has caused me to do some reflection about the Story Photo series.
I have done 58 of these posts, to date. While this number might be more notable if it was a round number or better yet, if it was 100 :~) it still has a lot of meaning to me. It’s exactly how old I will be next month!
The big beginning
The idea for this series began February 6, 2009 with a post appropriately called, “A Picture for Your Thoughts.” The picture I used for that post is my header shot today.
This post linked my love of photography with my love of writing. It was the foundation for the Story Photo series.
Pay attention more
Photography has been a wonder for me. It has opened my eyes to seeing amazing things that I never noticed before. I think this is because it makes me pay more attention to what’s going around me.
Wilma of Wilma’s Blog recently talked about this in her post, “Do you pay attention?” She described the state of “paying attention” like this:
“You too probably know the feeling, eyes see, ears hear, you are on full alert; you are awake and performing brilliantly, you are alive!”
While writing requires me to be very focused, I can’t truthfully say I am fully alert while doing it.
The telephone could ring forever; the dog could dance on two legs because she needed to pee and the police could raid the house next door and I probably would not notice:~)
Photography, on the other hand, really makes me pay attention. It makes me become fully alert to the smallest things, the details of life, that my eye often missed before. Now, I notice things in a new way. Like this….
How raindrops sparkle on leaves after a rainstorm,
The special way light shines through the petals of a flower,
and the silly antics of my yard neighbors.
Therefore, just like when chocolate and nuts come together, I found the Story Photo series a delectable way to share two things I love:~)
Your Challenge
Since this post is kind of a “mememe” story, I guess your challenge should reflect that too. I always love feedback…well, most of the time….but I trust my readers to be straight with me:~)
Your challenge today is to give me feedback about the Story Photo series. Here are some questions to consider:
What do you like about this series?
What can I do to make the Story Photo challenges more fun and interesting to you?
What’s your favorite Story Photo post? Describe it from memory or feel free to check out the posts in the CATEGORY section (left hand sidebar) under “Story Photo” to find the one you loved the most.
What question did I NOT ask that you want to answer? Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead. Ask and answer it!
BTW – Be on the lookout for more “guest posts” for this series:~) Also, if you want to use a picture for a story, like Linda did, or you have a picture that;s just dying to tell its story, feel free to contact me using my CONTACT SARA box at the top of my site.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Sara,
Thank you for the opportunity to use your photograph and create the story I saw there, and for linking to it from your site. I do believe I am the one honored here.
Although I’ve come to the story photo series late, beginning with the bird in the bush of “I’ve Got a Secret”, I have enjoyed each one, and participated in most since then. They challenge me to think deeper and see more than I would at first glance, and I like the thoughtful questions you come up with. I am enjoying the story photos just as they are, and have come to look forward to them every week.
As for a favorite one, I don’t have a favorite per se, but I did especially enjoy writing about the beach chairs and the ghosts who sat upon them.
@ Linda — I thought your use of my photo and especially the story you wrote was great. It’s the kind of thing I enjoy about the Story Photo posts…people using their creativity around a picture.
I am very pleased that you’ve enjoyed this series. It is fun for me, as well:~)
Sara, as a relative newcomer to your blog, I have really enjoyed your creative take on the images you provide. I have to be totally honest and admit that I have yet to write a story based on one of the posts — but I have used them for daydreaming and idea generation, which is an important part of my process as a writer. I may dive in and write a response once the creativity workshop I’m currently in concludes in a couple of months. What with writing one short story a week, and blogging about progress there, and then the usual blog, the novel-in-progress, plus having my writing partner back for joint timed writing practices for the summer — whew! I feel exhausted just reading that — I’m kinda overbooked on the writing right now.
More generalized feedback: I absolutely love your idea, and the open-hearted, playful way you write and present things, and it’s fun to read the responses, and the easy-to-navigate-and-enjoy layout of your blog also strikes envy in my heart.
.-= Meredith´s last blog ..you say potato… =-.
@ Meredith — Hey, take your time!! I’m VERY impressed with all that you are currently doing:~) Just don’t wear yourself out. You are a very creative writer and photographer. I enjoy your site and love all your posts. I really enjoyed the one about the potato. I never realized that the flowers of a potato plant could be so pretty or so deadly:~)
Hi Sara –
I love these picture challenges – and I love that I can share them with my daughter. You have great pictures that inspire (and are nice to consider). I have to admit, I look forward to Monday’s as it is a chance to let me muse out to play a bit… to see what flows. And I know my daughter loves the challenge as well. Thank you for having these fun pictures and questions.
.-= The Exception´s last blog ..Out of Balance =-.
@ The Exception – I like that you share the Story Photo challenges with your daughter. In addition, I am glad this series allows your muse to come out an play a bit. Thanks for your comment:~)
Sara, you know I can never refuse an invitation to play and your Story Photo posts always make it fun. I think I enjoy the diverse takes on the photos – how everyone sees things a little differently and how unique we all are.
I have to admit the one that stands out in my memory is the chair one – it inspired so much creativity in your readers and was a blast. But I absolutely adored your post on Tallulah (sp?) the Squirrel which took photo stories to a whole other level. I always enjoy coming to your blog no matter what you’re up to because it’s like sitting down to tea with a really good friend.
.-= Talon´s last blog ..Ever evolving… =-.
@ Talon — I love the use of the word “play” in your comment as that’s one of the objectives of the Story Photo challenges. It’s interesting that the chair post has been the choice of other people who have commented.
I always enjoy your visits and, today, will enjoy a cup of tea in your honor:~)
Happy 58th Story Photo Challenge and an early happy birthday to you! I think it’s really important to celebrate milestones whatever they may be. If it’s the 58th for you, HOORAY I say!
I enjoy your writing style and how you weave photography into the threads of your posts, so my best advice to you would be to keep going with your intuition and let ‘er rip!
Thanks, Sara, for your work here.
.-= Lori´s last blog ..Nearing Half Way =-.
@ Lori — I like that term.. “Let ‘er rip!” It’s a perfect term describe unfettered intuition, which is the FUN part of the Story Photo posts, for me. I never plan them (unless I’m going on a trip), but rather sit down, look through pictures, and see what jumps out at me. Generally, once the picture has been found, the post writes itself:~) Thanks about the birthday and my celebration of the Story Photo series!!!
I’ve only recently discovered your site, so I haven’t seen that many of these (though I did go back and visited a few posts in the category). My favorite part is reading the comment section for what everybody came up with. Your pictures are snapshots. They capture a moment in time, and the story part allows us to think about the past, and the future. I like the open questions and the responses in the comment section.
.-= Kelvin Kao´s last blog ..I am Famous! Well, Not Really… =-.
@ Kelvin — I really appreciate what you said. It’s good to know that you enjoy this series and I loved that mentioned reading the comments. That’s another interesting aspect of this series that I enjoy so much. Everyone see something different in a photograph. It’s fun to see through the reader’s eyes.
Thank you for your comment:~)
Hi Sara.
I wouldn’t change a thing with your picture story posts. Keep ‘em coming. Everybody seems to be enjoying them and they encourage that playful side to come out in your comment section. Lots of room for creative thinking, too. You do a great job at picking the pictures and coming up with the questions.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..This is How You Don’t Skip Rocks =-.
@ Davina — Why thank you ma’am…will do:~)
Sara, I’m with Davina on this. I wouldn’t change a thing. Like Kelvin, my favourite part of the picture story posts is reading the different comments and seeing the variety of creative interpretations for them. Fabulous!
My favourite picture story post was the one with the chairs. As you know, I have a thing for imagining what the inner life of inanimate objects might be like… especially chairs!
@ Tony — I know the comments are fun. When I read them, I usually have the post open in a new window so I see what the reader sees.
I think the post about the chairs must be the winner. It doesn’t surprise that you would like a picture(s) like that!
BTW I love the look of your revised site. It is so YOU. If anyone reading this hasn’t seen Tony’s changes to his site, you MUST go visit:~)
Fun story over at Rainbows & Roses! I agree with her about the magical land it evokes.
Your picture story series is fun, I wouldn’t change anything about it either!
LOVE your yard neighbor, determined little guy.
And all your photographs shine, of course. Makes me even more excited about my camera I’m working towards.
Whoo-hoo!!
xoxo
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Funny Typos, 17 (the caption cook edition) =-.
@ Jannie — We watched that little squirrel for several days as he figured out to get to the food. He got so good at it that we had completely move the suet feeder to another area. I hope you camera soon. I already your pictures, but I imagine you will so much more fun with your new camera.
However, I must confess I still struggle to understand all the bells and whistles on mine. I have something like three books to look stuff up in. Usually, I just take the shot and hope for the best:~)
Hi Sara
Well, I like you LOVE taking photographs as you know
There is so much of the world that is indeed missed, until we really look at it, and I find photography allows us to do that.
Congrats on being featured – I am sure there is much more where that came from!
As for your series, I like to be creative, so whatever makes that creativity come out, is good. And your photos and us making a story or so, really get the creative juices flowing.
Love all the photos you featured here too
.-= Evita´s last blog ..Knowing What You Like =-.
@ Evita — Thank you very much. Your comments about the photos makes me feel very happy, especially since you are such a wonderful photographer:~)
That first picture is just remarkable, and I can’t tell exactly what’s depicted there. I’m guessing, based on your talent for capturing minute and captivating details, that it’s something really small — a dragonfly’s leg, for example?
@ Chris — Thank you for your compliment about my photographs capturing details. I do like taking pictures of small things sometimes:~) For example, raindrops are very interesting to me, especially when they’re about to fall. There’s something so powerful in that moment before they drop:~)
Thanks for the comment and visit, Chris!
I have the squirrel picture on my desktop, except that it is MY squirrel upside down eating our bird food. The squirrel know it’s not going to eat the food unless he overcomes the obstacle of the roof overhang. Just like us, we need to adapt to overcome the overhang in our life.
.-= Colleen´s last blog ..17th Annual Cool Desert Nights =-.
@ Colleen — My squirrels do the same thing to my “squirrel proof” feeder. I don’t know how they manage, but they figure exactly how much weight they hang with and still keep the guard to food open. It’s fun to watch. I also agree with you that we learn a lot from squirrels about both adapting to the “overhangs” in our lives and having a “keep on trying” attitude:~)
Thanks for visiting:~)
Hi Sara .. mentally rather tied up at the moment with things going on here .. but I do remember the story of the chairs .. I guess you could add a fourth question .. what would be your question ..
The concept is really good as it makes us think .. things perhaps we’d never think of normally .. so I’m sure there’s loads more you could do – especially if it’s tapping into your creative photographic side ..
Can just see raindrops .. aren’t they .. but nature offers so much .. shafts of sunlight, shadows, blues of the sky ..
Wonderful .. I have to think quite hard sometimes .. and need to be on the right wave-length .. well at least half way there! .. Enjoy today and the rest of the week – Hilary
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Ever Thought of a Map as an Encyclopedia? =-.
@ Hilary — The story of the chairs seems to one of the favorites:~)
I hope all is well with you. I hope you have a wonderful weekend…maybe you can even start it early and do something special for yourself tomorrow:~)