Story
Story. There is considerable discussion about the story told in a photograph. Many photographers do this very well. Convey some sense of story in their images. I agree with this concept. I love the idea of telling a story with and through my pictures. But it is something I struggle with. What is my story? Does my story influence my image, or does my image influence the story? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This idea of storytelling through photography is one that I often get caught up in, perhaps a little too much. As I mentioned, I love the idea, and many photographers do it very well, but I’m not sure I'm one of them. And that’s okay.
The images I create are more about celebration than telling a story. At least this is how I think of them. I refer to my photography (and my website) as “Quiet Stillness” landscape photography. My method of photography is reactionary. There is little to no planning behind it. There is no story in my mind to motivate me to where I might go or what I might photograph. I research a place to go, more than a thing to photograph. I am looking to find moments of quiet stillness in the areas I explore, and to celebrate the experience I have there. So, my Images are more of a record than a story. A small reminder of the place and the experience. They are a captured moment of stillness and solitude. A brief quiet moment in my day that I can look back on and hold on to. For me, my photography is a practice of meditation and patience. It is a means for me to celebrate what I enjoy around me.
While some of my images may have a spark of a story behind them (or, more importantly, spark a story for the viewer), I seldom, if ever, have a story in mind when I capture my image. It is, for me, more of a feeling than a story. I am fortunate to be able to share that feeling with others. And the best thing about that is that the more people who can see my images, the more stories are created about them. So, while I may not set out to tell a story with my pictures, ultimately, my images can have many different stories behind them, and they are all unique to the person viewing them. I believe that inspiring a story can be more powerful than telling it.
