Creating from Photographs!

Have you ever heard that a picture is worth a thousand words? Of course you have. Pictures and photographs tell stories. Black and white photographs truly reveal a lot because you are not distracted by a wide array of colors. You can really study the people’s expressions and look past the facades.

If you are ever in need of a story idea, the lyrics to a song or phrases to a poem, pull out the old family album and choose an old photograph. Or, go and view a primary source of a picture taken from a news event. Notice the people’s emotions in the picture. It may have been taken from an actual happening such as landmark celebration, a banquet dinner or from a sit-in or protest.

Keen observers can see how people are truly feeling. They can see the anticipation or anguish or rage or sneering hate or warm love. Though some photographs are planned and staged, you can still see those inner feelings boiling over though everyone is trying to look pleasant and amiable.

Some may be privately flustered from waiting for the photo sitting to acutally take place. Think about those family photos with all the personalities trying to blend together to appear to be one big, happy family. Sometimes it works and sometimes it simply does not.  That’s a story in itself.

Choose one person in the photograph or picture, and create his or her story. Look closely at the facial expressions and try to imagine what that person’s day was like before taking the photo. For example, suppose that he or she works at a laundry. Perhaps that person is trying to look joyful during the family photo session, but is really quite anxious to get back to the shop. It is a one-person operation, but  he or she had to be there in order to stay on good terms with the family.

Stretch your imagination. Assign a profession to someone after reading those hidden feelings and have a field day as your magic pen, strumming guitar or whatever tool you use to create takes flight. Have fun with it and make the story of the person of your choosing come to life!

Lynn M.
February 17, 2024