The Creative Exchange, February 6th - 10th

I am an avid reader.  Now I can't remember the last time I read a novel, a self-help book, or even a newspaper from beginning to end, but give me something written on photography, and if it gets my attention, I'll devour it.  Lately, photographic essays have been my "thing."

The most recent one I read was about storytelling through images.  We see something that interests or touches us in some way for some reason, and we photograph it.  But if we had to, could we always describe the story in words?  The author explains that we rarely make images without reason; that there is always a story behind what we record with our cameras.

This photograph was taken last weekend.  I first saw this as we were taking my son to the airport for his flight to Boston after the Thanksgiving break.  I had my camera with me, but the very last thing I was thinking about was using it.  I was too busy already missing him.  Now many weeks later, it was still with me.  Enough so that I drove well over an hour just to photograph it.  Once I arrived, I realized that there was no way I was going to get what I wanted without setting up my tripod on the NYS Thruway, and from experience I can tell you that the state police do not think very much of that!  So I did what I could to simply just get it.

Back at home, I stared at it on my screen, and just kind of asked myself... "Why??"  I mean it's a tree.  A tree with a fence around it.  Okay, so there are a few old gravestones there also, but still, I drove over an hour for this???  For some reason, I remembered the essay.  "We rarely make images without reason."  I however, was convinced that I was in possession of an image that surely proved this wrong, so I used a texture on it, did not like that, converted it to black and white, and sent it to "Neverland" (my external hard drive).

In the midst of a conversation with a friend about my weekend, there it was!  The story behind this seemingly pointless image that for some reason I just had to photograph.  The feeling that this image conveys to me is precisely the way I felt on the way to the airport that morning.  It was the first time my son was flying alone, and I was missing him before he'd even gotten on the plane.  I felt as lonesome as this tree looks.  Now really, is that neat or what???

Anyway, this was such an amazing feeling for me, and I want you to share it too.  Find an image that you’ve made; one that you really cannot seem to find a story for.  Keep it in your mind, and just kind of toss it around there from time to time.  I'll just bet that you'll find your story too.

Some exciting news to share!  The Creative Exchange has been selected as “Blog of the Month,” at Jeanne’s “Butterfly Tales.”  This is truly a testament to each of you, for without you, your talent, and your never-ending kindness, The Creative Exchange simply would not be, and so I congratulate and thank each of you, and a special thank you Jeanne, for this special treat!

Happy Monday to you!