Ann-Christine asks us to think about the storytelling potential of our images. She writes, “I thought we would go for a minimalistic challenge this week – a good exercise, but I know you as I know myself… So, that doesn’t mean you must only use one, single image…I am sure you have several stories to share! Pick one or two, maybe three? As long as you use only one image for each (possible) story you have captured.” You can read about the challenge and see her stories here.
For my challenge-response, I included three images for your review. Each is a portrait of people concentrating on the task at hand. In the opening photo, a mariachi band in Mazatlán, Mexico serenade visitors to an outdoor restaurant. This image was actually cropped from a view of the entire band. I was struck by the emotion in the face of this guitarist as he was lost in the song and the music.
This image tells a personal story for me and my wife. It was bedtime for our grandson, so his mother was reading him a bedtime story about snakes. His mother was not worried about the potential of nightmares for this six-year-old who looked to be all but ready to nod off to dreamland when I captured the moment.
Regular readers of this so-called travel blog know of my love for trains, steam or otherwise. In 2017, we rode the Georgetown Loop Railroad from Georgetown to Silver Plume and back. At Silver Plume, there is no provision for turning the train around, so the engineer decouples from the lead car and backs down the adjacent track to connect to the other end of the train. The engine tows in reverse all the way back to Georgetown. I captured this image of the engineer immersed in his task of moving Engine 111 past the train on the way to reconnect on the other end.
Thanks to Ann-Christine for this week’s challenge. It gave me the opportunity to find and relive my own memories of these portraits of people captured while they were immersed in living their own life stories. You can click on any of the images to pixel peep via my Flickr page, or to view the entire Flickr album, click here.
John Steiner
Flare Legend Adventures
On Thu, Dec 2, 2021 at 2:09 AM Journeys with Johnbo wrote:
> photobyjohnbo posted: ” Ann-Christine asks us to think about the > storytelling potential of our images. She writes, “I thought we would go > for a minimalistic challenge this week – a good exercise, but I know you as > I know myself… So, that doesn’t mean you must only use one, ” >
Nicely done John – I loved the photo of your grandson and his mom especially. Very sweet
Thanks! I had fun processing the image from a cell phone pic.
I couldn’t choose a favourite, all three were brilliant but my eye did keep returning to the image of the mariachi guitar player, so maybe I’ll go for that one.As well as the expression on his face, it looked more like a sketch than a photograph. Did you make some adjustments to get this effect?
I used Silver Efex 2 to do the black and white conversion. In the process, I added some contrast and structure. I think those two adjustments gave the image that sketched look.
Great set of images – I like the way you’ve tied the stories together under a central theme. My favourite is the middle one, it’s the perfect ‘bedtime story’ composition!
Thank you. This was a fun challenge that reminds us all that photos truly tell a story without words!
Excellent images. Love Mom reading to son.
Thank you. It is one of my personal favorite images. No surprise, considering family and all. 😊
I’ve been on the Georgetown Loop train. I was able to watch the engineer couple the engine to the cars and I didn’t even feel it on the train. He was spectacular. I love your photo too 😀 😀
The ride is one of the shorter excursions we have been on, but no less spectacular scenery than others. I once got an email from the engineer in the photo. He saw it on my page and wrote to tell me how he liked it.
Excellent choices, John, and so lovely images – the one of your grandson and his mother is a real gem. I can understand if it is a favourite!
Thank you. This challenge allowed me to think of the story potential in the image. Great concept that should be considered with every shot.
I must agree – and I try to think about it…but I guess it is not always it works out!
I know what you mean.
Excellent examples John. I liked the processing in black and white and sepia. I think it added to the dimension of the stories,
Thanks. The extra level of drama in black and white made these images stand out when I went looking through my library for examples of the theme.
😊
Great selections John. The monochrome works well for these.
You did well here, John. I love your grandson picture best. But I also love trains, so that is very cool, too. 🙂
Thank you. These are some of my favorite black and white images.
They are fabulous.
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