Monday, May 14, 2012

A Thousand Words

I'm not going to lie - this one had me stumped. Then I just started writing, and, again, I can't lie. I love the way it turned out. I hope you enjoy it, too, and are inspired to get your own writing going.

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A Thousand Words

"Look over there," Aaron whispered. "That would be a great shot."

I scanned the park but didn't see what he did. Of course, I had only taken photography because Aaron talked me into it. Our current assignment was an 'Urban Photo Diary.' Aaron suggested the parks and I followed because I desperately needed him.

"I don't see it," I finally admitted. Aaron lifted his large-lensed camera, the one you know cost a couple hundred dollars. As he focused his lens, I raised my own slim, metallic pocket camera and snapped off a few quick shots. My click was silent, but timed perfectly with Aaron's soft whir.

Untitled"This is what I saw." He turned to show me the screen. He had taken a photo of two businessmen sitting on a bench, each reading a paper.

"Okay." I was starting to think taking this photography class was a joke. I didn't get it like Aaron did.

Aaron smiled and shifted closer. I took a deep breath of his cologne and tried to follow where he lead.

"Their legs are crossed, but away from each other. That says they don't know each other and are a probably little uncomfortable sharing a bench. The guy on the left put all his stuff on his lap - insecure. The guy on the right put his stuff on the bench. He's saying they can share, but to give him space. He's confident."

"Because of where he put his brief case?"

"And his shoes," Aaron winked. I looked again. The guy was wearing canvas hi-tops.

"How do you see all this?" I asked.

"Probably the same way you can do equations in your head," he answered. "It just happens. This is going to look really good off the printer," he murmured, speaking to his camera. I watched him for a moment, my awe surrounding him like a halo.

I shifted through the photos I'd taken that day. A bench colored with graffiti, an odd angle of a statue, a stone and iron fence lining the pale sidewalk. All of these had been suggested by Aaron, but others had not. Aaron, holding his camera up as he took that last group of photos. Aaron standing at the corner, camera in hand, a huge backpack of his supplies looking like it would topple his narrow frame. These were the ones headed for my printer, even if they were a little blurry, or the framing wasn't quite right.

"Do you think we have enough?" Aaron asked with a frown. I laughed and shook my head, knowing he had ten times the photos I did.

"Come on," I ordered, standing up. "Let's go get something to eat. I'm sure you'll find a million things to capture between here and there."

"You might, too," he offered with a crooked grin and I shook my head, knowing he was the only thing I wanted to photograph.

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What do you like to photograph? Let me know in the comments. :-)

12 comments:

  1. Nice take on the photo. Just like in your story, theses are things I wouldn't have noticed about the picture. Good job.

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    1. Thank you. The surface of the photo wasn't talking, so I looked deeper. It was those details that inspired the story.

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  2. Hi Carrie,
    It is interesting how you developed your story based on the picture. I like to take a variety of pictures especially ones featuring nature. I am a new Follower of your Blog. Have a good week.
    Judy - JUDY H-J'S THOUGHTS

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    1. Thank you, Judy. The prompt comes from Nicole Pyles every week over at The World of My Imagination. It's been a lot of fun and has become a great learning process.

      I love photos of Nature as well, almost to a fault. Few of my vacation pics have people in them, though now that I have kids, that will probably be changing.

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  3. This was an interesting read. I liked how you used the photo for your story. More than a reference point, you developed it to something more. Found you on the blog hop :)

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  4. Hey, Ann, thanks. :) I'll head over to your blog now.

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  5. OH! I LOVE it.... you did an incredible job. Got me thinking. Now I'll be interpreting everything I see today! hee hee.

    What do I love snapping? Historical boring things that I think will give me an idea for a story if I stare at them long enough. Or! my kids in nature... snow play, field walking, tumbling in leaves... just having fun.

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    1. Thank you, Tanya. Since I've been participating in this photo-inspired hop, I've been interpreting a lot more, too. :) I love photos of kids at play, too. This year I'm having my sister's older two do photo nature books. They're having a blast.

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  6. I can't believe I never saw this! :) This is so good! I love the perspective of the photographers!

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    1. Thanks, Nicole. I always appreciate glowing comments. ;)

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  7. Cool take on the photo. These are little 500 word challenges are so much fun.

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    1. They are, thanks for joining. :) I've got your link put into this week's share and prompt post.

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