A multitude of powerful stories can be contained in a single photograph.
Susan says, “Our egos! Yes, I apologize for starting with an exclamatory shout. In my defense, good grief. Is there anything sillier than putting your face in the way of a thundering, full throttle, display of nature’s majesty? Well, of course there are a dozen reasons why this isn’t all that appalling. Like: ‘see where I was? Here’s proof.’ Or: ‘Even on my own I can have a good time.’ Or: ‘Isn’t this place beautiful – you can see it kinda peeking out around the edges of my equally beautiful face.’ Or: ‘I’m taking a selfie at every single one of Oregon’s beautiful waterfalls.’ I wonder which is is the story here?
And now on to using photographs to tell stories in presentations.
“I’m just going to get over my rant about selfies and focus on what Lucia has captured here. There are two delicious story ideas here. One is the breath-taking setting of Multnomah Falls in spring flood. You can almost hear the roar of the water. The other story is the reference to the thousands and thousands of photographs that have been taken by tourists from this bridge. While I suspect that the bridge was built for viewing the fall up close, its other purpose has been, for years and years, as a platform for family photos. We love to see ourselves. Always have. Now that is a wonderful subject to explore in a presentation, isn’t it?”
To Selfie, Or Not to Selfie. What Stories Do You Want to Tell?
Lucia says, “There were many stories to tell from watching people on this bridge. Some stood and took in the wonder of the powerful waterfall, others faced away from the fall and waved to their loved ones standing down below, most of them simply walked across to continue on the path. I watched this woman taking a selfie for a while. I hoped she would turn around and linger on the bridge to take in the wondrous waterfall and feel the spray on her face. No, not this time. Getting a perfect selfie was utmost in her mind. I’m not saying this is wrong. She took her time to get the perfect shot. I’m not taking away the desire to capture a moment, but I worry that focus on a selfie will lessen the actual experience.
I’m guilty of this myself. As a photographer I have to be careful not to see everything in my mind’s eye as through the lens of a camera. I make concerted efforts to enjoy the moment and appreciate the scenery around me – listen to the sounds, smell the air, feel the wind or rain on my skin. In essence, ‘Be here Now’. This is something that could never be captured in a photo. I work hard to make the best representation of my experience and then I put the camera down and simply experience. Therefore, I hope people will, like the woman on the bridge, carefully take a selfie, but then enjoy their surroundings. I bet brining this up during your presentation could spark a lively discussion. Can you imagine the stories you would hear?”
