“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower…”
–William Blake, Auguries of Innocence—
…or in one click of a camera.
One picture is worth a thousand words. Some pictures lay out the facts, like a road map.
But others have all the elements of a great novel, crammed into one quick snap.
Danger…
Mystery…
Character…
Adventure…
Desperation…
Romance…
Greater purpose…
For me, the best stories raise questions as well as give answers.
They present universal dilemmas, and show us how people learn to cope with trauma or loss.
A disaster becomes a compelling tragedy, although the victims lived two thousand years ago, if we can relate to their suffering. And who can’t?
We like to tie up our stories in neatly arranged ribbons and give them happy endings. Who doesn’t love a happy ending?
But that’s not always possible. Perhaps the best stories–and photographs–just remind us of what it is to be human.
All words and images copyright Naomi Baltuck.
Click here for more interpretations of The Weekly Photo Theme: Split-Second Story.
Writing Between the Lines 