June 24, 2023 • 182

Lens-Artists #255: Telling a Story

There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment.

HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind…hiking, touring, riding planes and trains, meeting great people, reconnecting with friends and family, and seeing wonderful sites…a true adventure.  How many photos have I captured?  Too many, as usual! 

Photos are a great way to capture memories, record events, and share experiences with others. They can also tell a story that creates an emotional reaction in our viewers–or perhaps, invites discussion. Just think of iconic photos from the first landing on the moon or the Berlin Wall coming down, or the student protests in Tianamen Square. Those photos tell stories that we will never forget.

This week, we’re focusing on telling a story with our photos. Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we can convey a story in one image; other times we need several. For this challenge, we’ll set a limit of 5 photos per story. Here are some examples to get your creative wheels spinning…

The Story of a Great Dinner

My first story is the tale of tapas at Brunhilda’s in Sevilla, Spain. Like any story, it has “main characters” playing the starring roles. In this case, it’s the food–two dishes that were absolutely delicious.

The photos can give you a sense of how beautifully the beet salad and duck were presented, the freshness of the ingredients, and their texture. Do they look delicious to you? With help from Photoshop, I blurred the distracting backgrounds which competed for the viewer’s attention. I also selected a Nik filter which heightened the warm tones.

I could have also chosen to organize my story in 3 images, showing the beginning, middle and end of the meal. Like any story, you can use time to sequence your images.

The Story of Maimonides

The next photo tells a story of the brillant Jewish philosopher Maimonides who was born in Córdoba, Spain. The memorial hints at his legacy as a very wise Talmudic scholar who is holding the Torah, the Jewish Bible.

If you look closely at the photo, there’s another part of the story. The brass finish on the statue has been worn off in some places. That’s because Maimonides’ beard, holy book and hands have been touched by thousands of visitors, hoping–as the local legend promises– for some good luck.

Highlighting these small details has helped me to convey the story. To draw the viewer’s attention to the patina, I darkened parts of the statue with the burn tool in Photoshop so that the lighter parts stand out. I also cropped the photo to eliminate a distracting background. I was hoping to make sure that the statue was the main focal point.

The Story of Monkey See, Monkey Do

Here’s another story which still makes me smile.

One afternoon in Córdoba, the little boy on the left discovered that he could play “Monkey See, Monkey Do” with an entire group of teenagers. Did you play that game when you were little? When he raised his arms, the teenagers raised their arms. When he touched the ground, they touched the ground. This went on for a good 15 minutes until his parents convinced him to continue their walk.

It seems very obvious now, but at first I tried to capture the story by only taking one photo of the little boy. Then I realized that he’s only part of the “story.” As I kept clicking, I included both him and the crowd–as you can see here. Giving context to the story, say the experts, helps to convey your message to the viewer.

A Story of Remembrance

As we walked through European cities this year, I started to notice small plaques with a few lines of text embedded in the sidewalk. The message was always the same–a person’s name, date of birth and date of arrest and death at a specific concentration camp during the Holocaust.

These memorial plaques, called Stolperstein, are the creations of the German artist Gunter Demnig. He was inspired by the Talmudic saying that “a person is only forgotten when his or her name is forgotten”. The Stolpersteine set in front of homes, hospitals, and offices where each person was arrested and sent to their death in concentration camps. They remind people of the victims–Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and those with mental or physical disabilities–who were deemed “defective” and killed by the Nazis.

Today there are over 35,000 Stolpersteine installed in over 19 countries in Europe, Scandinavia, and former Soviet satelite states like Moldova. Whenever I see these plaques, I stop, take a picture of them and remember the very tragic, but important story of lives cut short by hatred.

The Story of Rebirth

This photo from my archives recalls a bushwalk in Australia several years ago. Acres of land were destroyed by wildfire. You can see the charred remains of the trees. But months later, the grass was growing beneath them, giving this desolate scene a burst of hopefulness.

This week we invite you to tell a story in 1 to 5 photos. The story you tell is totally up to you. Document an event like a birthday, a meal you enjoyed or a visit to a favorite place. Share a photo that conveys an emotion–happiness, sadness, awe, humor–to name a few. Show us a memory of a place, time or person. In your post, be sure to include the Lens-Artists tag and a link to this post. We want to be sure we can easily find your story.

Last week Tina invited us to share photos of Spiritual Places— in the traditional or non-traditional sense. You shared wonderful photos of nature, places of worship, and sites which bring you tranquility and enrich you spiritually. A special thanks to Tina for her inspiring theme, which generated your marvelous posts. I was especially touched by the images that honored Bren, a wonderful creative artist in our community, who recently died from cancer. We’ll miss her creative spirit, beautiful images, and her unique vision of the world.


Now, it’s time for us to shift gears and make a special announcement. We’re very pleased to tell you that once again 5 very talented photographers have accepted our invitation to host our July “Month of Guest Hosts” here at Lens-Artists. Be sure to visit their unique sites each week as they explore the following topics:

In August, the Lens-Artists team will be back.  Ann-Christine will be our host on Saturday, August 5. Look for her post on Leya at noon ET.  In the meantime, I am hoping that your July is filled with inspiration and plenty of photo opportunities!

Interested in joining the Lens-Artists challenge? Click here for more information.

Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography

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182 replies »

  6. Pingback: LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #255: Telling A Story – John's Space …..

  8. Hi Patty, the story of the little boy leading the group in Monkey See made me smile from ear to ear. This is a heartfelt post. Each story had its own impact, both in the photo and in the story. Without the story, though, we might have missed the impact of the photo. I would have overlooked the brassy-colored beard and book, but your story gave it meaning. The same is true of the Stolperstein. Compared to the millions of people who died, 35,000 is a small number, but it still makes a big impact. Thanks for sharing such a lovely post.

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    • Hi Marsha. I loved that moment with the little boy! Glad you did, too. It’s true what you say about the Stolperstein. It has an impact. And thanks, too, for your kind words. I hope you can join us.

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      • Sometimes you just get to be part of something bigger than yourself. That was one of those moments. I took some accidental wedding pictures like that in Balboa park. Some of them turned out so wonderfully.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #255 – Telling a Story | Travels and Trifles

  11. I loved both your challenge and your post this week Patti. Your images are wonderful as always and your text is terrific. I love the way you shared your edits and the reasons behind them, and also really like how you augmented the images with your thoughts on the how’s and why’s of the images. Excellent from start to finish. I was particularly touched by the Stolperstein story. I’d not heard of that. It’s a wonderful effort and I hope it will continue honoring more of those who perished so cruelly. Looking forward to reading the stories of others this week.

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    • Hi Tina. I’m really enjoying the stories this week! And I love that PR updated us on the Stolperstein. 100,000 plaques to date! I love that. And thanks as always for your kind words about the post. It makes my day! Take care and have a good week.

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  12. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #255 – Telling a Story – Wind Kisses

  14. Exciting times ahead, and I love your story telling, Patti. Children bring us so much joy, don’t they? I think I’ve seen the Maimonides sculpture too. Happy days of summer to you 🤗🩵

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  15. I loved this challenge Patti, and the photos you used as your stories. With Maimonides there were two stories, one that could have easily been overlooked. Of course the highlight today will be of the little boy. To capture that moment meant being at the right place and the right time. I hope the parents got photos of him as well. Very sweet. The Stolperstein is moving. What a special way to tell the story of the Holocaust. Certainly not a happy ending, but the artist knew this would certainly generate endless prayers.

    Thank you for the inspiration.

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    • Hi Donna. I hope they did, too! They were trying to convince him to leave, but he was having too much fun. 🙂 And yes, I agree. The stolperstein are very moving. We’ve seen them now in a few countries and every time I have to stop and read them. Have a good week, Donna. I enjoyed your post, too!

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  18. Patti, your stories told in words and pics tell a variety of fun, yet poignant tales. Stolperstein (stumbling stone) is so apt for these memorial blocks of those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. May they always be remembered. Great ideas for this week’s Lens-Artists challenge. My Sunday Stills post publishes tomorrow and it tells the story of my garden.

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    • Hi Terri. I agree! Some people have criticized the stones, but I think they are a wise reminder of lives lost due to ignorance and hatred. I’m glad you’re joining us. I will take a look at your story.

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    • Hi Anne. Yes, it’s true. Pictures sometimes “speak” louder than words. I’ll never forget the first pictures of the earth captured from outer space. And so many other moments.

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  23. Pingback: Lens Artists Challenge #255: Telling A Story – Slow Shutter Speed

  24. That little boy story is hilarious, Patti. He would probably have kept going much longer. When visiting in France, I often saw remembrances of those lost in wars , sometimes almost entire villages or men from entire families. As sobering as they were, it’s good to see them and remember the horrors of war!

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    • Hi Janet. Yes, the little boy was a priceless moment. It’s true. His parents kept trying to lure him away, but he didn’t move for at least 15 minutes! I was amazed at how many kids were playing along with him. And yes, it’s true that we need to remember the horrors of war. These memorials are a sad but necessary reminder.

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  27. Great theme Pattimoed!
    The stories are revealed in these pictures!
    And the beauty of seeing and reading was enhanced by your excellent language.
    The Maimonides monument and the gentleman’s expression are beautiful.
    I adore the monument bricks that serve as historical reminders.
    There is always hope for positive things to happen, as seen by the passageway surrounded by the burned-out remnants with resurgent grass.

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  30. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge – Telling a Story – photographias

  31. All so beautiful and interesting in their own way. I think that is what makes this challenge so amazing, Patti. There’s this sense that all photos tell a stories, but some have a bit more depth to them. I love all your photos and memories, I think just for the uniqueness the little boy really stands out 🙂 What a moment, so well captured.
    Here is mine:

    Lens-Artists Challenge – Telling a Story

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    • Your post was as beautiful as always, Sofia! I loved your stories. The Geisha museum sounds fascinating. It’s true that our photos tell a wide range of “stories.” The little boy seems to be the favorite this week! Enjoy your time off!

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  32. Pingback: Lens-Artists Challenge #255 – Stories – Flights of the Soul
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    • Hi Andre. I often see the stones in Florence, too. Daily reminders of the tragedy of war, aren’t they? I’m delighted you enjoyed this theme. And I enjoyed your post very much!

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      • Oh, yes. I really hope they help remind people to avoid repetition. Although I knew the Stolperteine and the idea behind it, I didn’t know they can also be found outside Germany.

        Liked by 1 person

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  48. Hi Patti – I so enjoyed the extra challenge of this inspirational post. I tend to take many photos and then fall in love with using more of them than is necessary to tell a story. I found the challenge of limiting it to five fun for a change. I think my favorite photo of your post today is the little boy. He captivated so many people’s attention and you framed it to tell the story so well. I remember playing Monkey See Monkey Do with my mom as a child and her playing it with my kids when they were young. It’s fun to trigger those young-at-heart moments like in your photo. Thanks for hosting this week – enjoy your July break!

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    • Hi IJ. I still smile when I see the photo of that toddler and the teenagers. And yes, Demnig’s work is truly inspiring. PR updated the numbers–there are over 100,000 stolperstein now. Incredibly sad, incredibly important to remember. And I totally enjoyed your street photography stories from the Ginza. Wonderful!

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  62. Since you proposed this theme, I have been looking forward to seeing everyone’s take on the challenge. I’ve been at a family reunion all weekend so at home again this morning, I’ve been reviewing all of the stories told by all of the respondents so far.
    It has been so interesting to see the photo stories that have already been shared. It’s a great challenge topic, Patti!

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  82. I enjoyed your thought-provoking post & challenge. It’s interesting to read your story of the boy holding his hands up – your first instincts and how you realised you needed a wider shot to tell the whole story. When I was writing my post, I wanted to say that while we think we have to focus on a subject when we compose a picture, what really matters is what we leave out. I could not say it in any way that didn’t seem blindingly obvious, so I abandoned that bit, but re-reading your post I can see what set me thinking about it. Here’s my submission: https://susanrushton.net/2023/06/28/telling-a-story-with-the-help-of-church-goin-mule/

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    • Hi Susan. Many thanks! I’m delighted that the photo inspired you to take a deeper look at the question of what we include and what we leave out of a shot. Fascinating question! It’s easy to see how subjective it is and dependent on the photographer’s state of mind. Your explored this idea beautifully in your post.

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    • Hi Sheetal. Many thanks for your kind words! And I was delighted, in turn, to read about one of your adventures in Seoul. I’m so happy for you that the trip lived up to your expectations. 🙂

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    • Hi Susan. That must have been so moving…to see one placed for a relative. So much sadness, so much loss, but there is some hope when we remember their stories.

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