What's The Story? Curiosity Drives Creativity.

Don’t you look at pictures and wonder about the story? I do! What’s the story?

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” As a photographer, I know there’s usually more to what’s going on behind the scenes. More importantly, there’s a story that led up to making the image.

How did that person get there? What is their life like? Where is that place? I’d like to go there someday, what are the people like?

Why is that dog’s head buried in the sand up to his shoulders? Is he after something? Did he catch it? Or eat it? Did it get away?

These are the kinds of questions that pop up in my mind when I’m taking pictures.

I want to know, what’s the story?

Our curiosity needs to be satisfied.

My curiosity causes me to ask, “What’s the story?” and all those other questions I mentioned earlier.

We all have a natural sense of wonder. Because of this, when my curiosity kicks in, I want to know how things work and why things happen. As a result, I start asking questions.

You need to keep asking questions until you get answers and your curiosity is satisfied.

Take action to find the answers to each of your questions. If your curiosity isn’t satisfied, keep digging. When you keep digging, it’s amazing how an answer to a question can lead to another question.

Curiosity leads you to new discoveries.

Each question answered leads to your next step. As you find answers to your questions, you begin to discover and learn new things.

I love learning and discovering new things. It keeps life interesting, doesn’t it?

Learning and discovery makes me want to explore and see new places, meet new people, and experience different cultures.

I’m inspired to make photographs and write about my experiences.

Author Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) encourages us to go on an artist’s date once a week. Whether you go to an art supply store or a museum, the point is to have fun. Play, enjoy yourself, be exposed to images, new places, new experiences, and be inspired.

I find artist’s dates are usually enjoyable. Because they are filled with learning and discovery, I find they spark my imagination.

Curiosity drives creativity. It fuels our desire to create.

An artist’s date brings up all kinds of questions. What would happen if I shot this in black and white? How would it look as opposed to shooting it in color? What would make it have more impact? If I shot it in black and white would it look mysterious?

What kind of story could I write about my visit to the art galleries I went to today? Would people be interested in hearing about the artists I met there? Maybe I could get an interview with one of them and share their story.

Curiosity about what I experience inspires me to create. I have a story to tell. To tell the story, I have to take action and follow through to create something.

How about you? What questions are rattling around inside your mind? Is your curiosity inspiring you to get some answers?