Story telling is an art
People love to tell stories and they love hearing them. A good story can impart wisdom and some times teach a lesson. Before the written word was invented the story teller was an important member of the tribe. He or she was responsible for collecting tribal history and wisdom and passing it along to the next generation.
Photos tell stories
I like to tell stories with my photos. Right now the biggest story in my life has to do with my job and the foreclosed properties in my area. Especially the vacant historic homes around town and the vacant store fronts. They all tell a story. They are not about buildings they are about people. The people that lived in the homes matter and so do the business owners.
They are not telling their own stories so I am documenting the real estate market, and the economy with my camera. It has been challenging and at times exhausting. I can’t look at a vacant home with a child’s toy in it and a basket ball hoop on the garage without feeling something. I both admire and pity people who can remain detached.
There are happy stories too.
I recently saw a home that has been vacant for two years. It has a fresh coat of pain on it now and curtains in the windows. There were green paper shamrocks on one of the windows, and a dog in the yard.
A photo contest and a chance to tell a story.
Inman News is having a photo contest. (see complete rules on the Inman site) Daniel Rothamel and I are two of the judges. They are offering a prize, a $200 dollar Amazon.com gift certificate. The deadline for entering is March 31st.
I like the idea of nation wide documentation of the real estate market. Telling the stories both happy and sad with photographs. What is happening now in the economy and the housing market is a historic event that will be remembered for generations to come. our grand children may one day read about it in history books.
Start shooting and sharing
If you have a camera and are not afraid to use it, enter the contest and participate in the group on Flickr. Invite your neighbors and friends to do the same so we can share the stories.
