Telling stories through photos

Tonight’s sunset made me wax poetic.

Image by the Author

When I was a young girl growing up in the Philippines, I entered a contest where we were given a photo at the very last possible moment and we were supposed to tell the audience about it. I think the contest was called, “Extemporaneous Speech.”

I don’t even remember what my photo was of, but I remember recognizing the power of a compelling story. That was what the judges wanted us to excel in. First, to make up a story behind an image, and second, to take my listeners on a journey.

So let me tell you the story behind the photo above.

I was finishing up my work for the day in my office. My office window faces this view to the west. I was calculating in my mind how much daylight I had left to do horse chores.

And that was when I noticed the sky. I slipped out of my chair, opened the front door, and gaped at the scene unfolding before me.

If I were that young girl in that contest, I might have compared the sky color to orange popsicles, melting.

But to be honest, I probably would have described it literally: This is twilight on a ranch, the white snow contrasting with the peachy sky.

How far I have come since then.