When I was just getting started in photography one of the best professional photographers in town took a few minutes out of his extremely busy day to review my “portfolio”. It was mildly embarrassing, but he let me down easy. Looking back on it now, I laugh at myself for thinking it would go differently. He was very correct though; I had some nice pictures, but his words were true “you need to tell a story with your photographs”

Now, in the context to which he was speaking, as a newspaper photographer, I thought that his words were somewhat askew. “Surely, as a hobbyist photographer there wasn’t much I could gain from heeding his advice” I thought. But then it hit me one day: as photographs go, every good photograph I’d ever seen told a story or conveyed a message. Whether it was the famous photograph from atop the Empire State Building of the workers eating lunch on the beam or the infamous photograph from the Vietnam war of a South Vietnamese officer executing a suspected Viet Cong officer, the upshot is that the best photographs are those which convey a story.

Usually, telling the story involves people and now every time I see a scene I begin looking for people who may be about to step into it. Figuring out exactly where I’d like them to be when I snap the frame. As opposed to a boat on the side of the harbor, it’s a sailor boarding the boat, late at night, silhouetted by the harsh harbor-side lights, perhaps about to set sail on a long journey home to Spain.

The words from the more seasoned photographer echo every single time I’m about to shoot a photo.. “tell a story”.

So now I do every chance I can.

This is a photo of something I grew up doing my entire life: sitting out on the wharf at the cabin with dad, watching the stars, satellites and planes go past. This is probably one of my most favorite photos I’ve ever shot. I just wanted to share the thoughts that went into making it and maybe give you an idea of what truly makes a photograph.