D10: Create Mystery with Your Images

Tasra Dawson —  September 10, 2009 — 6 Comments

I’m not really a mysterious kind of girl. I’ve always thought of myself as simple and sometimes even a bit plain. My mother-in-law, who was a fashion diva, was always coaching me to think beyond basic black. Even if that’s how I live my life, there’s no reason for my images to lack an element of flash and flair, surprise and mystery. So that’s what today is about.
tasra365 mystery D10: Create Mystery with Your Images

Considering I couldn’t sleep (no surprise there) and that it’s 1 am, technically it’s now the 10th day of my photo challenge. What better time than now to create an image that might have a little mystery. And why is mystery on my mind?

Well, I stumbled across Scott Bourne’s recent post, 10 Ways to Know You Made a Good Picture. Emotion was the word that struck me. I want my images to evoke an emotion. To draw attention. To make you stop. And think.

This is my first attempt. Do you know what this image represents? Can you figure out why I chose to shoot this? Does the lighting and single focus draw you in? What do you think or feel when you look at it? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Manual: Flipped to Page 85 in my Nikon manual—Slide Show. I’ve seen this feature on the camera, but have never used it. Honestly, I doubt I ever will. As easy as it is to download images and create a slideshow in iPhoto or Lightroom, why bother with watching one on the back of your screen? I did use it a few times plugged into the TV when I first bought my camera years ago, but not since then. Do you use this feature?

Images: Looked through some galleries of Doug Menuez, award-winning documentary photographer based in New York. He’s a commercial photographer who has countless magazines, books, prints, as well as unbelievable experiences in photography under his belt. I met Doug personally through my husband when we filmed part of Doug’s work-in-progress documentary, The Wisdom of New York. Amazing photographer. Incredible person. If you’re not familiar with his work, check it out. I love the spontaneous emotion he captures so beautifully. And he plays a wicked harmonica too!

I have an entire set of iPhone images from our visit to New York. I plan to create a slideshow… when I find the time.

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Tasra Dawson

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Author, designer, photographer, teacher... just an artistic curious girl learning to live insanely great and sharing what I learn along the way.
  • Trianglehead

    Random guess is that it's a book. Possibly your camera manual? Anyway, great shot. The texture as the image blurs to the bottom left is very interesting, especially since it looks like there are little markers sticking out. I wonder what is interesting on those pages. So well done, this image does indeed make me very curious.

  • http://www.jwwphotography.com/ James W

    Tasra, just finished listening to your interview on F-stop & Beyond, have always considered taking a photo a day, well thanks for the inspiration!!!

  • daniellebatog

    You are inspiring me just as you did with scrapbooking all those years ago ;)

  • BenRiddick

    This is really awesome. It really did make me stop and enjoy the wonderful composition and lighting. Amazing shot tasra. Thanks for getting me into this as well =)

  • http://twitter.com/t_bjoerk Tommy Bjoerk

    Hi Tasra! My guess is that it's a picture of your (by now) often read camera manual… ;-) In any way it's a beautiful picture, and to me it really gives an impression of quiet moments, the house all dark except for a single light, curled up in the sofa, reading a really good book, i.e. one of my favorite things to do (preferably with some Steely Dan playing softly in the background). That is exactly the kinds of feelings I get from looking at this picture, of calm, quiet, and peace… Now I'm of to listen to the latest episode of TWIP, which I understand has some very special guests!

  • donnarayne

    Tasra,

    Listened to your interview with Ron on Sept 4th. My story is similar. Thanks for the inspiration to keep on going, to believe in myself and my art and to NOT develop a thicker skin. :)

    Dona Rayne