Photography: Let the picture tell the story of the people!

Blueeyes Magazine, an online photography magazine, tells storys. Rather than ranting on about the latest Canon SLR or praising the latest digital storage technology, this fully online magazine focuses on what is the most important in photography: the images themselves. The contributors aren't journalists, they are photojournalists, and they let their images tell the story for them.

One photo essay that is, on a personal note, meaningful is "Titusville Steel" by Chris Crisman. There are 14 images of retired steel miners still living in the small town in Pennsylvania. Each photo gives a caption of who they are and how many years they worked for the mines.

Each of Crisman's images offers the viewer an insights to that person. What is amazing is that the images show the individuality of each man. Yet colllectively, they show the similarities and bonds each former steel worker has with each other. The collection of images, without sacrificing the unique quality of each individual subject, shows the shared customs, beliefs, and style of life the people living in Titusville, PA.

As a photojournalist, I would take the inspiration from this story and begin to focus on the people of my own home town. For instance, the farmers that have long been working in the fields in my home of Garrett County, would be a great subject for a photo essay such as this one.

This story captures the essence images in telling people's stories. This photo essay proves that great stories need not come from the rich, the famous, the influential, or those damn politicians. Stories of working-class Americans are those that we can relate to. Coming from a family of farmers and miners, I know I can.

The story told in this is of a rugged, strong, and upright steel town. Unfortunately, these stories do not get told enough in the mainstream media, and it's good to see that the simple life is still strong in America. Coming from a small town surrounded by farms with coal mines not far away, this photo essay meant something to me, something that is hard to put in words. I am glad that the pictures are allowed to tell the story when words fall short.