WRITING PROMPT

Reflections in the Side View Mirror

Capturing what's behind you

About a month ago I posted the writing prompt on looking up. It was a call about changing your view. I was amazed at how many awesome writers and photographers decided to join. I got tagged in countless “looking up” stories.

To honor each and everyone who joined I decided to go back and search for them. Unfortunately, I didn’t save them after reading. So, in case I forget to tag your story, please leave me a reply and I’ll add it.

In the meantime, I’ve collected a few more ideas for new photography challenges and writing prompts. While I moved from Europe to Asia I didn’t get to set up another post but had a few pictures collected already.

I read this post from Mark Tulin in October already when I was inspired by his idea of taking pictures in or of the side view mirror. He captured everything from fluffy toys, traffic lights to sunsets.

And then I decided I wanted to do that too. I didn’t always remember taking my camera with when I went for a drive but when I had it I tried to capture something along the way.

Of course, I always stopped and parked the car before I grabbed my camera. Sometimes I moved the car around, reversed, and placed it at a certain angle to capture what I wanted to have in the shot.

But sometimes I simply clicked. I clicked and captured what was behind me. A mirror helps us to see behind us. Isn’t that amazing?

And that is what this prompt is about. To capture whatever is behind you with the help of a “side view” mirror. You can use the mirror of parked cars or your own. You can shoot from inside of the car or from outside. You can of course take photographs while driving if someone else is behind the wheel.

I realized it’s not always easy to shoot from the inside since I sometimes just captured myself holding the camera. But hey, that is also a reflection of the side view mirror.

Also, while you’re capturing something that is behind you, you get at the same time the scenery in front of you into the shot. Depending on how close you get to the mirror or how much you zoom into it.

It gives you two perspectives in one shot. Isn’t it amazing?

I had lots of fun playing around with it. I didn’t always get to shoot what I had in mind but I always had an interesting result.

I also had some frosty mornings where I had to scrape the windows and mirror clean from the ice. As you know, I love the cold. But even more the snow.

While I’m writing this I’m lying in an air-conditioned room in Thailand. So yes, I’ll keep on shooting in the side view mirror. Most probably I’ll use the one of my scooter. Let’s see how it will look like.

If you can’t use a mirror of a car or another vehicle maybe you have a small pocket mirror and can place it into nature or your world.

And see what is behind you!

I’d love to hear from you. Please don’t forget to tag me so I can read all your inspiring responses. And in case you didn’t read my previous prompt, here’s the link to it:

And these are the participants of the prompt and their responses:

Dennett with “Onward and Upward” and “Up and Again”

Barb Dalton with “A Taste of Europe in Montreal” and “An Upward Glance at Autumn”

Pene Hodge with “Looking Upwards”

pockett dessert with “Look Towards the Sky, What Do You See?”

K. Barrett with “Leaf Gazing”

Gurpreet Dhariwal with “Looking Up And Embracing The Universe”

Ellie Jacobson ✍🏻 with “A Walk Around the Yard Looking Upwards”

Denise Darby with “Looking and Listening Upward”

Inviting more writers to join:

Francine | Erika | Barbara | LensAfield | LucianoSphere | Susan

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