WRITING PROMPT
My World is Upside Down
A chance to see your surroundings with different eyes
When we disappear in the rituals of our daily lives surrounded by the same landscapes every day, it can get difficult to see the bright things in life. But there is a way out of it. There is a way to see the small things that make a difference in our days.
Photography is not the only option, but it is a great way to look at things from a different angle. Going on a photoshoot out into nature with a certain topic in mind or a different aspect of how to look at your objects can do a lot. Not just with your photography, but with your mind as well.
A few months back, I started a writing prompt on the topic of looking up. Many aspiring writers and photographers have joined since. Looking up at trees or city buildings from underneath can change your focus.
Even today when I read through the many responses of the photo-a-day challenge started by Dennett in 2020, I still see writers taking looking-up pictures. And I’m happy about it. I’ve inspired someone to take a different look at things.
But not just that. It changed my view of things as well. While I often go down onto my knees and shoot things from the ground level, now I got reminded to not forget about looking up from time to time.
Over the past few weeks, I collected all the articles I was tagged in with the topic of looking up. My writing prompts do not have a time limit. So, feel free to submit if you hadn’t had the chance to do so yet.
Here is some inspiration for you:
Jane Frost with “A Week of Looking Up”
Divina Grey with “Better Late Than Never”
A few weeks after the first prompt, I released a second one with a new topic. Looking at things through a mirror, or in particular taking photographs in the side-view mirror, was a chance to see things behind you.
“Reflections in the Side View Mirror” didn’t get as many responses as my first photography challenge, but it is still here for you in case you need some inspiration for your next road trip or article to write.
And while I wasn’t the only one shooting in the side-view mirror, here’s some more inspiration for all pet-lovers out there. Kim captured her dogs as they love sticking their head out of the back windows in the car.
Kim Zuch with “The Dog in the Mirror Is Closer Than He Appears”
And my latest photography challenge was calling for shadows captured in our photographs. You can either go back in your archives and see what you have out there or go on a mission and shoot your own shadow in daylight.
Whatever it is, my writing prompts are just an inspiration without strict rules but with lots of space for creativity.
And I found a couple of pictures of shadows over the past weeks hidden in the photo-a-day challenges or other photo essays. Here are the two that referred back to my challenge.
Dennett with “Whispers”
Ellie Jacobson with “Oh, There I Am”
But I am not just here to share my old prompts. On my way to searching for a new topic, I stumbled upon the “52 Week Photography Challenge” from Rodrigo S-C.
While I am not on the look for another long-term photography challenge, I found lots of helpful advice and tips in this article. Next to tips on how to take photographs, I also got inspired by a new photography challenge.
Turn your world upside down.
Yes, let’s change the way we look at things again. And by that, I don’t mean you have to be a yogi or go into Mary Chang’s favorite position of the headstand while taking a photograph.
No, just bend over and shoot while looking at the world upside down. Or stand up straight and hold the camera upside down. Lie down on your back and hold the camera up.
I don’t have to tell you what to do. I know you’re all creative. You’ve got more ideas than I have on how to transform this challenge into a new writing prompt response.
Turn the world on its head.
With the help of your camera. Use your own style of storytelling to add a fitting narrative to your piece. And don’t forget to tag me. I’d love to see what you all came up with.
Dennett | David | Barb | Erika | Shruthi | Diana | Kim | Ellie | Juan | Pene Francine | Barbara | LensAfield | LucianoSphere | Susan | Mary | pockett | Vidya |
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