Have you read Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton? I'm guessing your answer is no. But, thanks to Snoopy, I'll bet you are familiar with the first line of his most famous novel:
"It was a dark and stormy night...."
In 1982, the English department of San Jose State University in California started the annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest. The contest challenges people to write the first sentence to "the worst of all possible novels." After a slow start, it's popularity exploded! There are now thousands of entrees annually and awards are given in several categories. Here's a link to the contest site. Take a look at the hysterical 2010 winners:
http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2010.htm
So, what has this got to do with photography? Weather Pictures! Can you show us the quintessential weather moment - rain, snow, wind, dust storm - whatever happens in your part of the world?
Pictured above is my interpretation of "It was a dark and stormy night....". (Camera settings: f/5.0, 1/125 sec, ISO - 400, lens - Tamron 18 - 270 mm @ 60 mm)
What fun! We can't wait to see your posts! And feel free to write a terrible opening line in the comment section!
(In order for a link to be clickable in our comment box you need to type it a specific way. Look at the our RIGHT side bar for "how to make a link clickable" read that and set your URL address specifically like this and we will be able to click on your link to view your photo faster. Of course if you don't want to do this simply paste your link in our comment box and we can always copy and paste to view.)
25 comments:
What a fun post, Caroll! I'm traveling now (literally) so can't post a weather picture until later but I can't wait to see what other readers come up with..
Good morning Carol-- What a fun post to wake to!
I am a weather freek. There is a saying in the photography world that goes something like "bad weather -- GREAT photographs!" I really agree.
I posted some time ago on my blog about storms... click this link : Dipity Road
Love your capture of the dark clouds, the storm moving in, and lights...they add so much to the emphasis of the storm rolling in. Great shot and post! Happy Monday Carol!
Love this shot, Carol! Those clouds are so ominous! Also, thanks so much for pointing readers to the sidebar so that they can see how to post links in the comment section. I'm going to try it out right now with this link: Monsoon Clouds Can't wait to see what everybody posts today!
Great opening post, Carol. Love your shot and the info is great...I have heard of this contest and your depiction of that great opening line is perfect!!
Well, not only did I climb right into the scene with your words, but that photograph really fit the prompt, it is wonderful. This gives me an opportunity to try out adding a link to a comment. Here in New England we usually have lots of snow, but not this year. It seems to have lost it's way and ended up in Europe. Here's a photo taken last year on February 8, 2011. I was using my little Sony DSLR-A200.
Too much snow to climb
I love your style of post writing Carol. It's so lovely to see that everyone already has their own signature post style.
Karen
Carol,
A great subject and photograph. I am one of the strange people who enjoy a "good" storm. I think is stems from living in Tornado Alley in Illinois for 3 years. The attached photograph was taken in an old walled-in city, Monteriggioni, Italy. I was staying in a hotel that was a converted carriage house for the castle. It was just after midnight and I had been woken up by a thunder storm passing through. The storm had just passed and a full moon was behind the clouds. I grabbed my tripod and headed out. The only thing that could have made this better would have been another ghost sighting (a photograph for later). Hope you enjoy it.
Sam
http://images.nikonians.org/galleries/showphoto.php/photo/140813/cat/500/ppuser/166894
wow SAM that is a VERY cool photo-- especially when I clicked on it to make it bigger. VERY cool.
Hi Sam,
I'm so glad you enjoyed the prompt! Your photo proves that there's nothing like a storm. That is a really interesting photo. It gives you the feeling of being out there, and the B/W is really effective. So, now I'll have to think up a ghost prompt, so we can hear your other story!
Thanks for playing!
Hey Karen -
I lived through that storm last year - sans electricity - I remember well! I assume that's the gazebo pictured above that's buried in that snow?
Thanks for posting!
I love your clouds too , Terri - They're quite drmatic!
Thanks for the kind words all - See you in a few weeks!:)
A lovely photograph! And such ominous clouds! I do love a good storm though! Great post!
Love the title of your pic too
Dear Carol, thanks for inviting me to view your blog. The pictures are stunning. Its exciting for me to see some of my favorites on your site. I look at each picture and think, "I love that one. Oh- and I love that one...and that one." Each is unique yet all share a particular beauty and even serenity. I can't wait to follow your group's progress. What a great way to support each other and to draw others into your artistic world.
Thanks Des, for dropping in and for the kind words! Come back!
Such a fun post and great photo! We get huge storms here in Texas, especially in the summer. I will have to remember to capture one next time!
Stephanie
Very cool image Sam! Thanks so much for dropping by. Beautiful photo Carol! I live in the midst of Tornado Alley also smack dab in the middle of Oklahoma. Luckily storm season hasn't started for us yet, but I have to admit that I do get a little bit excited when I hear the beep, beep, beep of the tv weathermen breaking in for a severe weather alert. There is nothing like the skies in Oklahoma during tornado season!
Here is my first sentence - is it terrible enough?
As each of the ten ink-stained wenches released their potions dripping with texture and temptation into the world, that quiet corner of creativity, so recently addled and quilted with anxiety, awakened to the dawn of light.
Carol, Claudia
Thanks for the nice comments. I think storm related photographs are better in B/W...it lends to the mood.
Hi Carol, I'm enjoying this blog and viewing everyone's photos....is this one of your photos from France? In LaCoste possibly. The photo really captures the feel of an oncoming storm.
Hi Carol - Yup - this was the dinner you and I grabbed in LaCoste when we had to move inside bec of the storm. what great memories of a great trip!
Carol
Hi Carol - Loving this blog site - just joined and shared on Facebook too! Once I figure out how to attach photos I will......
Hi Terry! Glad you like it . And I expect some major photos out of you.
To attach a pic, go to the site where yo have the pic you want to post and click on your picture. You will see the URL above it change to reflect the actual picture page you are on. Then just copy the URL and paste it into our comment section, as I did on today's prompt (2/9)
Anyway - you have to figure it out, because you know I love your photos and they deserve to be seen!
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