Improving My Digital Stories, or Finding the Photographer's Eye

AS we have continued with the assignment of posting a picture a day, I have found myself having a problem with finding material for the shots.  It seems strange.  Even though I see people and things everyday, I find myself having a hard time picking out those things that would make a good picture.  I have been struggling to find the photographer's eye, that ability to pick out an ordinary scene and see something extraordinary in it.  However I have also realized that the more I make myself do this, the better I am getting.  I have started to see more detail in everyday situations.  I see patterns, color, and shapes that might make an interesting picture.  I like to think of this as finding my photographer's eye, the ability to see a picture in an ordinary situation.

I think a similar process will happen in my presentations.  I need to start applying some of the principles from the Presentation Zen book, which will in turn make me a better story teller.  Just as there are great pictures hidden in the scenes that we encounter every day, there are also stories hidden in the standard presentations that I have to give on a regular basis.  By simplifying my presentations, and using pictures to tell the story, I can improve the impact that the slide show will have on the audience.  And just as with the pictures, the more I practice at it, the better will get.  I will need to keep making new presentations that use the principles from the Presentation Zen book, and eventually I will become a better storyteller and presenter.

I have made regular presentations for classes that I have taught at work, but I also hope to employ many of the same techniques when giving other presentations at work.  Whether it is a project status meeting, or a team update, I can use picture based presentations to tell the story that I need to convey to the group.