Writing has always played a major role in my life. Whether it's for work or personal reasons, I find that words have a profound influence on me. I've always been captivated by the lyrics of songs, trying to turn them into stories or, at the very least, find some meaning within them. Writing as an outlet, writing to express feelings I can't say out loud, writing to clear my mind and better understand my emotions... writing has a soothing power that nothing else can quite match.
"Someday, I’ll write a novel," is something I’ve been telling myself for as long as I can remember. Novels, short stories, poems... anything.
I find even more beauty in combining photography and writing. I draw inspiration from Sarah Bahbah, a Palestinian/Jordanian artist and director born and raised in Australia.
As she is described on her website: "Bahbah has become renowned for her signature style, giving birth to visually striking, culture-shifting stories that combine her most intimate psyche, appearing as subtitles placed over cinematic stills."
Being able to create stories with stills is amazing— adding descriptions and thoughts even more intimate and strong.
STILLS STORIES - PROJECT
Here’s my first stills story, called Book Lovers :
Picture1: For once, I didn't try to think about the pros and cons of the situation and I held out my hand to her, dressed in my pyjamas on my doorstep. Before I even realized where she was taking me, a shot of adrenalin shot through me, so this was carefree?
Picture2: We shouldn't be here, you know that. If we get caught, we're in big trouble, (I said to her as we entered the library).
Picture3: So let's try to be discreet, (she retorted with a confident smile).
Picture4: I still hadn't understood why she'd chosen me to accompany her on her nocturnal jaunt, why me? I hadn't done anything to attract her attention, or anyone else's for that matter, and yet she seemed to know me already. However, if that were the case, she'd know that what I hate most of all is breaking the law.
Picture5: What are we doing in the library? (I questioned her.)
Picture6: I'd like to show you a book, follow me, it's over there, (she answered without letting go of my hand).
Picture7: What book deserved to be consulted at such an hour? She was now leading me to the back of the room, down an aisle made up entirely of books in disarray, mixing history, biology and mathematics. I was annoyed by the mess left there, and a desire to tidy up took hold of me. For her part, she lit up the shelves with the flash of her phone, looking for a specific title.
Picture8: If I help you, we'll go faster. What does the book you're looking for look like? (I pressed her as I kept turning around and paying attention to the noises around us).
Picture9: I just don't know (she said dreamily, unhurriedly analyzing and leafing through each book in front of her).
Picture10: I didn't get it. No matter how hard I analyzed her behavior, no logic came to me. I remained silent at her side, and finally took my turn to consult the books at hand. I couldn't say how long we stayed with our heads immersed in the books, but it was pleasant. I'd never really taken the time to let my imagination run free through stories I'd found by chance, without any academic purpose.
Picture11: Suddenly, another light appeared, snaking from aisle to aisle like a lost soul. It was a supervisor's flashlight. This was it, I could already see us being sent back. Panic running through my head, I put the book back on the shelf without paying any attention to where it was.Then, taking her by the hand, I started to run and an uncontrollable laugh came over me. A voice called out to us, but we escaped long before it caught us. A feeling of freedom and rebellion shook me, it was intoxicating. Back in the dormitory without having been caught, I said to her:
Picture12: If you want to go back for a book tomorrow, you know where to find my hand, (and smile at her.).