Talking Pictures

© 2003, Eric Rudd, All Rights Reserved

Farmers' markets have always held a particularly tender spot in my heart. The sense of family and community is palpable. Individual creativity abounds in every booth. My fiancée and I went to the Oak Park farmers' market early one Saturday morning in search of some rather infamous homemade doughnuts. We wound our way up and down the rows of flowers, herbs, crafts, and other wares. All around us people greeted one another with laughter, while the children tried to pet any dog that would stand still long enough to receive some attention.

I shot this photo at a fruit stand there. I can look at this photo and be immediately transported back to that time and place. Captured in the colors and the simplicity of the picture is the feeling of connection we share with those close to us. Everyone there was a friend to the stranger standing next to him.

By the way, the doughnuts were the best I've ever had!
--Eric Rudd
Oak Park, IL

Please Read This
The premise of Talking Pictures is that all of us have images that carry an internal narrative that we rarely get to share. This entails more than just camera, exposure, and film. It might include what provoked us to snap the shutter or how, in retrospect, the image makes us feel.

We invite you to submit images and words for this department. Please send only one image and brief text with each submission. Because we will print the pictures large please make sure that the image can take the blowup. For this department we will accept only high-quality prints (5x7 or 8x10) and slides--no digital files, please. We will not be able to return the images to you because of the volume we anticipate receiving. And by sending us the image you grant us permission to print it in the magazine and on our website. We also may hold publication for some time.

So come on, get published and share your ideas and inspiration. Send submissions to Talking Pictures, Shutterbug, 1419 Chaffee Dr., Suite #1, Titusville, FL 32780.