Image by Brian Auer via FlickrWhen I was in high school I used to be the yearbook photographer and go to games and all other events to take pictures, so I was really good at people watching. So here I sit now with this wonderful passion to write. Today the thought struck me how much writing is like photography. Well, not today’s digital photography, but before digital.
First there is the picture: You look around to see what captivates you and gets your heart fluttering to make you think, I want to capture that moment.
The same is for your story idea. You find something you are passionate enough to write about.
Both of them need focus and great detail. They also can be determined by speed. The slower or faster the speed can determine the impact your photo or story makes.
You will be able to throw all kinds of options at this point: filters, angles, exposure.
The most important step is that they both need developed. (First draft)
Then you will get your negatives (bones of your story) and need to make some prints. From there you will want to put it into your enlarger (start editing). You will crop, angle, contrast, resize, dodging, burning in, use toner, angle and choose your paper. (colored pens, beta readers, cutting/adding scenes, favorite candies/snacks and all the other ways we edit!)
Now you have your photo (rough MS). Now that you have worked it to how you want it to look it is time to develop it. You will first soak it in the developer. (Go through and fix all the things that you corrected during your edit). Then it is time to put it in thestop bath. Which stops the developing solution. (Let the new changes sit for a little bit). Now it is time to run it through the fix. Once is in the fix, it is set and you will really see what is there. (Finished manuscript).
Now the great thing about pictures is that you can process as many as you want until you get them just the way you want. (Re-write your MS as many times as you need to until you like it).
So that is how I relate something that I used to do to something that I do now.
How about you? Is there anything that you used to do that you can relate to your writing now? I want to know.
17 comments:
What a great analogy! It really makes you think about all the steps we follow to create a story.
What an awesome way to relate your photography to writing now!
I don't know that I have anything I'd be able to relate like that. Writing was always what I did. Maybe sewing or some cooking. ;) I'll have to think about that...
Greetings from Southern California
My name is Ron and I'm your newest follower. I invite you to visit my blog and become a follower if you want too.
Take care and have a nice day :-)
I'm a counselor and training to be aschool psychologist. It is all about analyzing and understanding people. In fact my whole blog is on how to diagnose your character. I like taking the things that I have learned and using them to get into the heads of my characters. Great post and great comparison.
Farting and hair cutting.
Never could take a photo. Wish I could. It might help my writing.
The only thing that made me want to write was reading. When books I liked didn't end the way I wanted, I made up new endings. From there, I progressed to writing my own stories the way I wanted them. When I couldn't sleep at night, I told them to myself.
From there it kind of grew. Still like to tell stories the way I want to!
I LOVE this analogy!!!! Well done.
You know, it seems like a very natural progression from photography to writing or vice versa. I bet there are a lot of writers who also do photography. I love taking photographs, but I've never taken the time to learn much about it. Maybe one of these days. Really great analogy, Regina!
Looking forward to meeting you this weekend!
Ha, great photography/writing comparison. I can relate too because I also love photography (and writing, of course)
Great analogy. I used to act but when I gave that up, I started writing and there are a lot of similarities between acting and writing, except with writing you get to explore the thoughts of all the characters not just you're one. With writing, you're actor, director, set designer - I love it! :-)
Interesting post. I've always been fascinated about photography.
I sometimes equate writing to cooking. I don't know if that's wise since I don't know how to cook.
Great analogy! As you know, I actually love both photography and writing so it does make a lot of sense! (even with digital because then you have photoshop!)Can't think of anything else to compare writing to at the moment, but then again can't think past going to get my first cup of coffee for today - so with that being said, take care and thanks for your great blogs!
That's a good question. To me, writing can be like cooking or baking, both of which I still do when I have time and opportunity - putting the recipe together bit by bit, letting certain elements sit or simmer until they're ready.
I never really got into photography that much until I got my Fujifilm camera, which shortcuts through a few of the steps - there's no making negatives or exposing the paper or chemical baths, and it even takes care of the focusing for me. There aren't as many short cuts in writing like that, which may be part of the point. ;)
This is a fantastic analogy! I'm a photographer too but had never considered this. Now, I'll never think of writing any differently! Thanks Regina!
Excellent analogy! My son's the photographer in our family but I get it. You have to have focus and all the tools you can use to get the image you want to come out on the page. I'm a hands on person so I find myself covering my wall with sticky notes with plots and story line and character development and whatever else comes out. It's my developing stage...my own kind of dark room you could say.
Regina,
I left you something at my blog. Stop by to have a look :D
Christi Corbett
Being a 2nd grade teacher has influenced a lot. Love the top shelf of cameras.
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