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12/17/2009 09:33:22 AM · #1 |
When I started college nearly thirty years ago, I went thinking I could write well. Thanks to one amazing professor, I left college knowing I could. Although I took a number of English courses and had writing requirements in nearly every course, he was the one that kicked the stool out from under me, then gave me the tools to learn how to pull myself back up. The funny thing is, it all hinged on one simple essay written nearly thirty years earlier...
"Politics and the English Language" by George Orwell was a religious experience for my writing. Even though I have strayed over the years, forgetting the explicit rules, there was always a voice in the back of my mind gently guiding my writing, much the way an unchurched Christian relies on the Golden Rule and some abbreviated form of the Ten Commandments. I have never forgotten the dramatic impact Orwell's six rules had on me that Spring of '83; it was only when I was reacquainted with their source that I was able to take my writing back to church, to start reexamining what I have written, to commit to writing better. For me, it's the difference between writing well accidentally, or on purpose. As it was then, it is now simply a matter of getting back to basics.
How does this relate to photography?
That is up to you. Let me give you Orwell's six rules about writing and see how you can apply them to making yourself a better photographer.
From Politics and the English Language, written in 1946:
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
If you're so inclined, here's the complete essay.
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12/17/2009 04:39:54 PM · #2 |
This is very helpful. Thanks for posting.
Love and Light,
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12/17/2009 04:56:06 PM · #3 |
Very insightful. I'm gonna do some thinking on this one.
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12/17/2009 06:03:11 PM · #4 |
I love that essay! Goes beautifully with Strunk & White's Elements of Style...
R. |
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12/18/2009 03:15:33 AM · #5 |
To me, this is something to think about, as it does make the difference between shooting well on purpose, vs shooting well accidentally.
I have just started to interpret these six writing rules into photography rules; I'm curious as to how others would interpret them into a framework for better photography...
Any takers? |
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12/18/2009 03:29:43 AM · #6 |
Random thoughts, mostly of the unprofound and short term variety, but something to get people started. Good discussion topic!
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Avoid the cliched angles - get out of the head height mode of shooting; go above, go below.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
Or consider the opposite in photography - try looking at doing a series of photos along a theme or a timeline.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Crop in camera. :-)
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Shoot life head-on! Don't sneak up behind people, don't "avoid people in your shots at all costs."
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Processing can enhance the captured photograph, but polished turds are still turds. Focus on when and where to draw the line.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
The rule of thirds works - it fits our eyes, our perceptions of balance. But it's not set in stone. Shoot to accommodate changes; don't rely on cropping later. Give yourself options! |
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12/18/2009 04:15:01 AM · #7 |
Good stuff. I'll add cropping in camera isn't a technique you should apply. It should come naturally as your eye develops. If you're thinking about it then it's probably not a good idea especially when the files are huge so why lose the safety net? It also depends on what your shooting and for whom. I've had photos chosen over ones I thought were better but just didn't fit the mag layout.
Message edited by author 2009-12-18 04:19:49.
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12/18/2009 05:00:07 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by yanko:
I've had photos chosen over ones I thought were better but just didn't fit the mag layout. |
This is an excellent point. I don't shoot for "clients" but I shoot a lot for friends at events and gatherings and such, and they often want shots that I think are inferior to others. We do tend to think in the way we personally see but need to accomodate others, as you've noted.
And I do somewhat agree with leaving yourself room when you shoot - I just think I tend to take in way too much sometimes and never can get myself to cut any of it out! I like long words, too. :-) |
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12/18/2009 10:50:32 AM · #9 |
great ideas, deb! here's my take:
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
avoid visual cliches
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
avoid competing subjects
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
avoid clutter
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
shoot the verb
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
get it right in-camera
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
a great image will be a great image, regardless of the rules broken...
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12/21/2009 05:28:14 AM · #10 |
| anyone else got any ideas on how to apply these writing rules to photography? |
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12/21/2009 06:47:55 AM · #11 |
really interesting thinking about how to apply them to photography. As I need all the help I can get I pondered them for a while and came up with:
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Avoid cliches, if you saw something and liked it take inspiration from it rather than recreate it
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
Dont overthink everything or try to follow every rule of composition in a single shot. Simplicity works
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Frame your shot with as little clutter & distraction to the eye as possible.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Dont expect shots to present themself to you - always be aware of your surrounding and look at them with a photographers eye and you will see shots developing and be able to capture them. (always carry a camera!) Possibly tenuous but thats kinda what it says to me personally
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Rules are nice but dont be scared to ignore them if you find a situation where they dont work best
Message edited by author 2009-12-21 06:49:02. |
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12/21/2009 07:40:50 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by Skip:
anyone else got any ideas on how to apply these writing rules to photography? |
I tend to live by (vi). I interpret iv a little differently as "punch" or the difference between passive and active language. This is a great exercise if people try to relate the points made to their own imagery. Someone started a thread last week (typically ignored) relating outside or unconventional sources influencing photography and it made me think of shooting Paul Simons The Sounds Of Silence to explore the energy of his words...
1. In restless dreams I walked alone
2. Narrow streets of cobblestone,
3. 'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
4. I turned my collar to the cold and damp
5. When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
6. That split the night
7. And touched the sound of silence.
Originally posted by yanko:
Good stuff. I'll add cropping in camera isn't a technique you should apply. It should come naturally as your eye develops. If you're thinking about it then it's probably not a good idea especially when the files are huge so why lose the safety net? It also depends on what your shooting and for whom. I've had photos chosen over ones I thought were better but just didn't fit the mag layout. |
I think Orwell pretty much adhered to the Basic Editing rule set.
Message edited by author 2009-12-21 10:53:41. |
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12/21/2009 02:09:02 PM · #13 |
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Make it new.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
When you see it, don't shoot. When you think it, don't shoot. Walk around it, study it from all sides. Witness it in stages of decomposition. Then when you feel you have learnt something about it, you will have narrowed your choices.
-Now that you have an idea, forget the idea, forget the camera, give yourself up to the moment, and trust that everything comes together in an instant. Let that instant press the shutter button.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Deduce, reduce, distill. Bedrock. No ideas, but in things.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Avoid descriptions, sentiments, pop tarts. Seek the thing itself, real feelings, the image/light rather than a supposed subject. A good photograph is an energy construct. Charge!
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
If you do introduce an obscurity, a generalization, or an insider's reference, do so deliberately, sensibly and for a good reason. A foreign word in the title may serve well to shift a familiar context, rhythm, tone while encouraging more deliberate consideration. Provide a context (a series of supporting images, a well-smithed title, a suitable ambience, wall or display).
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Each individual image dictates its own laws.
Message edited by author 2009-12-21 16:14:57. |
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12/21/2009 04:04:22 PM · #14 |
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12/21/2009 09:20:34 PM · #15 |
Oh,  Skip, you've done it again. Put a sleeper of a thread in here (which I just ran across.)
Thank you for that. It was fascinating to read the ways others interpreted your OP in terms of Photography.  Zeuszen's post made the most impact, but  Melethia's was right on target.
 Yanko's obervation? well, some years ago I competed in a Northern California event for 'Best Creative Image.' I entered the one I thought was a winner, and since we were allowed two, I just tossed in another good, but really a throw-away, image.
Much to my astonishment, the throw-away image went right up to the top and took the Image of the Year award.
Oh, yes, they spelled my name wrong on the award.
:-((
Message edited by author 2009-12-22 21:15:02.
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12/22/2009 07:19:14 PM · #16 |
Good one. My favourites:
from Melethia:
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Shoot life head-on! Don't sneak up behind people, don't "avoid people in your shots at all costs."
and from zeuszen
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
When you see it, don't shoot. When you think it, don't shoot. Walk around it, study it from all sides. Witness it in stages of decomposition. Then when you feel you have learnt something about it, you will have narrowed your choices.
-Now that you have an idea, forget the idea, forget the camera, give yourself up to the moment, and trust that everything comes together in an instant. Let that instant press the shutter button.
Finding it easier to see these principles applied to photography than to writing. No. Wait. What I mean is that I don't apply them to MY writing, but maybe I should. As for polishing excreta, I probably would if I knew how.
Message edited by author 2009-12-22 19:20:36. |
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12/23/2009 01:33:00 PM · #17 |
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Don't recreate a photograph you've already seen. Don't think you're done because it looks familiar.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
Don't use techniques that draw attention to themselves, shallow DOF, super-sharp focus, Lensbaby, unless there's a reason.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Once you've seen the photo you're about to take, be true to what you've seen, don't try to add to it to make it something more.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Don't look at the camera. Don't pose for the camera. Whatever you're taking a picture of should assert itself as something beyond a mere subject for a photo.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
This is the same as rule ii (that's right, bad writing), so the same equivalent applies.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
Throw out all of the rules above. Why? Because every photo worth a damn makes up its own rules. |
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12/23/2009 01:39:36 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Skip:
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
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Never use a long word when a diminutive one will suffice :P |
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