Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Photo Tuesday - The Little Details



Our photo club often goes out on sunrise shoots. And while a gorgeous sunrise is not to be missed, I usually find my attention wandering to the surrounding details. A blade of grass with dew. A fuzzy caterpillar. A ripple on the water. These are the scenes I tend to capture.


As writers, we can't forget these small details. Some aspects are best left to the imagination, and I love a book that allows me to envision the characters and surroundings on my own. But what is so clear in our minds may not be apparent to the reader. We must remember to provide our readers with a clear sense of place.

The feel of wet dew on bare feet. The scent of pine on the wind. The glistening of ice on a frozen pond. The smell of coffee in the morning. The gentle hum of the computer. The hint of garlic in a pasta dish.

These little touches bring a story to life!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vivid imagery! Those are wonderful photos. I'm a big sunrise fan also. And totally agree, you can and MUST provide details that bring the story's world to life through all the readers' senses, and yet it must be seamless and subtle, not just a heavy dumping of mundane descriptions all at once.

The Old Silly from Free Spirit Blog

Helen Ginger said...

So true, Diane. Details can make a scene real and personal. And getting away from your desk to experience what your character does (or something similar) really helps you to be able to write the scene. I love that you go out with a group to take pictures!

Helen
Straight From Hel

Patricia Stoltey said...

Beautiful photos. Taking pictures is a wonderful way to teach us to focus on the details. What an interesting thing to do one day a week on your blog.

Patricia

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Fantastic photos. So true how minor details can add so much to a scene.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/

Bob Sanchez said...

Excellent photos, Diane. I like how you tie them into writing and the importance of conveying details to your readers.

Good work!

Bob Sanchez
http://bobsanchez1.blogspot.com

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Thank you, everyone!

Special thanks to Marvin, who has prodded me into making this blog better and more fun!

And combining photos with writing - duh! Should've thought of that years ago...

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

I am so impressed with all you do. YOur photo club sounds delightful.
Carolyn