To do great writing, read great writing. Here’s the great writing I’ve been reading this week.
With the blogathon kick off this week, I haven’t done much reading for work or pleasure.
So instead of recommending reading, I’m recommending photos I’ve seen during the past week, strong images that serve to remind us that you don’t always need words to make an impact.
Osama bin Laden Briefing, White House Situation Room, May 1. You don’t need words to understand the intensity of the moment in this official White House photo of President Obama and his staff getting a mission update. Look at Obama – has you ever seen him look so grave? And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s hand is over her mouth, as she processes what she’s hearing.
Mt. Hood, Oregon, undated. The photograph depicts a different type of intensity, one found only in nature. Jon Bell, a Portland writer I work with whose book, On Mount Hood , is out next month, says of this photo: “We’d headed to the mountain for a fairly routine visit. I stepped out of the car, walked up a steep snowbank, and took a few seemingly forgettable pictures of the mountain from a spot that serves most tourists well. But when we got home and I looked at my pictures from the day, I felt like I’d really gotten something.”
Tulips, May 2011. Sometimes photos don’t have to be powerful to make a statement. This simple photo of tulips says “Spring” without screaming it. Love the vivid orange. Bill Lascher, another Portland freelance journalist, took it. He’s been shooting photos for several projects and posting outtakes on his blog, Lascher @ Large.
Want to improve your own photography skills? Remember the rule of thirds, says Seattle freelance writer Haley Shapley. “Imagine your photo is a grid with two equally spaced vertical lines and two equally spaced horizontal lines that separate the image into nine boxes. The intersections of these lines are ideal places for the points of interest you’re capturing.” Read more of Shapley’s advice in Tips for Top Travel Photos on her blog, Girl About the World blog.
The Oregon photo is nice. Generally, there is always room for improvement in photography whether it is intended for casual or professional purposes. I have found that some of the best photos have interesting compositions that were likely accidental. That may be why it is better to take several photos rather than one because multiple images will have one or a few good ones in the batch to choose from.
Great images; the White House one is so powerful. Appreciate the mention of Girl About the World!
Great photos. The image of Hillary Clinton so rattled will be etched in my memory. She always seems so “made of steel” and this made her very human to me. Thanks for sharing. And thanks so much for this Blogathon experience!
Interesting photographs Michelle, the intensity of every one in the briefing room can be felt when looking at the first one. So powerful!
A big thank you for the Blogathon challenge, it truly keeps me on my toes. Have a great day 🙂
Thanks for posting Michelle and for the book mention… Enjoying the Blogathon this year!
You’re welcome. Your post of the Mount Hood photos from the other day inspired today’s post, so thanks for that. Good luck with the book launch.
M
Good post and thank you for including me among such powerful shots. I’ve really been struck by that White House photo myself. Every face has an expression I want to dive into and explore. Meanwhile I’m captivated by the Mt. Hood picture. It makes me want to hop in my car and head up right now. That, I think, is part of what makes pictures so powerful, their ability to nearly instantly transport your thoughts and, sometimes, motivate your actions.
Thanks Michelle- the density of people standing in the White House photo is what interests me. There’s an atmosphere of dropped protocol, which makes sense considering the unique situation.