Diana, thank you for your comment. Shyness and/or the lack of it with age... now there's a combination that deserves some conversation! Well done for doing your thing on Substack! I think it's wonderful that you show your art. And I hope you enjoyed seeing the hand-painted chicken and egg stone pic I included here.
Thank you for this post Yasmin, it is very interesting to me to hear your thoughts on this subject. It is one of those subjects I take for granted, but if I dwell on it longer then I realise I have a lot of thoughts about it. By and large I prefer prose in narrative non-fiction place writing to stand alone. I prefer to build the images for myself through the writers words. Building worlds in my mind is one of the reasons I read and I don’t want to have that pursuit taken from me. That said I do sometimes quite like the eerie, arty end of the spectrum where images are abstract and without caption. That can add something interesting I think. Erling Kagge does this in his small book ‘Silence’ to curious affect. Having taken a very ‘placed’ book on tour this last fortnight to other areas of the country I wonder why for the first time in my life I chose to give talks etc without images on e.g. a PowerPoint. It would have been the perfect opportunity to do a slideshow as it were, but something in me resisted, so I didn’t. I think I felt like words were enough, and I gave effort to the descriptions and so wanted them to have the space to breathe without the obvious play of photos.
Ruth, thank you for your thoughts. I'm on the same page when it comes to reading and wanting to let my mind make up the pictures. When we talk and write about landscapes and places, which are so photogenic, it's hard not to include images... I think there is an argument that says their presence could make our imaginations lazy. So perhaps we should work harder with words in order to share our experiences. It's interesting to hear about your book tour - and you've got some beautiful images on your Substack as well. I look forward to learning more about your work.
As a visual artist who has come to place writing in the past year, I find this a fascinating conversation. Could I ever write a book without images? I don’t know. I certainly mix the two at the moment but then my work is abstract and at times ambiguous. Thanks Ruth for the mention of Silence, I shall look this up as both the subject and ‘curious effect’ in turn make me curious.
Hi Michela, it is a fascinating topic that Yasmin provoked us into thinking about. And just this week I have been tinkering again with a zine I am making that simply has to have photos in it I have realised. The pamphlet will be a selection of thoughts pertaining to the topic and while some of those are in words (most in fact), I also knew it had to have some thoughts in photo form.
I don’t like photos in paper books so much. I want the story—not an image. But I’ve enjoyed observing and posting them online. They seem to hold the reader, somehow. Not just their attention. I do add captions, but with brevity (most of the time). The photo should make us wonder/wander more deeply about the subject. I give enough detail to start my readers on this contemplative tract.
Thanks for your contribution to the conversation, Christianna. You raise an interesting point about the type of format we have in front of us, and then whether photographs are a good fit with it. I like the idea that you set readers off on a 'contemplative tract'.
I like photos in posts. I use them in my own and feel they give the reader a better view into the story. Also they can break up the prose. I've heard this can be good Or bad, depending on who's teaching. Some say it breaks the concentration of the reader. I prefer though to give them an image of what I'm writing about, often locale or travel related.
Thanks, Jeanine. Yes, I've heard both views. I personally love to see photographs if they are thoughtfully placed in the text; they add an extra dimension to the reading experience.
Fascinating question Yasmin! I wrote my first published book without images because, like you, I wanted the writing to stand on its own merits. But I enjoy the varied visual tools we have to play with here on Substack, and as a visual artist living in a rather photogenic place it feels natural to use images to add another dimension. Like line breaks in poetry, I think images can serve to slow the reader, invite a pause for reflection, and suggest a less linear way of reading a text. But they need to do something other than 'illustrate' what's written, and ideally come from the author, or at least a collaborator. Generic Unsplash images do nothing for me.
Yes, Samantha, the 'less linear' aspect is relevant, and important. I wonder how many times we add a few pics thinking they will make our posts pretty, when in fact they may do more damage if their impact is not thought through. I've used Unsplash for blogging in the past but these days I'm finding ways to be more 'genuine' with my images.
I’ve enjoyed dipping into this conversation and reading the responses Yasmin. I came to Substack as a visual artist wanting to develop a regular writing habit; the latter has grown legs and I now consider it an essential part of my creative process. I work locally and so place is at the heart of what I do; I find it both roots me and makes me think of new ways to interpret what I see. Inevitably my Substack publication mixes the two; it might be interesting to try a words only post to see what the reaction is from an often ‘visual’ audience.
A 'words only' post is definitely worth trying here. Although I think it's nice to have something visual for the home page, so maybe one image? The image has to work hard for itself but I think that's the way to go. It's so interesting reading everyone's thoughts here. A little experimentation on the Substack front is definitely worthwhile. :-)
I think it depends on the context. I’m not sure I’d enjoy photos scattered through a novel, but might in a memoir. I generally don’t like blocks of photos in the middle of a book - I find myself looking through them to see whether there’s one of the event I’m reading about, which tears me away from the flow of the writing - I prefer them next to the relevant prose.
I write outdoor books. The more narrative ones don’t have photos, although I have wondered about producing special editions with photos in. The walking guidebooks and books about exploring a place have plenty of photos.
This is a great question that has set me thinking - thank you!
Thanks for your thoughts, Julia. I also don't like blocks of photos in the middle of a book, they divert my attention and I feel like I have to work out how they fit with the narrative. I'd be interested to know if you decide to do some kind of special edition - and how that works out. Since I mainly write about place it seems fitting to include my own photos but, as I said in the post, I don't consider myself a photographer and they'll only ever be 'visual notes'. Evenso, I hope they add something extra for the reader.
As a keen writer and photographer (though neither to a very professional level) I feel these two creative mediums sit well together. Have used some of my own photos to illustrate the odd travel article and I also have a Flickr page for pics only. I have never dabbled with B&W, though I agree with you that if often suggests a more classy/arty approach - I'm a big fan of colour however so I tend to stick with that. Photos are a huge bonus in aiding understanding of a situation/story, not to mention reminding ourselves of a place or something of interest. Some of my favourite photos tend to be those less-polished ones which reinforce a fond memory.
No doubt you'll have made a lot of photos to keep memories alive of your travels, Ben. Thanks for your comment. Are you likely to start writing here on Substack? I think the combination of writing and photography works well here.
I really enjoy pictures in posts, whether photographs or art.
And on Substack, I've decided to use my own paintings with my posts. I was too shy to show them before, but that's fallen away, maybe with age.
Diana, thank you for your comment. Shyness and/or the lack of it with age... now there's a combination that deserves some conversation! Well done for doing your thing on Substack! I think it's wonderful that you show your art. And I hope you enjoyed seeing the hand-painted chicken and egg stone pic I included here.
I did notice it, Yasmin. Good for you for sharing some of your art.
Ah. It wasn't one that I'd painted, Diana. It had been left on the bench as a gift to whoever found it!
Sweet!
Thank you for this post Yasmin, it is very interesting to me to hear your thoughts on this subject. It is one of those subjects I take for granted, but if I dwell on it longer then I realise I have a lot of thoughts about it. By and large I prefer prose in narrative non-fiction place writing to stand alone. I prefer to build the images for myself through the writers words. Building worlds in my mind is one of the reasons I read and I don’t want to have that pursuit taken from me. That said I do sometimes quite like the eerie, arty end of the spectrum where images are abstract and without caption. That can add something interesting I think. Erling Kagge does this in his small book ‘Silence’ to curious affect. Having taken a very ‘placed’ book on tour this last fortnight to other areas of the country I wonder why for the first time in my life I chose to give talks etc without images on e.g. a PowerPoint. It would have been the perfect opportunity to do a slideshow as it were, but something in me resisted, so I didn’t. I think I felt like words were enough, and I gave effort to the descriptions and so wanted them to have the space to breathe without the obvious play of photos.
Ruth, thank you for your thoughts. I'm on the same page when it comes to reading and wanting to let my mind make up the pictures. When we talk and write about landscapes and places, which are so photogenic, it's hard not to include images... I think there is an argument that says their presence could make our imaginations lazy. So perhaps we should work harder with words in order to share our experiences. It's interesting to hear about your book tour - and you've got some beautiful images on your Substack as well. I look forward to learning more about your work.
As a visual artist who has come to place writing in the past year, I find this a fascinating conversation. Could I ever write a book without images? I don’t know. I certainly mix the two at the moment but then my work is abstract and at times ambiguous. Thanks Ruth for the mention of Silence, I shall look this up as both the subject and ‘curious effect’ in turn make me curious.
Me too, Michela. I'll be looking up 'Silence'.
Hi Michela, it is a fascinating topic that Yasmin provoked us into thinking about. And just this week I have been tinkering again with a zine I am making that simply has to have photos in it I have realised. The pamphlet will be a selection of thoughts pertaining to the topic and while some of those are in words (most in fact), I also knew it had to have some thoughts in photo form.
I don’t like photos in paper books so much. I want the story—not an image. But I’ve enjoyed observing and posting them online. They seem to hold the reader, somehow. Not just their attention. I do add captions, but with brevity (most of the time). The photo should make us wonder/wander more deeply about the subject. I give enough detail to start my readers on this contemplative tract.
Thanks for your contribution to the conversation, Christianna. You raise an interesting point about the type of format we have in front of us, and then whether photographs are a good fit with it. I like the idea that you set readers off on a 'contemplative tract'.
I like photos in posts. I use them in my own and feel they give the reader a better view into the story. Also they can break up the prose. I've heard this can be good Or bad, depending on who's teaching. Some say it breaks the concentration of the reader. I prefer though to give them an image of what I'm writing about, often locale or travel related.
Thanks, Jeanine. Yes, I've heard both views. I personally love to see photographs if they are thoughtfully placed in the text; they add an extra dimension to the reading experience.
Hi good post. I wrote a post about photography in place writing you might find interesting. https://richlyevocative.net/2017/03/20/digital-photography-and-the-flattening-of-landscape/
Thanks so much, Matt. I'm glad you enjoyed my post. I've taken a quick look at your link. I'll settle with a cup of tea and enjoy a slow read soon.
Fascinating question Yasmin! I wrote my first published book without images because, like you, I wanted the writing to stand on its own merits. But I enjoy the varied visual tools we have to play with here on Substack, and as a visual artist living in a rather photogenic place it feels natural to use images to add another dimension. Like line breaks in poetry, I think images can serve to slow the reader, invite a pause for reflection, and suggest a less linear way of reading a text. But they need to do something other than 'illustrate' what's written, and ideally come from the author, or at least a collaborator. Generic Unsplash images do nothing for me.
Yes, Samantha, the 'less linear' aspect is relevant, and important. I wonder how many times we add a few pics thinking they will make our posts pretty, when in fact they may do more damage if their impact is not thought through. I've used Unsplash for blogging in the past but these days I'm finding ways to be more 'genuine' with my images.
I’ve enjoyed dipping into this conversation and reading the responses Yasmin. I came to Substack as a visual artist wanting to develop a regular writing habit; the latter has grown legs and I now consider it an essential part of my creative process. I work locally and so place is at the heart of what I do; I find it both roots me and makes me think of new ways to interpret what I see. Inevitably my Substack publication mixes the two; it might be interesting to try a words only post to see what the reaction is from an often ‘visual’ audience.
A 'words only' post is definitely worth trying here. Although I think it's nice to have something visual for the home page, so maybe one image? The image has to work hard for itself but I think that's the way to go. It's so interesting reading everyone's thoughts here. A little experimentation on the Substack front is definitely worthwhile. :-)
I think it depends on the context. I’m not sure I’d enjoy photos scattered through a novel, but might in a memoir. I generally don’t like blocks of photos in the middle of a book - I find myself looking through them to see whether there’s one of the event I’m reading about, which tears me away from the flow of the writing - I prefer them next to the relevant prose.
I write outdoor books. The more narrative ones don’t have photos, although I have wondered about producing special editions with photos in. The walking guidebooks and books about exploring a place have plenty of photos.
This is a great question that has set me thinking - thank you!
Thanks for your thoughts, Julia. I also don't like blocks of photos in the middle of a book, they divert my attention and I feel like I have to work out how they fit with the narrative. I'd be interested to know if you decide to do some kind of special edition - and how that works out. Since I mainly write about place it seems fitting to include my own photos but, as I said in the post, I don't consider myself a photographer and they'll only ever be 'visual notes'. Evenso, I hope they add something extra for the reader.
As a keen writer and photographer (though neither to a very professional level) I feel these two creative mediums sit well together. Have used some of my own photos to illustrate the odd travel article and I also have a Flickr page for pics only. I have never dabbled with B&W, though I agree with you that if often suggests a more classy/arty approach - I'm a big fan of colour however so I tend to stick with that. Photos are a huge bonus in aiding understanding of a situation/story, not to mention reminding ourselves of a place or something of interest. Some of my favourite photos tend to be those less-polished ones which reinforce a fond memory.
No doubt you'll have made a lot of photos to keep memories alive of your travels, Ben. Thanks for your comment. Are you likely to start writing here on Substack? I think the combination of writing and photography works well here.
I might do one day Yasmin, though no immediate plans yet - cheers !