TOO MUCH LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT by Jane Kelley

 As you can tell by this picture of my husband Lee, I'm no photographer.

 If I were, I would have been able to adjust the shutter speed and limit the amount of light that came in.

At least I think that's what I should have done? I don't even know exactly how the phone in my camera works now that there isn't something called film. 

But I do know about writing. And this picture is a good analogy for what to do -- and what not to do.

The glowing blob in the background isn't nearly as interesting as the reflection in Lee's sunglasses. For one, the excess of light has destroyed the shadows. Without any dark lines, there's no dimension, no color. No depth. we can't see what the blob is. I'm guessing some kind of radioactive chicken? 

But the reflection does have color. And depth. And mystery. All that gives us something to think about.

So when you want to give the reader an image of a place or an emotion, don't blast us with too much light. Don't go on and on. Sometimes less is more. Sometimes what is hidden is most important.

 

JANE KELLEY writes middle grade novels and is happy to let her photographer friends take the pictures.