Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I always like to draw a distinction between folks who have a pendantic writing style -- technically correct, and often times very lyrical-- but have nothing to say, and those who understand a concept so thoroughly that they are able to communicate that concept in a clear and concise fashion, albeit with somewhat less flash. The latter is almost always more strong and effective. The point is that if you understand what you want to say, then it is easy to write well. I'm starting to believe that the same distinction can be drawn in photography. It took me a long time to understand the old photographer's saying "you see only what you know." Back to writing, and I may be going out on a limb here, but I came to the conclusion along time ago that grammatical rules are flexible beyond normal notions and what is written in the text books. Isaiah Berlin, the late Oxford historian of ideas, is a writer who comes to mind, whose essays flow like a waterfall, but, I swear, they seem to stress the rules of grammar. A bit off topic, but one item photography does better then writing, at least today, is to communicate emotions to the masses. Only music rivals photography in this regard. This is one of the reasons why people can listen to music or view a photograph multiple times and still get something out of that experience. How many people read books twice? Writing, through poetry, historically did the same thing, but few read poetry anymore. ----- Original Message ----- From: Peterson, Arthur G CIV SEA 02 Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 6:06 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: RE: [Leica] Good Writing is Harder Than Good Photography Yes, there should be, Doug. As William Strunk, Jr.'s book "The Elements of Style" explains, "In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last." Art Peterson -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+arthur.peterson=navy.mil@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+arthur.peterson=navy.mil@leica-users.org]On Behalf Of Douglas Sharp Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 8:33 To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] Good Writing is Harder Than Good Photography The worst one, which for some unknown reason seems to be universally accepted, is still "Collect-i-ble" !! This one always sets my teeth on edge, similarly, "different to", "compared to" and "independ-a-nt". What I'm never sure about is, when listing a series, as above, should there be a comma before "and"? Douglas Daniel Ridings wrote: > Actually ... "dyeing" for the coloring of fabrics ... > > > Buzz Hausner wrote: > >> ...all "dying." >> >> Buzz >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org >> [mailto:lug-bounces+buzz.hausner=verizon.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf >> Of Douglas Sharp >> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 5:12 AM >> To: Leica Users Group >> Subject: Re: [Leica] Good Writing is Harder Than Good Photography >> >> Castings, dies, metallurgy - the making of a die, or form, to be filled >> with molten metal. >> And the process of colouring fabrics is ............ >> Douglas >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information