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Window on Writing: Looking into the Light

March 23, 2011 By Sandra Heska King

A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and time in which it is used.~Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr.

We’ve been staring at the sun over at The High Calling.

Trying to capture lens flare images by shooting directly into it.

Using the light to highlight and soften, focus and emphasize, build height and depth.

And sharing our discoveries.

Most of those photographers can do this intentionally.

Me?

I’m mostly surprised by the images that appear after I shoot.

The accidents that make me gasp.

The highlights and starbursts and bubbles and rainbows.

God-colors.

Glory tinged.

I’m a little more proficient at word flares.

I like to think so, anyway.

To look into the Light and let it spread out through a word or a phrase.

Skins of living thoughts.

Word palettes

But mostly I’m surprised when it happens.

Like here–where I didn’t even see the double meaning until someone pointed it out to me.

There are times when I just point the cursor, and let words spill.

What a rush.

It overwhelms me to think that sometimes He takes over.

At least it seems that way in hindsight.

Though sometimes there’s a sense of control loss.

I know I have to sacrifice and study and practice this writing thing.

Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself. ~Truman Capote

But sometimes I wonder if it’s possible to know too much.

I like to look into the light and be amazed.

Do you ever have a sense of not being in control of your art?

How do you use light?

Looking into the Light,

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. ~Matthew 5:14 (Message)

 

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Filed Under: stories and reflections, writing

Comments

  1. Beth says

    March 23, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    I love both the pictures of the light and the light in yoru writing. absolutley beautiful. Yes! I think He takes over as the spirit deals in us and he leads us to that higher calling in art I beleive in all forms.
    Blessings

    • Sandra says

      March 24, 2011 at 10:22 am

      Thanks, Beth. Of course, we need to be in tune with that light. 🙂 If it’s Him, excellence will shine.

  2. katdish says

    March 24, 2011 at 7:56 am

    You know, Sandy–you really shouldn’t be looking directly into the sun. But great pics. I don’t think it’s possible to ever know too much. I do, however think it’s possible to spend too much time learning how to do instead of just doing.

    • Sandra says

      March 24, 2011 at 10:26 am

      Good point. We need a balance in the learning and the doing. Do you think that sometimes the knowing and the need to be perfect blocks the flow? I guess we need a balance between the flowing and the fixing, too.

      Would it help if I told you I usually close my eyes, point my camera in the general direction, and click? 😉

  3. V.V. Denman says

    March 24, 2011 at 8:25 am

    Beautiful pictures and beautiful thoughts. I often feel out-of-control of my writing. Sometimes it turns out lousy, and sometimes it turns out pretty darn good. Both times, it’s just me. And I can’t control which I’m going to write on any given day. 🙂

    • Sandra says

      March 24, 2011 at 10:26 am

      I know that feeling well, too! 😀

  4. S. Etole says

    March 24, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    The week here sounds much like yours … until yesterday when the sun broke through. It was almost sunset before I took some photos.

    The sun on the water almost invites one to come walk on the water …

    • Sandra says

      March 24, 2011 at 2:09 pm

      It makes quite a shimmering path, doesn’t it? Nice thing, if we sink, there’s no sharks.

  5. nance marie says

    March 24, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    light is the thing that has come to catch my eye when taking photos.

    • Sandra says

      March 25, 2011 at 9:17 am

      If we could only always look for the light!

  6. Jennifer@GDWJ says

    March 24, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    God says He wraps Himself in light. I think you discovered his garments.

    Gorgeous photos, words.

    • Sandra says

      March 25, 2011 at 9:22 am

      The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. ~Psalm 104:2 (NIV)

      Oh, to be wrapped in that light!

  7. Cecilia Marie Pulliam says

    March 25, 2011 at 5:45 pm

    Beautiful imagery, both written and photographs. I always enjoy your posts. Thank you for sharing your art with us.

    • Sandra says

      March 26, 2011 at 8:41 pm

      Thank you so much, Cecilia!

  8. tisha says

    March 29, 2011 at 11:05 am

    I love the light
    I live in the light
    I shine brighter than the sun…

Trackbacks

  1. good reads vol. 2 | duane scott says:
    March 26, 2011 at 1:37 pm

    […] Window on Writing: Looking into the Light by Sandra Heska King […]

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