I’ve been veering towards photos over words for awhile now. I don’t know when exactly it happened. But it did. I am a wordy person. I like words. I use lots of them. And I have a pretty big vocabulary. And I like to keep it that way. And the best way to keep it that way is to use my words.
But somehow, I like to sit back and let the photo tell the story for me.
Somehow the words don’t seem to matter that much anymore. And yes that sentence did taste like vinegar in my mouth. And it sounds defeatist and sad. But it’s not.
I get emails or messages whenever I do something wrong as a parent. Whether it is a twisted car seat strap, or a cat in the cot or letting the baby eat McDonalds. It’s an occupational hazard.
I was letting Piper drink the last few sips of my cold hot chocolate from Gloria Jeans the other day while standing in the trolley instead of sitting down. At the time I thought I should have taken a photo. I thought of captions ‘baby in unsafe position, swills back on homophobic coffee and probably burns self in process’.
Innocent things get interpreted as minimising the experience of minority groups. Snarky things get misinterpreted as literal. And even when you explain it, it doesn’t really make any difference because people always view things through their own filter. Once you let go of something words or images it is no longer yours.
I admire that the writer of American Pie always refused to explain the meaning of his song.
And I suppose that’s what I’m saying. I love storytelling. I love telling a story through images and wrapping words around that.
But I’m not going to explain the meaning of my song anymore.
Gah! People should get a life, instead of criticising others’ lives.
I know what you mean about words. Sometimes I’m afraid to write any, let alone publish them. Thankfully, I haven’t received any negative comments, but I’m just waiting for the day it happens.
I love your words. Keep them coming
Your words matter to me. You matter to me. xxxx
I love this. That is all.
Oh Zoey this is one of the best pieces I’ve read in a long time online.I always think those people who have to continuously point out the mistakes others make are such small people. It really does say more about them than you. I am guilty of all those things (except the cat, we don’t have a cat, but if we did that’d be on my “guilty” list too). But really what is there to feel guilty of?
I will say that I have NEVER noticed one of those things you pointed out above. Never. And I bloody look out for photo’s of your gorgeous family!
I guess I’m too busy notcing coke in toddlers bottles and hating on the look of disposable nappies, but really, MY thoughts aren’t something that people wait to hear, they don’t live their life wondering what I may think and why share a negative because it’s a simple opinion?
You’re a beautiful mother, one that I look up to and I know many share that opinion. Don’t let a few people who can’t keep their opinions to themselves ruin your perspective xx
I feel exactly the same lately. And I love words. Way more than images. But words are also trouble. People take words very seriously. People use their intellect to parse the words and twist them so it fits into their worldview. Writers know that words can be used for good, but they are also used for evil. We are not as experienced in dealing intellectually with pictures. We see a photo or a drawing and it just sits there. We tend to connect with it emotionally. “Oh, cute baby.” “Sad picture.” “Happy man.” It is that simplicity and directness that photos so powerful, and a welcome retreat to the complexity of words. It’s nice to just shut up.
Oh Zoey, I love your words AND your photos. Please continue sharing these. You have such a great way of making me think more about things. Your powerful observations and then more laid-back views always have me interested. Lucky kids. Silly people with nothing better to do I say who have the TIME to write to criticize. Please. Chop the Wood in your one backyard.
The Internet is a much more informed place thanks to your many contributions.
Denyse x
Zoey, I just love your writing and your photos. You are such a gifted writer and photographer and clearly a wonderful mother. I read a saying once that said something like ‘when people criticise you, they are just trying to compensate for the unhappiness in their own life.’ Hope to meet you at Pro Blogger conference if you are going. Meanwhile, I’m subscribing to your wonderful blog!