by Beth Lee Browning

As writer I have discovered that my love of taking pictures has become one of the best tools in my arsenal for creating descriptive scenes, believable characters, and memorable stories.  Whenever possible I incorporate the use of pictures as a part of my creative process; with my pictures close at hand I begin a new writing adventure as the stories reveal themselves through the details before me.

From unexpected adventures to my daily routine; whether it’s getting lost in the city, a run along the canal, or the view out my back window, I see images that are scenes from a story and people that are characters. Around each corner I see a new scenario, and every chance I get I take pictures.

I take snapshots of everything from strangers on the street to sunsets along the canal. They allow me to recall the details I forgot and the feelings I experienced. They inspire me to create. I take pictures of everything, and multiple versions of most things. I’m not a photographer by any means, although every once in a while I get lucky and capture something breathtaking or unique. I like to think the digital camera was invented just for me. My desire to take numerous pictures from different angles began a long time ago. We were on vacation in New York City, I was 13 and I took picture after picture of the Statue of Liberty. I think that may have been the only thing on the roll of film. I couldn’t help myself; I was fascinated with the various angles and sunlight, clouds and surrounding water. To me she looked different with every click of the shutter. That desire hasn’t changed, thankfully it’s affordable since I don’t have to get film developed.

It’s not unusual for me to take 100 pictures or more in a single day, many of them are different points of view of the same object, while some are just random to help me remember a particular place or time. My kids take it in stride. Although I’d bet money they roll their eyes when I’m not looking, especially when I stop and take pictures of a pile of shoes or a stranger in a parking lot. I also think they take a secret pleasure in repeating the words they heard over and over during their childhood. “Ahem, Mom, ‘be aware of your surroundings’. You almost got hit by a car when you stopped to take the picture.” “There was a car? But I got a really great shot,” I reply.

You never know when a picture might come in handy, particularly when it comes to writing. I find that pictures help me recall details that I would otherwise forget, and sometimes they help me create stories I might not have imagined. Through pictures I remember, how a spring rain looks through the window, the canal at sunset, and the cold winter day we discovered Philadelphia on foot. I imagine everything from a princess in her castle with a secret garden, to the mysterious man in red shoes carrying a suspicious leather satchel. Who knows what stories they might bring in the future? I don’t know if a picture is worth a thousand words, but it’s worth at least 200.

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Beth Lee-Browning is originally from the Midwest and currently lives in Pennsylvania. She is a proud mother of three, a full time professional, and an aspiring writer.  Read Beth’s blog at it’s a whole new world.