Photography and Poetry: The True Artistic Premise

How Photography Inspires Poetry and How They Work Well Together

We often hear the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words.” If you correlate that with photography and poetry, we can say that poems are created through pictures. To put it simply, a well-selected picture can serve as a gateway to writing.

If we trace back synergy of image and verse, it would lead us even before the Victorian era, where literature-inspired visual works were prominent. Great artists create their masterpiece through poetry. An example is Sir John Everett Millais’s Ophelia in 1850s, which depicts Shakespeare’s character from Hamlet.

But it was in the twentieth century that started a decisive switch. Writers began to look at the works of painters for inspiration. Adrienne Rich’s 1965 Mourning Picture poem was inspired by Edwin Romanzo Elmer’s 1890 painting of the same title.

Nowadays, writers not only limit their works on paintings but also extend them to photography. Just like looking at paintings. Photos possess the power to unravel a person’s imagination and express it in writing. When we visit Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, we see people posting their own captured photos and put their own poem as the caption.

Photography and poetry serve as an outlet to creatively express people’s emotions and observations, as well as documenting unforgettable moments. The two are a perfect blend. While one paints a visual picture, the other creates a poetic image. Blend these two together and you create a powerful synergy.

 

References

Guner, Fisun. 2013. “Listed: Poems inspired by paintings.” The Arts Desk, August 18. Accessed February 28, 2017. http://www.theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/listed-poems-inspired-paintings.

Harmon, Megan Ann. 2016. “Eksphrastic: The Poetry of Photography.” PicsArt, April 28. Accessed February 28, 2017. https://picsart.com/blog/post/ekphrastic-poems-the-poetry-of-photography/.

Teach Primary. n.d. “Using pictures to inspire poems.” Accessed February 28, 2017. http://www.teachprimary.com/learning_resources/view/using-pictures-to-inspire-poems.