WARNING: The lyrics contained within the image I just posted contain profanity, so if you are easily offended, er... don't read it, I guess.
I just put an image up in the Tribe album; currently it is the first image on Page 2 and is entitled "Emptee." The poet (who is known as "-C-") hired me to take some photographs for him to post his words over. They needed to have lots of blank space on them, and also he wanted some unsettling or industrial images in them. We sat down together and chose the layout for the words over images, often setting the column slightly off-center, or using other subtle disconcerting methods to keep you feeling just a bit off when you read them. In the case of this image, the colors and horizon, along with the matching tilt for the paragraph, is meant to convey a slightly sea-sick feeling.
This, I think, is the epitome of "visual poetry." When the photo *enhances* the poem, rather than just being a pretty backdrop. I hope you guys like it. Or at the very least, find it interesting.
-- Richard
NOTE: I take no responsibility (or likewise credit) for the poem. It was written by -C- and copyrighted to him. The layout design is his, too, although the actual Photoshop work as well as the background photo are mine (©2004 Nakayama Studios.)
I just put an image up in the Tribe album; currently it is the first image on Page 2 and is entitled "Emptee." The poet (who is known as "-C-") hired me to take some photographs for him to post his words over. They needed to have lots of blank space on them, and also he wanted some unsettling or industrial images in them. We sat down together and chose the layout for the words over images, often setting the column slightly off-center, or using other subtle disconcerting methods to keep you feeling just a bit off when you read them. In the case of this image, the colors and horizon, along with the matching tilt for the paragraph, is meant to convey a slightly sea-sick feeling.
This, I think, is the epitome of "visual poetry." When the photo *enhances* the poem, rather than just being a pretty backdrop. I hope you guys like it. Or at the very least, find it interesting.
-- Richard
NOTE: I take no responsibility (or likewise credit) for the poem. It was written by -C- and copyrighted to him. The layout design is his, too, although the actual Photoshop work as well as the background photo are mine (©2004 Nakayama Studios.)
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Los Angeles
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Re: A new submission
Fri, June 25, 2004 - 3:35 PMPersonally, as a previous editor of several small-press poetry mags, the poem is another rage against something that doesn't give readers enough background to actually care about, but, your photo is good and you use glow well to help offset the many tones of the sky and water. Good job!
Probably would have helped to make your work look better if you'd reminded the poet that spelling was important too. Keep on going and let's see more (especially PAID jobs)! -
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Re: A new submission
Mon, July 5, 2004 - 11:48 PMThanks for the input. The poet (who is my roommate, but he does pay most of the time) is not particularly concerned with his spelling, despite the fact that most readers find it distracting. But yes, a line or two in the beginning of the poem about how or why she left him might have helped thia particular poem along. Mostly I was posting it to show how a photo can enhance a poem, and vice versa. I think the off-tilt horizon and sea-sick colors help add to the disconcerting nature of the words.
-- Richard -
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Re: A new submission
Tue, September 28, 2004 - 4:06 PMI think that the spelling could actually make a lot of difference. For example, the word, "where" actually would have very significant meaning when used in reference to god; whereas, "were" is not quite as powerful. When writing poetry, the words themselves, both visually and grammatically, make just as much difference to the message, and should rarely be changed.
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