I'm inspired by all the great pic + quote combinations I see on the site, and am thinking of giving it a go. So, I wondered how other people approach it - what comes first, the photo or the lyric/poem/quotation? Do you carry a song around in your head until the right picture presents itself .. or vice versa?
Oh, and do people want to share their favourite examples? Here's the particular one by @pausethemoment that I saw this evening, which prompted this thread:
Can go either way. Sometimes I think of some witticism and then derive a photo to suit it, sometimes I take a shot and then try to mould some play on words out of the subject or theme. One thing though: I always try to put effort into making the title a key part of the "experience" of the photo itself.
I always put quotes, poems, or songs with my photos! Sometimes I think that maybe it emotionally sways people though, like when you hear music on movies, it kinda tells you how to feel. Sometimes when I put up the quotes I feel like I am telling people how to feel...
I have done both...I'm doing a RENT series at the moment and so I know the song I need to take for each day and so I usually make the shot to go with the song lyrics.
But, in the past, I have taken a picture and then found a quote that went well with the shot. So, I would advice you to maybe try it both ways, and see what happens! :)
I always used to put a quote, poem or lyrics with my photos, but after I moved I just didn't have enough time to upload every day and find something that fit. Go to my album and look at anything in the spring or summer months and they all have something. Just because I'll share a couple of my favorite combinations.
“Big sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life.” - Charles M. Schultz
"You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.
You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you. "
- U2, All I Want is You
"Celebrate your country's independence by blowing up a small part of it" - Apu, The Simpsons
Oh just thought of something else, for me the quote needs to be just that, "a quote" and not verse after verse of poetry, it puts me off and I don't read it.
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead ~ louisa may alcott
I tend to come up with the quote afterwards... If I have a photo that is particularly emotive, I sometimes feel that a quote will complement just what I was feeling when I took the picture, so I'll then research a quote to go with the shot.
Sisters are "your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway"
Picture comes first, then I try to think of a quote for it.
I usually try to find songs, but for this picture, I was inspired to write a poem of my own:
He used to look before he leapt
Used to count down the numbers under his breath
I gave him my heart to be kept
The day he leapt without looking,
I wept
I forgot to mention earlier that I usually just take the photo and come up with the quote later. But I do have a selection of quotes that I like and lines from my favorite songs that I will draw to try and illustrate on the days when I struggle for a photo. On the three examples above, the two with quotes were photo first and find a quote later. The one with the song had been in my head for a while and I was saving it to shoot on my wedding anniversary.
Last year I added my own haiku to my photo....which was kinda fun. For those of you who don't know what a haiku is: Based on Japanese poetry - 3 lines:
1st line = 5 syllables, 2nd line = 7 and the 3rd 5. You can get loads on the internet if you don't want to write your own.
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Not necessarily my favorite, but it tells the story of what you're talking about:
"I just wanted to play guitar in a Rock and Roll band. That's all." - John Lennon
Today's music: All I ever wanted, The Beatles
I remembered this-
Small boy
He picked up a pebble
and threw it into the sea.
And another, and another.
He couldn't stop.
He wasn't trying to fill the sea.
He wasn't trying to empty the beach.
He was just throwing away,
nothing else but.
Like a kitten playing
he was practicing for the future
when there'll be so many things
he'll want to throw away
if only his fingers will unclench
and let them go.
Norman McCaig.
@moncooga Love the pose in this! :o)
@comfortplenty I like the image of conjuring up a soundtrack to accompany the photo .. conjuring up a response :o)
@tolpol Oh thanks for the reminder of that great poem - I first read it about 14 years ago, and I love it! Great pic/quote combo! :o)
But, in the past, I have taken a picture and then found a quote that went well with the shot. So, I would advice you to maybe try it both ways, and see what happens! :)
“Big sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life.” - Charles M. Schultz
"You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
You say you want your story to remain untold.
All the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you.
You say you'll give me a highway with no-one on it
Treasure, just to look upon it
All the riches in the night.
You say you'll give me eyes in the moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest.
All the promises we make, from the cradle to the grave
When all I need is you.
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night.
You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold.
All the promises we break, from the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you. "
- U2, All I Want is You
"Celebrate your country's independence by blowing up a small part of it" - Apu, The Simpsons
"You do not love a woman because she is beautiful, she is beautiful because you love her" - Shakespeare.
A bit of both sometimes, this pictures just evoked that thought and Shakespeare said it perfectly.
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead ~ louisa may alcott
Sisters are "your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway"
I usually try to find songs, but for this picture, I was inspired to write a poem of my own:
He used to look before he leapt
Used to count down the numbers under his breath
I gave him my heart to be kept
The day he leapt without looking,
I wept
1st line = 5 syllables, 2nd line = 7 and the 3rd 5. You can get loads on the internet if you don't want to write your own.
Thank you all for your comments and pics - very inspiring - I'll see what I can come up with!