Introducing the genre of photo-poetry, God’s House Tower Stanza Group member and Bitterne Parker Carol Bunday sets the stage for an upcoming exhibition at St Denys Church in April, and shares her journey into this creative fusion.

 

“What is a photo-poetry exhibition” I hear you ask!

It is a collaboration of photography and poetry.

A photograph inspires a poet to write a poem.

This could also work the other way around, but that is more rare and, in my opinion, more difficult as you have to find a picture to suit the mood of the poem.

Here is an example of photo-poetry.

The St Denys exhibition will include the work of nine members, who are exhibiting between one and three pieces each in colour, to A2 size, presented on an easel. There will be a total of 18 pieces with poems on very varied topics and with biographies of each poet.

Four of the poets have been working in collaboration with Basingstoke Camera Club who kindly allowed them to use their beautiful photographs. Other photographs have been provided by members of the GHT Stanza Group.

How did this come about?

Inspired by the 2023 photo-poetry exhibition of Basingstoke Camera Club, where a few of our members exhibited, we decided for 2024 we would like to put on our own exhibition.

People know me for my organisation skills and asked if I would take on the facilitation of the exhibition – what could I say other than “Yes OK”. Having been a member of St Denys Church for many years, St Denys was an obvious choice for me.

How did I get involved with GHT Stanza Group?

The God’s House Stanza Group has been meeting monthly for just over three years and is led by experienced poet David Dayson. I have been a member since January 2022. I have friends of many years in the group and we happened to be discussing the GHT Stanza Group and I asked if there was a space as I would really like to be held to account for my writing and this would encourage me to write on a regular basis.

What is my writing background?

I have always loved English from school days and have written and been part of creative writing groups over the years. I find it hard to write poetry ‘on demand’ as it were and have to be inspired by a topic - for example my travels (I like writing up my holidays in diary form rather than poetry form), world events and things I see and feel strongly about. I can usually find something to write about during the four weeks between each meeting. Walking over our very own Cobden Bridge one night to a meeting in St Denys Church, I was inspired to write a poem about the sunset. On arrival, I just had to sit at the back and get my thoughts down on a scrap of paper before they left my head.

SO – I encourage you to come along and witness the first exhibition of its type in our lovely, local Grade II listed building. St Denys Church, starting on Monday 15th April. The event is totally free. Do come and enjoy some quiet time reading the poems and enjoying the beautiful photography, talk to the poets who will be happy to share their thoughts behind the poems and their inspiration.

Carol Bunday

Image: Tony Bunday

• The photo-poetry exhibition is by Southampton God’s House Tower Stanza Group, at St Denys Church, Dundee Rd, Southampton, SO17 2ND
Opening Times: Monday 15th April until Friday 19th April, 9am – 12noon & 6 – 7.30pm each day.
Saturday 20th April 11.30am – 1pm. A poet will be in residence at all sessions