Visual Verse: Art in Nature with Symbiotic Verse

by John Parkinson

Visual Verse marries the splendor of the natural world with the glory of the written word. The photographs and verse work in concert to enhance awareness and appreciation for the majesty in nature.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933538376
• ISBN13: 9781933538372
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Synergy Books
• Length: 91 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 12.1" x 10.5"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Artwork!

The book is full of the most beautiful pictures and poems I have ever encountered. It will make a great Christmas gift for my friends and family. I absolutely love it!

The Brilliance of God's Art!

Award winning photographer, John Parkinson has turned his attention in his recent book, Visual Verse: Art In Nature With Symbiotic Verse to putting together a glorious collection of photo images that have been paired with quotations from some of the greatest poets. Relying on photo images and words for its integrity and success, Parkinson has effectively conveyed to his readers the magnificence of American landscapes. Moreover, he has succeeded in illustrating the brilliance of "God's art," as he has termed it, and how we can spiritually profit from it. Blending poetry with the images is a kind of a tricky proposition for both commercial and artistic reasons. It is difficult enough to sell poetry of living poets, let alone those who are dead, particularly when you attempt to link the poetry of Bronte, Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Tennyson and others with photo images. However, Parkinson has taken the plunge and has succeeded admirably in creating a stimulating experience for lovers of art, photography, nature and poetry. Upon first opening this coffee table book, I was overwhelmed with Parkinson's vibrant images of such colorful scenes as Arches National Park in southern Utah, the Northern Rockies of British Colombia, Bryce Canyon National Park, the melancholy scene of fall, the Grand Canyon, Yukon Clouds and many others that make up the collection and of which twenty-five of them are coupled with symbiotic verse. He has managed to capture the essence of the beauty and exquisiteness of Mother Nature. The book divides itself into four parts: the first part contains twenty-five images paired with symbiotic verse, next we have photographs gleaned from nature representing a showcase of art in nature, this is followed by five panoramic images designed to stimulate us visually, and finally Parkinson includes succinct comments on the first twenty-five images. This last section is particularly fascinating for it gives us an opportunity to find out what makes a professional photographer tick and why is he or she is interested in photographing a particular scene. For example, Parkinson's comments pertaining to "The Path That Leads Nowhere," reminds us that when we "trek through the wilderness, it's wonderful to find places where the beauty of nature is so compelling that a specific destination becomes irrelevant. It is the going, not the getting there, that delivers satisfaction." Parkinson has included a photo rich in detail depicting carpeted autumn foliage that is so inviting and beautiful that it demands a stroll. The photo is linked to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson's poem The Path That Leads to Nowhere and Parkinson states that this image would have provided additional inspiration and validation for her poem. Parkinson has created a highly original and fascinating book that is a testament to how spiritual words melded with vibrant visual images can help us look at the world anew. As mentioned in a press release, Parkinson maintains that it's impo

Stunning - highly recommended.

This book is absolutely gorgeous. The photos are spectacular (I want to get some of them in prints!), and the best part is the poetry. There are some famous poems I know, but the photographer/author also threw in some of his original poetry to compliment his pictures. I plan to buy them for Christmas gifts! Anyone who loves poetry, photograhy, or the outdoors would love this book!

Especially recommended as a gift for nature and natural photography enthusiasts.

Nationally published photographer of 35 years' experience John Parkinson presents Visual Verse, a breathtaking gallery of images of the natural world - from glaciers to islands, to time-exposure of constellations rising in the desert. Half of Visual Verse displays the wondrous photographs alongside selected classic short poems from a variety of authors; a subsequent commentary section offers a paragraph of insight into the selection and capturing of each unique snapshot. Visual Verse is a singularly gorgeous coffee-table book which is especially recommended as a gift for nature and natural photography enthusiasts.