I am honored to feature a new book of poetry and photography from a man I have known and admired for a long time through his photography work with music artists such as Cody Jinks and Tom McElvain.
You can see Chris’s work on his website, and what a portfolio he has!
And now, he’s compiled a beautiful book of 25 poems along with 27 stunning photographs. Chris Couture has a special gift, an eye that sees things through the camera lens that others don’t. And now he’s expanded that gift to expressing himself through insightful and emotional poetry.
I asked Chris to share some presonal thoughts about his reason for putting this book together and some of the impact it has had:
What inspired me to put this project together? Numerous folks on my social media have encouraged me to put out a photo book. Then a few people mentioned that they’d love a collection of poems. I figured, why not combine the two, photos and poems.
Oftentimes after posting a poem, I’d receive messages to the effect of, “I needed to hear this”, “that’s exactly how I’m feeling”, or “you’ve got me in my feels, I’m literally in tears.”
There’s a poem included in “Chris Couture – An American Poet”, called “Missing Me”. Immediately after posting it on social media, I received a message from someone that stated that “that poem really hit me hard”. They alluded to feeling that the words were about them.
Fast forward two months, and that same person messaged me and said that they have been sober 62 days (since our last interaction). They also reiterated that “your poem really hit home and made me want to get back to the old me, and I thank you.”
The third reason for doing this project is admittedly a selfish one. I truly want to leave some sort of legacy. That is, a body of work that actually means something. A body of work that is tangible, and that may have the ability to help someone. Or at least make someone feel something. Sure, photographing Rock stars is cool, but the end result doesn’t mean anything.
After having the privilege of reading this book, I chose a couple of poem excerpts to share with you. I hope this gives you a glimpse into what this book is all about. It is deeply personal, insightful and emotional.
I may look unapproachable.
I can see their minds are working
Always the same old questions.
They wonder why I got them,
And I’m not disingenuous…
Love is a four-letter word,
The same is true of pain
Both have tried to kill me
And drove me mildly insane
A soldier has his medals,
And the night has her stars.
But all I have to show
Is these tattoos and scars.
Some didn’t quite understand.
But there were those in the know.
It was simply his mantra.
And he lived by that code.
“Eagle Up, hoss”,
That’s what he’d always say.
You’ve gotta spread those wings,
It’s time to seize the day.
Don’t let the sun set on your problems,
Tomorrow’s sun will come up.
Lay down those heavy burdens,
That gives you a glimpse into this amazing piece of work.
Also, Chris is only selling the books direct to the customers, not through any distributor. So, if you’re interested in snagging a copy, or if you just want to talk with him, use this email address: chriscouturephotography@gmail.com
Price of book: $60
A United States Army Veteran, and a self-taught photographer living in the Lake Tahoe area; Chris picked up his first camera in 2010 and has been hooked ever since. Chris has a passion for Landscape, Live Music, and Western photography. Capturing a brilliant sunrise or preserving a fading way of life is where you’ll most likely find him. He won second place in the 2015 Arizona Highways annual photo contest, and you’ll find his music artist photographs used widely throughout social media. Although Chris has been writing off and on for 30+ years, he didn’t really get serious about it until three or four years ago.
Chris has this quote on his Facebook Page: If your dreams become a nightmare, chase a different dream. Yes sir!
Hi Jan, this book sounds amazing. Right up my street. I am publishing another photo and poem combo book this month and I love this sort of book.
That is awesome to hear, Robbie. Lion Scream was an amazing book. I’m glad you stopped by to take a look at this new project from Chris.
💓⭐️
What a lovely look into the inspiration behind the book, Jan. Thanks for introducing me to Chris, his photography, and his poetry. The two you shared a powerful. Congrats to him on leaving such a wonderful and meaningful legacy.
My pleasure, Diana. I think he has created a stunning compilation of poems and photographs. I appreciate you stopping by!
That’s a powerful poem, Chris. You had to feel proud to have changed a life with your work <3 Congrats on your big release!
Thank you so much, Jacquie, for stopping by to support Chris and his new endeavor!
I love photography and poetry. Looks fascinating. I was looking for a LIKE button but couldn’t find it. I see “Like this … loading” but no LIKE button?
The like button should show up, Paula. Sometimes it’s a little slow. Thank you for stopping by and taking a look at the new book from this artist. Much appreciated.
What a great idea for a book! The photos and poems are beautiful. Best wishes to Chris and thanks for introducing him, Jan!
Thanks for stopping by, Teri. I agree. It’s a fantastic combination for a book.
This sounds like an amazing read. I love the cover and poems shared!
Thank you, Denise!
This sounds amazing. Clicking through… Sharing…
Thank you, Jacqui! Much appreciated. Chris is not on Twitter, but he is active on Facebook.
This sounds like a beautiful book, both visually and lyrically. Thanks for highlighting Couture’s book!
It is truly a work of art, both visually and poetically, Priscilla. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Oh, that would be wonderful, Gwen. Please pass it along to your brother and thank you for stopping by.
Thank you for introducing Chris to your followers, Jan. His work, visual and written, is exceptional. I’ve many veterans in my family and one lives in Incline Village (next to Lake Tahoe). I’ll let my brother know about Chris. I suspect they would enjoy meeting up. 💙