The Photographing Poet
Several people have written about poet Edith Södergran. Innumerable people have rendered her poems, read her letters and made conclusions about her life. A lesser-known aspect of her artistry is her accomplishments as a photographer and her pictures have not gained the recognition they rightfully deserve. These include photographs from the Alps as well as her home region, photographs of women, cats and self-portraits. Photographs that add another – more truthful? – depiction of her life than the biographies published.
Nina Ulmaja wanted to learn more about Edith the photographer and began writing her letters. Letters that at first were focused on photography, but that later evolved into a story of their mutual background: their native country Finland, the fear of the Russians, memories of the war, social mobility and shameful family secrets.
The Photographing Poet is an insightful and inquisitive story of identity, history, courage and independence. It is also a beautiful book containing 180 of Edith’s own photographs. The letters presents a new perspective of a young woman with both pen and camera who lived a hundred years ago, in a time that in many ways resemble our present day.
Nina Ulmaja is an award-winning book designer and author. Together with Alexandra Borg, she wrote Strindberg’s lilla röda which was shortlisted for the August Prize in 2019 and ABC å allt om D which won the August Prize for Best Children’s Book in 2012.
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About the book
Several people have written about poet Edith Södergran. Innumerable people have rendered her poems, read her letters and made conclusions about her life. A lesser-known aspect of her artistry is her accomplishments as a photographer and her pictures have not gained the recognition they rightfully deserve. These include photographs from the Alps as well as her home region, photographs of women, cats and self-portraits. Photographs that add another – more truthful? – depiction of her life than the biographies published.
Nina Ulmaja wanted to learn more about Edith the photographer and began writing her letters. Letters that at first were focused on photography, but that later evolved into a story of their mutual background: their native country Finland, the fear of the Russians, memories of the war, social mobility and shameful family secrets.
The Photographing Poet is an insightful and inquisitive story of identity, history, courage and independence. It is also a beautiful book containing 180 of Edith’s own photographs. The letters presents a new perspective of a young woman with both pen and camera who lived a hundred years ago, in a time that in many ways resemble our present day.
