Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Ways of interpreting photographs, and writing about them
Using photographs to generate writing
Combining text and image
Using text to add to or change the meaning of a photograph
Writing about photographic work for press or publicity
A brief look at the ways artists and photographers have combined image and text
This course is for photographers wishing to explore new directions and for writers wishing to use photographs. Please note it will not offer teaching on technical or practical aspects of photography, Photoshop, or montage techniques. The focus of each session will be on exploring ideas and approaches.
What will we cover?
Different ways to combine text and photographs/incorporate photographs in text
Exploring how writing can expand the meaning of images
Exploring how photographs affect or create memory and history
Using photographs to support different modes of creative writing
How texts, particularly captions or titles, can change our understanding of an image
Participants’ experience with the writing process
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Create new work which combines image and text
Write about photographs
Have increased confidence in your understanding of both writing and photography
Produce some publicity material
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should have some practical experience of either writing or photography and be prepared to experiment with either or both during the course. We will support students to work at a level which suits them. If you see yourself as a beginner or someone who struggles with writing, please let us know.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This course in online via Zoom. You will be taught with short lectures, practical exercises, group discussion and course handouts. There will be assignments set to work on outside the class. City Lit uses Google Classroom for handouts and work submission, and Zoom (cameras on please) for online classes. You will be sent joining instructions by email.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All students will need a notebook and/or paper. You will need a stable internet connection. Chrome is recommended as the best brower for access to Google Classroom.
Christina Dunhill is an acclaimed poet and short story writer who is also the editor of two collections of short stories, one of poems and book of essays on women and the police for Virago. Following an earlier career in publishing she taught on the MA in Creative Writing and Personal Development at the University of Sussex. Her most recent publication is Blackbirds (2012).
Shirley ReadSee moreSee less
Shirley Read is a curator, writer and oral historian who has worked in photography for many years. She is passionate about photography and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience so teaches, formally and informally, lectures, tutors, mentors and runs workshops and conferences. She has curated for such diverse veneues at Camerawork, the Tom Blau Gallery, the Royal Festival Hall and the Ideas Store, Canary Wharf. She has writen for magazines and her books include 'Exhibiting Photography' (in English & Chinese), 'Photography and Research' (with Mike Simmons) and, most recently, the catalogue essay for Grace Lau's 'Portraits in a Chinese Studio'. Since 1994 she has been interviewing photographers for the 'Oral History of British Photography' a sound archive, part of National Life Stories, held in the British Library.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/photography-text-and-image3030706Photography: text and imagehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/photo-studio-light_VY372-1024.jpg299299GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Courses/Art & design/Photography/Photography skills & workshops/Courses/Online courses228511321702175617311228511321702<p>Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.</p>003030592Photography: text and image299299https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/photo-studio-light_VY372-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeWedOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedSep 2026Art & designVO258299299Photography: text and image239194299Christina Dunhill, Shirley Readphotography-text-and-image/vo258-2627<p>Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-30 00:00:00<ul><li>Ways of interpreting photographs, and writing about them</li><li>Using photographs to generate writing</li><li>Combining text and image</li><li>Using text to add to or change the meaning of a photograph</li><li>Writing about photographic work for press or publicity</li><li>A brief look at the ways artists and photographers have combined image and text<br> </li></ul><p>This course is for photographers wishing to explore new directions and for writers wishing to use photographs. Please note it will not offer teaching on technical or practical aspects of photography, Photoshop, or montage techniques. The focus of each session will be on exploring ideas and approaches.</p><p>Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.</p><ul><li>Different ways to combine text and photographs/incorporate photographs in text</li><li>Exploring how writing can expand the meaning of images</li><li>Exploring how photographs affect or create memory and history</li><li>Using photographs to support different modes of creative writing</li><li>How texts, particularly captions or titles, can change our understanding of an image</li><li>Participants’ experience with the writing process</li></ul><ul><li>Create new work which combines image and text</li><li>Write about photographs</li><li>Have increased confidence in your understanding of both writing and photography</li><li>Produce some publicity material</li></ul><p>You should have some practical experience of either writing or photography and be prepared to experiment with either or both during the course. We will support students to work at a level which suits them. If you see yourself as a beginner or someone who struggles with writing, please let us know.</p><p>This course in online via Zoom. You will be taught with short lectures, practical exercises, group discussion and course handouts. There will be assignments set to work on outside the class. City Lit uses Google Classroom for handouts and work submission, and Zoom (cameras on please) for online classes. You will be sent joining instructions by email.</p><p><a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/26530977914525-FAQ-Student-IT-Account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Access from outside the UK and IT Support</a></p><p><a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Classroom Support</a></p><p> </p><p>All students will need a notebook and/or paper. You will need a stable internet connection. Chrome is recommended as the best brower for access to Google Classroom.</p><p>Exhibiting and presenting your photography</p><p>Developing your creative writing</p>PhotographyPhotography skills & workshopsvirtual239299194VO258NONEWed30/09/26 - 18/11/2614:00 - 16:0014:0016:008 sessions (over 8 weeks)85-10 weeksWeekdayOnlineOnlineChristina Dunhill, Shirley ReadSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-09-30T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeSep 2026Art & design299299Photography: text and imagephotography-text-and-image/vo258-2627<p>Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.</p>0000-Available|2026-09-30 00:00:00<ul><li>Ways of interpreting photographs, and writing about them</li><li>Using photographs to generate writing</li><li>Combining text and image</li><li>Using text to add to or change the meaning of a photograph</li><li>Writing about photographic work for press or publicity</li><li>A brief look at the ways artists and photographers have combined image and text<br>&nbsp;</li></ul><p>This course is for photographers wishing to explore new directions and for writers wishing to use photographs. Please note it will not offer teaching on technical or practical aspects of photography, Photoshop, or montage techniques. The focus of each session will be on exploring ideas and approaches.</p><p>Whether you are a photographer or a writer, this short course will give you ideas for combining words and images to discover new approaches and create new work.</p><ul><li>Different ways to combine text and photographs/incorporate photographs in text</li><li>Exploring how writing can expand the meaning of images</li><li>Exploring how photographs affect or create memory and history</li><li>Using photographs to support different modes of creative writing</li><li>How texts, particularly captions or titles, can change our understanding of an image</li><li>Participants’ experience with the writing process</li></ul><ul><li>Create new work which combines image and text</li><li>Write about photographs</li><li>Have increased confidence in your understanding of both writing and photography</li><li>Produce some publicity material</li></ul><p>You should have some practical experience of either writing or photography and be prepared to experiment with either or both during the course. We will support students to work at a level which suits them. If you see yourself as a beginner or someone who struggles with writing, please let us know.</p><p>This course in online via Zoom. You will be taught with short lectures, practical exercises, group discussion and course handouts. There will be assignments set to work on outside the class. City Lit uses Google Classroom for handouts and work submission, and Zoom (cameras on please) for online classes. You will be sent joining instructions by email.</p><p><a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/26530977914525-FAQ-Student-IT-Account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Access from outside the UK and IT Support</a></p><p><a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11273523970845-What-is-your-City-Lit-student-IT-account" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Google Classroom Support</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>All students will need a notebook and/or paper. You will need a stable internet connection. Chrome is recommended as the best brower for access to Google Classroom.</p><p>Exhibiting and presenting your photography</p><p>Developing your creative writing</p>PhotographyPhotography skills & workshopsconfigurable
