Photographers have given fairy tales a modern twist for a stunning photo series ‘A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words’.

Three photographers were enlisted by Nikon to update classic fairy tales.

Not only that, but they had to do it in just four shots.

In the #PicWorth1000Words series, award-winning photographers from the UK, Spain and Italy take a fresh approach to the stories of The Little Mermaid, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White.

It’s not an easy task but the results, as you will see below, are imaginative, unique and powerful.

Cristina de Middel took on The Little Mermaid, which she has reworked to The Little Mexmaid. Relocating the story to Mexico she wanted to capture the debutante traditions.

Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. The Little Mermaid is about to celebrate her 15th birthday. As Mexican girls celebrate their coming of age at 15, when the Little Mermaid reaches this milestone, she is officially be considered an adult and will be able to access the outside world of grown-up humans. This image was taken in Mexico Cityís historic Tlatelolco complex, where the cityís original Pyramid was founded, before being hidden by the invading Spanish. This represents our heroineís childhood, hidden from view.
As Mexican girls celebrate their coming of age at 15, when the Little Mermaid reaches this milestone she is officially be considered an adult and will be able to access the outside world of grown-up humans (Picture: Cristina de Middel/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. The Mermaid is now 15 and her father permits her to visit the outer world. Upon arrival in the human world, the Mermaid trades her fishtail for legs so she can experience what it feels like to be an adult woman. She is pictured at the Salon Los Angeles, a famous venue in Mexico City for ëSweet 15í celebrations, the big day for girls to start their adult life.
Upon arrival in the human world, the Mermaid trades her fishtail for legs so she can experience what it feels like to be an adult woman. She goes to the Salon Los Angeles, a famous venue in Mexico City for ‘Sweet 15’ celebrations (Picture: Cristina de Middel/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. The mermaid meets a Prince, who is a traditional Mexican Mariachi. The couple dance and she falls deeply in love with him. The Mariachi is a symbol of love in Mexico, where it is common for love-struck men to send one to a girl¥s house to declare their love through folk song.
The mermaid meets a Prince, who is a traditional Mexican Mariachi. The couple dance and she falls deeply in love with him. (Picture: Cristina de Middel/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Eventually rejected by the Prince, the Little Mermaid sacrifices herself for love by exploding into fireworks. The Prince has chosen the love of a Princess of the human world over that of the Little Mermaid. She is heartbroken, but rather than destroy the Princeís new love, she chooses to sacrifice herself in a shower of fireworks and return to her home world.
Eventually rejected by the Prince for a Princess of the human world, the Little Mermaid sacrifices herself for love by exploding into fireworks. (Cristina de Middel/Nikon)

Of her theme she said: ‘I saw first-hand the fascinating rites of passage in Mexico, and it reminded me instantly of the classic coming-of-age love story in The Little Mermaid.’

 

Italian photographer Dan Bannino went for the Brothers Grimm version of Snow White, taking inspiration from fifteenth century painters.

Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. The evil queen asks her computer ìWho is the fairest in the land?î The kingdom is under the rule of a wicked queen. She is obsessed with her beauty and consults her computer every day, surfing the internet to confirm that she is still the most beautiful woman in the land.
The evil queen, obsessed with her beauty, uses Google to find out who is the fairest in the land (Picture: Dan Bannino/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Snow White cleaning the Seven Dwarfsí cottage. Banished from the kingdom when she was a young girl, Snow White has grown into a beautiful and humble young woman. She lives with the seven dwarfs in a cottage on the outskirts of the kingdom, cleaning and cooking for the little men.
Snow White lives with the Seven Dwarfs at their cottage, cooking and cleaning for them (Picture: Dan Bannino/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Snow White eating the poisoned doughnut. When the evil queen is told that Snow White is fairer than she is, she disguises herself as an old woman and tries to kill Snow White with a poisoned doughnut.
Snow White is given a poisoned doughnut by the queen, who is disguised as an old woman (Picture: Dan Bannino/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Plunged in to a deep sleep, Snow White can only be saved by true love's kiss. After Prince Charming kisses her, they immediately ask the dwarfs to take a picture to frame this magic moment and quickly update their status on social media. Prince Charming marries Snow White and takes her to his palace to live happily ever after, with millions of new followers. Today, every minute of our intimate lives is shared on social media. Storytelling maintains our followers' attention. In this version of the classic story, our two main characters look as though they are the #WORLDSMOSTTALKEDABOUTCOUPLE.
After Prince Charming saves her with a kiss, they immediately ask the dwarfs to take a picture to frame this magic moment and quickly update their status on social media and become the #WORLDSMOSTTALKEDABOUTCOUPLE. (Picture: Dan Bannino/Nikon)

He said: ‘The simple innocence of the Snow White story has ensured its enduring significance, just as classic works of arts become ever more important with each new generation that enjoys them.

‘With this series I hope to encourage aspiring creative talents to reimagine art and interpret it in their own way.’

 

Sandro Giordano used Little Red Riding Hood to tell the ‘struggles with the pressures of modern-day scrutiny’.

Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Red Riding Hood leaves home with food and wine for her grandmother. As Red Riding Hood sets off on her journey, her mother closes the door but doesn't notice her little girlís leg is stuck in it. The protagonist falls flat on her face, but saves the egg basket sheís carrying. Her mother has been very strict about making sure all the carefully-prepared food arrives untouched at Grandmother's house.
Red Riding Hood leaves home with food and wine for her grandmother. As Red Riding Hood sets off on her journey, her mother closes the door but doesn’t notice her little girl’s leg is stuck in it. The protagonist falls flat on her face, but saves the egg basket she’s carrying. (Picture: Sandro Giordano/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. On her journey, Red Riding Hood falls again, into a field of chrysanthemums. Red Riding Hood has been picking flowers to take to her Grandmother. Despite falling, she was still able to save the food and bottle of wine in her basket.
On her journey, Red Riding Hood picks chrysanthemums for her grandmother, but falls again (Picture: Sandro Giordano/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Red Riding Hood crashes into a tree in the woods where she is approached by a wolf. Red Riding Hood has drunk the wine from her basket. As she drunkenly lies in the woods, sheís unaware of the wolf that comes out from behind the tree, offering her a "tasty" red apple. Red Riding Hood doesn't pay attention to the threat of the wolfís temptation (the apple of sin). She is not afraid of him, and she doesn't fall into the trap... she falls drunk!
Red Riding Hood, having drunk the red wine she was carrying in her basket, crashes into a tree in the woods where she is approached by a wolf. The wolf offers her a ‘tasty’ apple, but Little Red is too drunk to notice it (Picture: Sandro Giordano/Nikon)
Nikon proves that ëA Picture is Worth a Thousand Wordsí, challenging photographers to give modern reboots to three classic fairytales and tells each one in just four frames, using the Nikon D5500. Red Riding Hood falls from her Grandmotherís bed after eating the wolf. After reaching her Grandmother's house, Red Riding Hood finds the wolf has arrived first and eaten the old lady. Pushed by an extreme hunger, Red Riding Hood eats him and the apple of sin he was offering her. This image reverses the classic interpretation of this story, making the victim the victimiser. The Grandmotherís night cap on the shoe symbolises the revenge of her grandmother. It's as if the wolf has been killed by both of them together.
After reaching her Grandmother’s house, Red Riding Hood finds the wolf has arrived first and eaten the old lady. Pushed by an extreme hunger, Red Riding Hood eats him and the apple of sin he was offering her before falling out of her grandmother’s bed (Picture: Sandro Giordano/Nikon)

‘Approaching a well-known story in a new way, using striking images, helps us realise how powerful our imagination can be.’

The last image ‘reverses the classic interpretation of this story, making the victim the victimiser.

‘The Grandmother’s night cap on the shoe symbolises the revenge of her grandmother. It’s as if the wolf has been killed by both of them together.’