JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div><img src="http://placehold.it/250x250/" width="250" height="250"></div>

CSS

div {
  position: relative;
  overflow:hidden;
}
div img{
  display:block;
}
div:before {
  background-color: black;
  opacity: 0.5;
  color: white;
  width: 15%;
  content: "stuff";
  text-align: center;
  
  position:absolute;
  top: 50%;
  left: 0;
  -webkit-transform: translateY(-50%);
  -moz-transform: translateY(-50%);
  -ms-transform: translateY(-50%);
  transform: translateY(-50%);

   height:2000px;
   line-height:2000px;
}