Sep
21st

K H R I S T (the extended remix)

Posted on September 21, 2011


 

 

Kristal and I were winding down the shoot and I couldn’t resist asking her to stand against the wall for a few poses. By this time, sunlight began to flow into the space and I didn’t want to ruin it by using flash. OK, so I was too lazy to actually move the flash… So back to the story. What really makes the shot work for me is the slight shadow that comes from being backlit. I like it because it adds a sense of dimension  to her pose.

I originally shot this in color and had no intention of converting it to black & white; however, after I played around in Lightroom and saw just how timeless this image is (well, minus the tats and piercings), I decided to tweak the black & white settings until I found something I like. Besides, there wasn’t anything special about the colors that really made keeping it in color worthwhile. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m inspired to do an entire black & white nude series.

 

 

 

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Sep
17th

Khrist

Posted on September 17, 2011

A couple of days ago, I finally had to chance to check off an item on my photo bucket list, shooting a nude model. I wanted to do it because I felt it help me overcome a fear of the unknown or what is considered taboo. Kristal responded to a casting call I placed on Model Mayhem. I checked out her portfolio and was impressed by her. What drew me was though she’s not a traditional model (you know, 5′ 10″ and can hula hoop a Cheerio), she’s beautiful with piercings and tats. Plus, she has a real, everyday woman’s physique.

So after talking via email for about a week, we agreed to have a session at what is now my favorite abandoned spot. Kristal is a consummate pro, arrived on time, and was prepared to shoot. I definitely enjoyed working with her and will most certainly work with her again. Look for some more shots in the future.

PS: You can click here to view her work.

 

 

 

 

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Aug
27th

Stranger #8: Tanyah

Posted on August 27, 2011

 

Today  I went to Grant Park in order t to to practice my street photography skills. I’m not a street photographer by nature, but I want to change that. My goal today was to step outside my comfort zone in order to grow as a photogapher. Every professional athlete wants to get better and photographers are no different. In my case, I didn’t want to take another class or do run out and shoot a model;  instead, I wanted to try something totally out of the box so I can learn and grow.

The trip didn’t really go as well as I planned, but I did come away with a few things. 1) Observe the environment in order to anticipate the shot. 2) Don’t be afraid to shoot and run. 3) A smile goes a long way. 4) Remember basic rules of composition. 5) Don’t over analyze. Just go out and shoot.

I shot for two hours and decided to leave the park and grab a bite to eat. Along the way I saw a woman with a nice round puffy afro with a beautiful flower inserted above her right temple. In case you didn’t know, I’m a huge fan of natural hair, so I absolutely HAD to shoot Tanyah after seeing her. Flattery, as it turns out, really does get you anywhere. After complimenting her on her hair and the flower, she was more than happy to oblige me for a few photos.

 

Tanyah is a singer and actress originally from Kansas City, MO. She moved to Atlanta 11 years ago to break into the entertainment industry. She started out secular but now focuses on Christian entertainment. Her goal is to one day produce theater.

 

My only regret about shooting her is that I wish I had more time. Tanyah was very engaging and I could tell I would’ve been able to shoot her for half an hour or more with no regard to time.  She was with a friend and while her friend didn’t seem mind, I was mindful of her friend’s time. After all, they might have been headed to the food area to grab a bite. All and all, I’m pleased with the shot I managed to get. Can’t wait to shoot my next stranger.

 

 

This picture is #8 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

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