"I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!" Say It Everyday....

                                                 Written by Khrishna

  Today I woke up from being asleep and trapped in a bad dream for over 8 years.  In this bad dream I let the world around me dictate to me what I was and wasn't.  I let it determine my self worth and beauty.  Today was the day I stopped being told that I didn't fit into the world's mold of beautiful because I am not skinny enough, my skin color is too dark, my skin color is to light, I am too old and I don't look like the ladies in the magazines.  Today I woke up from the B.S. that the world lulled me into believing.  Today I looked into the mirror at myself and said, "I am beautiful."  I don't just say it I sing it to my own tune so all can hear and appreciate my own unique melody.  I want my melodious tune to be a call for all women of all shapes, sizes and ages to join me in saying to themselves and the world, "I am beautiful, we are all beautiful and you will not deceive me into believing otherwise."

The Freedom of Street Photography

                                                  Written by Khrishna

One day I felt as if the walls within my home were closing in on me and I was itching to shoot something with my camera.  Photography has been an escape from my everyday stresses of life.  I have admired the work of other photographers and their talented ways of capturing the world from the streets.  I believe that this type of photography is an art of observation.  And on this particular day I decided to try doing some street photography.

Armed with my Nikon D100, a 50 mm lens and my little digital point and click Lumix I headed for the streets.  My target on this day was Little 5 Points in Atlanta. It's a colorfully busy area with interesting restaurants, store fronts and unique people.  Before stepping out of the car and onto concrete of the parking lot I pre-set the modes on each camera.  Doing this would make it much easier for me to turn my attention away from my equipment and I could concentrate on capturing my reflection of this street world.  Not to mention that this also helped to silence the stressful thoughts floating in my head.  My disquieting thoughts were like a distressed child finally falling off to sleep allowing the parents a moment of relief.  The stillness inside my head permitted my eyes to peacefully soak in the surroundings.

                                           
"Street photography is a renewable resource.  If you don't like what you see wait 5 minutes or walk a hundred feet." - Craig Coverdale









It was like poetry without words.  It was poetry for the eyes.  With every step I took there was click of the shutter. It was as if the streets possessed my camera and came to life in every frame taken. The day ended with my mind happily reminiscing about every moment on the street that was caught by the lens of my camera.

How You, The Client, Can Have the Best Portrait Session

Written by Khrishna 

As a photographer it never ceases to amaze me at how clients expect the world from their photo session when they didn't prepare for it.  The understanding that you get back what you put into it definitely applies to a client and their photo session.  The photographer with his or her camera can only do so much.

Here are some suggestions for making your photo session a great one....

• Get plenty of rest the day before your photo session.  Being well rested will ward off red eyes, dark circles and bags under the eyes.  It will also put you in the right mood for your photographs.

• Be well groomed.  Hair, nails and most of all your face should be well groomed.  Before your session it is a good time to treat yourself.  In other words, guys get your hair cut, trimmed and shaped. Ladies have your hair and nails done.  And for both the ladies and guys, if you have the money and time get a facial.  Keep in mind that this would not be a good time to try a new hair style or new hair color.  It's best to go with what has worked for your in the past.  If you want to create a new look first test the new look out before being photographed.  

• For the ladies - Prepare and tryout your make-up before your session.  If you are not sure of what to do or what type of make-up to wear visit your local make-up counter at the mall.  In some cases, you can scheduled an appointment and they will do your make-up for a small fee or for buying some of their products.  Note: Not all make-up counters will do this so you will have to check around in advance.  Or make an appointment with a make-up artist at your local salon; this usually will cost you a little bit more money.  If brides do it for their special day then why shouldn't you.  Think of your photo session as your special day.  

• Bring Accessories.  Accessories define your style, distinguishes you from all others and assists in telling your story.  Jewelry, hats, scarfs, your basketball, tennis racket, etc.  However, be careful not to over do it.  For example, if your thing is hats don't wear a hat in all of the shots.  Only bring one or two of your favorite hats with you.  Try taking some pictures with your hat and some without.

• Practice Posing.  Look at your favorite fashion magazines and examine the different poses of the models.  There is a very good reason why models get paid the big buck for posing in front of a camera. It's because posing is not easy.  So, learn from the pros and practice some of those poses in front of a mirror. Try on poses like you would try on clothes.   And pick out the best ones for you.  Then bring those magazines with those poses to your session.  Don't be afraid to try those pose out in front of the camera.  Remember that this is your time to shine so be your own super star in front of the camera.  If you forget what your poses were, don't worry this isn't a test, ask the photographer for a brief time out and look at the magazines that you brought with you.  As your session goes along this should help you loosen up and your own creative juices will start to flow with with your own original poses.

• Have Fun.   The more fun that you have in preparing for your session the more relaxed and at ease you will be.  The more relaxed you are the better the photos will be.

By putting greater thought into the preparation of your photo session you will reap the rewards of a  portrait that is an unmistakable attractive representation of you.

Portraits - What Makes A Good Portrait A Great Portrait?

Written by Khrishna

What makes a good portrait a great portrait?  The answers will vary from photographer to photographer.  Be that as it may most photographers will say that the eyes must be clearly in focus and that composition is a key factor.  Those answers would be correct and as a professional photographer I have put into practice those technical and compositional techniques.

However, I have learned that as an artist it takes much more to create a portrait. I believe that it is my duty as an artist to capture the essence of the individual.  This can be a challenge for 2 reasons.  First of all most portrait sessions are usually limited to a 1 or  2 hours.   Most people, especially children, will not sit still for more than than a couple of hours for a photo shoot. Therefore, the minute the client sits down to be shot the pressure is on to produce.  The second challenge is that most people that a portrait photographer will shoot are not fashion models or beauty queens.  Nevertheless, everyone has a story and a style unique unto themselves that they are paying be photographed.

 It's hard to capture the essence of someone that you know nothing about and so my approach begins with getting to know a little about the client and pinpointing their personal style and allure.  I have created a simple set of questions that I ask before scheduling the portrait session.  These questions help me get to know the person I'm shooting.  One of the most important questions that I ask the client is how would they like to be perceived in their portrait.  This is important to know because everyone has a certain perception of themselves that they wish others to see.  This portrait perception is how they want to captivate their audience.  I have learned that perceptions can range from a sexy hunk to showing off a new body because they have lost weight. Hence I tailor each session to fit the client and thus their portrait looks like no one else's except there own.  When the client's breath has been taken away and their family and friends are wowed by the finished product I know that I have created a great portrait.

             

Steer clear from the pitfall of trying to make photography magic. When trying to create photography magic the portrait is no longer the essence of that individual but a plastic version of that individual. Always remember that you are a photographer and not a magician. Ultimately the task at hand is to enhance and highlight the beauty of the client and not to try and create something that is not already there. Remembering to accentuate the positive along with down playing the negative will meet and exceed the client's expectations.

Krog Street Tunnel

Written by Khrishna

Krog St tunnel is not your average tunnel.  Its walls are lined with multiple colored scribbles dimly lit by wall lights.  Each scribble seems to leap off the wall when a passing car's head lights briefly illuminates them.  One by one the different colors distinguish various tag artists' conceptions.  The blend of intensely hued art and poetry make a bewitching harmony for one's eyes to dance to.  On the surface this fusion of art and poetry seems to suggest a superficial view of urban life.  Yet when examined closer there can be found political view points, announcements of local evens, stories, religious fervor, theoretical ideals and beliefs.

I was overwhelmed by the artistry and overlapping messages.  It was a cornucopia of pigments.  To an inattentive passer by these pigments might seem to be mindless squiggles with aimlessly put together drawings.  However for the person who is whiling to take the time to do more than pass through he or she will find a treasure of art that would never be found a stuffy old museum.  This is living art born from today's association of artists who tagged those walls.  My photography friends and I used our cameras to capture forever what time might one day steal away from us all.

These creative and colorfully expressed messages on this medium of concrete and metal make the Krog Street tunnel an urban gallery of obscure art.

For the Love of the Game

 

  I love soccer and capturing it through the lens of my camera.  Four years ago I would have never thought that this love affair I have with soccer could ever exist.  So, how did this happen to me.  Well, as it turns out, my hubby was the matchmaker.  He loves the sport and has been following the European games for years.  At our house it is not unusual to find a FIFA (The Federation Internationale de Football Association) game playing somewhere in the background either on the TV or on the web.  And this was the beginning of my soccer education.  The first thing that I learned was that throughout the world this beautiful game is known as football.

   One day my hubby arranged for my first date with football and he suggested that I bring my camera.  He had discovered an amateur league, ADASL (Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League), that has similar  principles and guide-lines as the English Premier League of football (EPL).  Being a wife who was interested in sharing in my husband' s interests I naturally went to the games with him.

   There I was with my hubby and camera in tow at the ADASL games.  It was great to witness the grit of the players as their foot work moved the ball quickly across the field.  Seeing this type of fast moving action live was thrilling.  My first time shooting one of these games was o.k..  However, both my hubby and I noticed that my photos were not telling the story of the game.  Besides, I had never tried to take a photo of something/someone moving.  This was a challenge for me.  Once I figured out how to take action shots my next challenge was to make sure that I would be in the right spot at the right time to capture the action.

  These challenges meant that I had to become well aquatinted with the game.  As in all relationships there is a courtship period.  This courtship or learning period helped me to see if this was truly  a good match.  I was determined to make this match work.  I read books and I carefully studied European football game photos.  I wanted my photos to show the struggle and drama of the game.  The more I learned about the sport the more I learned how to capture it with my camera and the better my photos became.  I truly fell in love and tried never to go to a football game without my camera.

Recently someone asked for some advice on how to shoot sports action.  Here's how I do it -

1. I use a 300mm Lens.
2. Prepare to deal with the lighting or lack there of.  This will dictate your ISO; i.e. be prepared to shoot with an ISO between 200 - 800.
3. Plan to use a fast shutter speed so as to freeze the action.
4. Follow the game action through the lens of your camera.  The minute you take your camera eye off of the action you will miss an opportunity to catch a good shot.
5. Set your camera to take multiple shots/frames with one click of your shutter button.  This will make it easier to catch the action.
6. Try to have your camera aimed at an area before the action happens; i.e. if a player is setting up for a corner kick have your camera pointed and ready either at the player before he/she kicks or in the direction of where he/she is aiming to kick the ball.  This will aid you in getting a great photo of the player(s) in motion.
7. Remember that the story is not just on the field.  Catching candid shots of fan reactions, side-line player reactions and coach reactions tell the story of the game as well.
8. Above all else have fun and enjoy the game. 

I understand that just like any other love affair or relationship mine with  football is not perfect.  My photos don't always come out the way that I wish that they would.  However, football never fails to give me at least one shot per game that makes my heart sing for the sport.  And so, this love affair has been going on for over four years.  It was a perfect match.  Who knew?? My hubby, that's who...

Maternity Portrait Sneak Peek

  

 
  
   The growth of love in a family is a special moment in a couple's life.  And I wanted this portrait session to reflect the feelings of love and the celebration of a new life.  This session was a challenge for me for two reasons.  First, I knew that because of my vision and my subject the best setting would be indoors, unlike my previous photo sessions.  And I hadn't done a studio photo shoot before.  So, I would need the proper lighting.  The second challenge was that of capturing the beauty of a pregnant woman.  This was a challenge because we live in a world where most women are very subconscious of their bodies and the way they look. Unfortunately, this negative self awareness hinders one from truly seeing and appreciating the beauty that is. And if it is not quickly captured this beauty fades and disappears.

   How did I overcome these challenges?  The first challenge concerned me the most because photography is all about the light; the light is the true subject of all photos.  Also, I wanted to keep the lighting simple.  This allowed me the opportunity to create my own lights.  I did this by going down to the hardware store and buying a couple of inexpensive clamp lights.  I then needed stands for them.  A few old tri-pods that no longer could hold a camera were in the back of my closet and worked really well as light stands.  After I acquired the necessary lighting I then focused on my pregnant model.

   When a woman feels beautiful she then looks beautiful.  This thought got me on a search for something that would make this pregnant woman feel beautiful.  A while ago my mother sent me an exquisitely hand-made antique bed spread.  By itself it was beautiful, however, adding it to our model equaled a precious life time moment photographed in its loveliness.  The minute I showed it to the model she fell in love with it.  The affect was automatic and this moment in all its beauty could be easily capture by the camera and seen by all.