After completing this photography project a couple of people, a fellow photographer and one of my models, asked where did I get my ideas. In other words, what was my inspiration? The short answer was that I get my inspiration from the music I love to listen to, my surroundings and my alter ego. For example when I listen to music automatically my mind is taken to a scene as I give sway to the melody. My husband and I spend many weekends exploring the beautiful city we live in. We don’t just explore the known places but we try to discover the underworld and unknown gems that add to the mystique of where we live.
Explaining those first two inspirations was easy. Explaining how my alter ego inspires me is a little more difficult. When I started photographing my “Urban Charm” series it was about capturing the beauty of the urban world as I see it. Suddenly, as I starting creating each shoot and reviewing the finished product, my alter ego came alive. She is the woman I was and still am. This part of my photography gave me the opportunity to show everyone who I am inside. I am an Urban Beauty, an Urban Street Fighter and the Urban Retro Afro Queen. Before I discovered photography these parts of me were only in my head for me to enjoy during quiet moments while listening to my favorite music or explored my favorite part of town. This woman can not be described as just a dream or a fantasy. And at my age I couldn’t go around playing dress-up. I would have been sized up to wear a little white jacket. In any case these are facets of me and who I am. I know, it sounds a little bit schizophrenic.
Photography has released the inner me for the public to see. I realize that not everyone is going to like what they see and some people might not know how to relate to it. But I’m so very happy to set these life long characters free from my head through the lens of my camera.
I believe that this is proof that no one really knows a person until they are able to reveal themselves from the inside out. I also believe that everyone has an alter ego. Some choose not to share that part of themselves with anyone, others might share it with a special someone or two. Then there are the few that dare and have the capability to share this side of themselves with the world. We call those few artists.
As long as I am able and I have a camera the world will see me —— all of me —- like it or not.
Urban Charms Link: http://images-frozen-in-time.smugmug.com/Fashion
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to work at Atlanta’s Bronner Bros. Hair Show. This is a great venue for creative expression. Hair stylists from around the world competed and showcased their latest hair creations. As well as the most stylish make-up, clothes and accessories could be seen here. Everywhere were models cat walking on different stages and around the floor for all to see. My camera’s eye couldn’t get enough. This was a fashion photographer’s dream.
This is an event of creative diversity. Models of all shades and hair types were represented. I even saw a few bald female models walking around. They had, what appeared to me to be air brushed designed painted on their heads. And they wore the make-up to match it. Whatever your taste or style you were sure to find it somewhere at this event. Beauty has no bounds here.
Unfortunately I spoke with an African American customer who had a complaint. Her complaint to me was that she felt that there were not enough African American models and that there should only be African American models at this show. How narrow minded can one person be?!?!?! I was so stunned by her complaint that all I wanted to do was call her ignorant to her face and slap some sense into her. But instead I tried to help her appreciate that the products being demonstrated were for all types of hair. She huffed off to speak with the managers and shared with them her complaint.
I continued to stand there where she left me in a quandary while she complained to management. I didn’t hear the conversation she had with them so I do not know what their response to her was. I do know that she was not there for very long. And it was then that I realized that ignorance is all around us and can rear it’s ugly head at any time.
When I came home that day I just couldn’t get the thought of that ignorant woman out of my mind. And I thought that if she couldn’t appreciate the beauty and diversity in the models she would never be able to truly appreciate other beauties that God has given us. For instance, what makes a rainbow beautiful? It is the wide range of colors. Those primary colors, when mixed together, give birth to many other different and beautiful colors. Granted we may favor one or two colors over the others, but together their beauty can not be compared or measured to just one or two colors at a time. Within a rainbow all of the colors complement each other. Just like that rainbow is one of God’s creations so are we. And God is not partial; “At this Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial.” (Acts 10:34)
We were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26) so we should learn to reflect the godly quality of not being partial. That would mean that we should open our eyes to all of God’s beauty and wonders. Photography is a great way of capturing that beauty. I hope that through my photos observers can see my appreciation for the beauties God has created.
Bronner Brothers Hair Show Photo Link: http://images-frozen-in-time.smugmug.com/Fashion/Bronner-Brothers-Hair-Show-Aug/13281099_UD6GW#966833786_omqJ5
I’m not very good at this blogging thing. I never really know what to write about. When I started this blog I thought that I would focus on photography and the simple beauty that we take for granted each day.
Years ago, if you would have seen me back in my so called “Hey Day,” you might have considered me a beauty. But now the beauty has faded and I am nothing more than someone in the background never really being noticed or acknowledged for what I am, what I use to be or what I’m trying to become. Beauty and youth are truly fleeting.
So, what I have left are my brains/smarts. And being smart is never appreciated in the same way as beauty. Heck! Smart women are rarely ever noticed. They have to work twice as hard to be seen. And let’s face it ladies if the man of your dreams walked into a room where there was only you and a gorgeous younger women who didn’t know the difference between her but and a hole in the ground that man is not going to notice that you are there. So, let’s be honest, when is the last time you heard a man say, “Wow!! Her brain turns me on….I love the way she thinks.” A man would only say something like that for 2 reasons. Because 1- she really is smart and 2 - being smart is her only asset. Also, this would only come from a nice guy who doesn’t want to hurt his female friend’s feelings by telling her that she is lacking in the area of beauty.
There was a time when I was noticed for my beauty but those days are no more. I don’t even get a first glance. And if I do get a glance it is because something is wrong and usually the person staring will be quick to point out the problem. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember the last time someone was really sincerely turned on by me and the way I look. As a matter of fact, a few months ago a neighbor was passing by and she stated that she didn’t realize that it was me and she mentioned that she remembers how cute I USED to be. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore that day and then I cried some more. Now a days the only thing I can turn on is a light switch. And so age is now catching up with me and there are no miracle beauty creams to be found in any store that can help me out run the aging process. I guess that is why I love what my camera can do. It can capture beauty and turn it into “Images Frozen In Time.”
I wish that I could take the beauty that I have captured with my camera and apply it to my face as if it were a magical miracle beauty cream. And some how I have found a way to apply that beauty to my face. Everyday I look at my work and smile. Thus, I have applied my miracle beauty cream to my face. The smile my photos put on my face and the warmth it adds to my heart when the photos make someone else smile brings out my hidden inner beauty for all to see. Maybe, I should have called my photography company “Beauty Frozen In Time” instead.
So, for all the ladies out there that understand where I’m coming from, I hope you have found your own magical brand of miracle beauty cream that puts that special smile on your face. ‘Cause a true smile is the only genuine beauty that age can not steal and it only fades when you let it.
This photography project turned out the way I wanted. Actually, the results were better than I expected. I love the beauty and color graffiti adds to a distressed area. It is this type of art that make the concrete walls of the ghetto and inner city come to life. And I enjoyed using this as the back-drop to my photos.
The day of this shoot was cold and grey. Occasionally, the clouds subtly teased us by unveiling the sun for short periods of time. We enjoyed these brief moments and before we could appreciate the full effects of that brilliant golden ball in the sky the clouds would veil her away from us again. It was the color and beauty of the graffiti that more than made up for the lack of brightness from the sky. It could never replace the warm glow that the sun gives, but it gave off it’s own radiance. A radiance that can be seen in each of my ”Urban Beauty” shots.
I wanted both the model and the art to compliment one another. I thought of this in the same way a painter carefully blends the chosen pigments together on a canvas. The colors have to be mixed precisely. The blending of the two beauties; the model with the graffiti. Each, alone, could be appreciated for their individual beauty. But together they open one’s eyes to a different class of beauty that is rarely seen or acknowledged.
Within each of my photographs I’m hoping to capture the true nature of the world around me as I believe it to be. In this photography adventure, the lesson learned is that the color and beauty can be found and captured for all to see. However, the composition of color and beauty and how you capture it makes all the difference.
This is my first entry and it took me forever to do this. I didn’t know what I wanted to write about. So, after a lot of time and thought, I have decided that I would try to document what I have learned about and through photography. This way I can look back at this information if ever I might need to refresh my self on something. And if anyone ever reads my blog they can learn a little more about photography and how to take better photos.
Ever since I picked up my first film camera or SLR(single lens reflex) I became addicted to photography. SLR basically refers to the way a camera works. When a photographer presses the shutter button, a mirror flips out of the way to reveal the sensor. More recently most people use digital camers or DSLR’s; the D being short for digital.
In the beginning I wanted to take pictures of God’s beautiful creation. This meant that I took pictures of plants, flowers, bugs, my cats, etc. As I began my photography journey the more I learned and the more I enjoyed. The more pictures I took the more I appreciated the beauty light allows us to see each day.
