Télégramme Magazine

When I was a junior in high school I took a computer graphics class (based on photoshop/illustrator). I wasn’t a huge fan of photoshop yet, and my teacher, Vincent Nasta, who constantly praised me on my work always insisted I would love it. That summer he died in a plane accident. Feeling completely crushed, I knew that I needed to do something special. I created my first (horrible) levitation self portrait in my back yard. At the time I had a PC and actually used MS paint to edit (for MS paint it was pretty good though, I guess..)

I would definitely say that was my main inspiration for starting the concept of levitation (combined with inspiration of Rosie Hardy’s work). From then on I knew that it was something I loved to capture, and ideas kept flowing. The first series that I felt worthy enough to consider a photo story would be when I collaborated with an incredible yogi and friend, Laura Ahrens. Together we were able to make my imagination a reality and we have been working together ever since. I always tell her that she is my levitation muse!

I had a portfolio class one semester of college where I needed to create a brand new portfolio – and that is when I started actually making the levitation images into a series. I did many yoga influenced images, some dance and some fashion. When fixing my website I knew I wanted all of those images together, so I kind of threw them in an album and named it the first thing that I thought of – weightless.  (Actually, I take that back, I think that my boyfriend may have named it for me; I am too indecisive.) I actually don’t feel like any of those images are exactly what I want them to be, because I think I can push myself way further. I think they are still practice runs, and the best is yet to come. So maybe the series hasn’t even begun yet.

Looking at some of them they look better than what I imagined. Of course I look at some and now have a million imagine if’s and what if’s and I should of’s- but that just makes the next series so much stronger. Considering there is post production afterwards I have learned to look through my lens and see the final product as opposed to what is naturally in front of me. I am always amazed by the different forms that different yogis/dancers/models can create. I feel that they are always different, because every body (and everybody) is different.

Yes I do. I have now mastered the ability to do minimal editing (or so it seems, because I have a nice routine when it comes down to it.) I generally do the same alterations (or try to) when I open up a raw file. Then the photograph is brought into photoshop where I make the vision come to life. The rest is a secret though!

I kind of jumped around all of these questions and found myself leaving this one for last because I wanted to try and fumble together the right words to explain, or better yet to figure it out myself. There is nothing more rewarding than photographing a couple and capturing their love radiating, or making someone realize how beautiful they truly are. I think that when it comes to why I love photography as a job, I love that I can literally stop time and capture a memory for someone and hand it back to them. I love the happiness that it brings to people, and that is such a rewarding feeling.

I love that after my dad passed away I was able to capture how I felt in photographs so I didn’t have to worry about trying to explain it. I love that whenever I see the sun at golden hour I now I immediately want to take out my camera because I know it would create the perfect hair light. I love that with photography every dream that you have can be created. It gives me the ability to take reality and make it into my own. I suppose I am just incredibly passionate about it, and it brings me happiness.

Well, I am always forcing myself to keep busy with personal work (maybe not as much as I should, but I do). I think it’s super important to keep my own portfolio growing without my commissioned jobs getting in the way of that. Next month there will be a new collaboration with Laura Ahrens and her wonderful yoga again though – so I am definitely excited for that.

-

» Read the rest of this entry «