Anna Keiser: Regret

Xavier G., 2012

Now, don’t get ahead of me now. ‘Tis the season to be regretful…for some people. I try my best to live by phrase to never regret anything. However, there is a distinctive time where I do remember feeling regretful. Like I said before, don’t get ahead of me now.

It was in July 2011 and I had just found out I was pregnant. It was pre-telling my parents, and things were swirling over my head. I was not regretful of getting pregnant, but instead I was so ashamed of myself for bringing something so incredible into the nasty world that it is.  Freaking out because I was a student that had to work, barely having any time in the first place. Feeling selfish because now I knew I would have to rely more on my parents, and only God knows how they are going to take the news.

I told my parents the day they got back from their summer vacation that I was pregnant. They were supportive right from the bat. That quickly helped my attitude (but I did have hormones against me).

Fast forward to now, my baby has become a miracle in my life. Having a baby teaches you all the things you never knew about life. Experiencing something you produced from your body, learning how to use their hands, standing for the very first time, walking along the walls leading to many other wonderful things that you never even realized that you did one time in your life.

So whenever I’m feeling down, its easy for me to look at my son and say “I have no regrets” because there is always something beautiful in the experiences we have.

Ashley Ecklund: Shadow

Street photography can be so interesting. The smallest details really inspire me personally. Especially midday, when the shadows vary so much because of reflections and refractions caused by buildings.  The way shadows fade oddly, in a way that wouldn't be possible in direct sunlight. 

Shadow: Anna Keiser

What is a silhouette but a shadow that is coming forth? Both shadows and silhouettes alike are intangible. You can only touch the surface of them. While these shadows are standing and facing you, it's not the shadows that are the subject, rather, it's the light creating them.

Vision: Paige L. Hill

Staring at the wall, I can just see it now. The place I’d rather be. Out there, way out there, in the mountain tops. Hearing the sounds of nature all around, feeling the cool breeze on my face, smelling the fresh air. Some place where there is no signal, totally off the grid. Just me, my thoughts and I. Places like these allow me to fine tune my vision for whatever project. 

Anna Keiser: Vision

Nighttime skyline of businesses across from Sloan's Lake in Denver.

After a long night of work at the local McDonald's, my vision becomes a bit blurry. The city lights are bright and make me squint. I believe that artists have a vision in everything they create, such as the architects that built the strip of businesses on Sheridan. With a long exposure and some movement, you get a vision of something completely different.

Elements: Paige L. Hill

Boy in Leaves

Ahh.... Fall.... So glad it’s finally here. I love this time of year. Leaves with the breeze are being nocked free form the trees as they change. And let’s not forget, time for rolling around with your rugby ball. The cool breezes are just enough to need socks and to curl up on the sofa under a blanket. You can just feel the cool kisses of the wind on your cheek as you laugh along with this photograph.

Elements: Anna Keiser

There is an energy in the changing seasons. An element of fire, as things change so quickly. The leaves are dying dramatically, turning bright shades of red or yellow. Who knew that death could be so beautiful? The blurry aspect of this photo signifies the fleeting flames that a fire has. I stepped away from man-made structures in this concept because this tree was too beautiful.

Macro: Paige L. Hill

In the world of welding there is something called a macro bead. This tiny bead of metal by itself can’t do much good. Each bead alone will not hold up under pressure, but thousands of them, now you have something. Now you have something that is strong enough for Superman to leap in a single bound.  Something that can sail the seven seas bring us wonders from exotic lands.  Also something that is as beautiful as the Eiffel Tower.

How is it that something so small can change our world, so huge, one bead at a time?

Color: Mike Bogner

     Colors can express many, many things. Moods, holidays, pride for a team, etc. Blue would be with the feeling down, yellow means scared, grey and black with death. How did each of these colors become connected with that feeling?
     It turns out that there is a whole science and mystery to color theory. I stumbled across some articles after hearing that people with depression see a grayer world. A lot of this makes sense. When I lived in Buffalo, NY, during the winter months, depression in people seemed higher being trapped in doors due to the blizzards. The skies always seemed to be cloudy and grey. The people would seem less active and misserable. Maybe these elements would make us see an even more gray landscape. Much of my art back then would reflect this.
     Now a days I bask in the sun, playing in the sunny wonderful playground we call Colorado. It's very difficult to stay inactive here. Everything I see is so vibrant and alive. Looking back at photos I've captured just this summer, I notice I add a bit more saturation or vibrance to the colors, trying to convey how I saw the scene. The ability of understanding colors and how our eyes perceive it can be a powerful tool in a photographers tool chest. Many photographers in the past have utilized color to express a feeling that is intended for the audience to feel.

Moods and Color

Decay: Mike Bogner

     It isn't uncommon to see a bicycle, locked to a bike rack or pole with no wheels or totally rusted over like it has been abandoned. Who's bike is this? If no one claims this decaying heap of metal, can I? Many questions can be asked with little instantaneous answers.

     In researching on bike theft, not in attempts to become a bike thief but to better understand and prevent, I came across some videos made by Casey Neistat and his brother. I enjoy many of his videos, but this one, The Ethics of Stealing Bikes left me still a bit unclear. Why was that one ok to steal? It was still locked with two locks. How is one to really know if it is abandoned or not. I guess one could leave a note to ask or watch the bike. But that leads to more questions as to how long? 

     The point I'm getting at is that any bike is someones bike, whether it is mine or not. By just saying it is "no bodies bike" doesn't justify it. To me a locked up bike means it is someones, whether or not how much of the bike is still connected to it.

Beauty: Chandler Kim

Beauty lies in the imperfections. In today's digital world, we are constantly stressing over things like retouching; making sure that our images are flawless. But who ever said flaws were a bad thing?

Part of the beauty of photography for me is the unexpected. The magic that occurs after the shutter is released. This image of my beautiful friend Zsa Zsa would not be the same without the funky emulsion at the top. The Impossible Project keeps the beauty of analog photography alive by recreating expired polaroid films. Check out their website or your local photo shop and pick up some of their awesome film!

It is all of life's imperfections that make it so beautiful and keep me wanted to document each moment. Carpe Diem!



Twitter
Website

Time: Justin Stapp

While lots of people say photography is about light, I say there is also another power at play: Time.  Photographic images wouldn't exist without light, but in the same aspect could you say the same about an image's existence in respect to time? I guess it is one of those chicken or the egg moments. The more I think about it though I know time has a huge influence on whatever photograph one may look at. Time within the artist's life, the time it took to make the image, the timing of the moment the image was taken. Anyway you look at it, time had an influence. Photographers have always studied light. What about the study of time, like the image I have made, a construct of time if you will. I tried to compress my bike commute time into one single frame.  If you are intrigued you might enjoy taking a look at Michael Wesely's work and study of time where he takes exposures years at a time.

Time: Chandler Kim

"Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today."-Martial

Time is something intangible that is constantly slipping away from us. Whether it be school, work, or just simply life itself, I always find myself wishing time would just slow down for a split second to let me catch up. But since that won't happen, I think it is important for us to do things with the short amount of time we have that strengthen us as beings and make our passion for life grow with us. This composite of images symbolizes the meditation that we can find in our everyday routines. For me, snowboarding is my solace, the thing that makes me feel most alive. Due to the deadlines of real life, I wasn't able to do as much snowboarding this year as I would have liked, so I decided to make a composite of the peace and serenity that being on a chairlift, anticipating the next run brings me. It is important that we do not forget the good times in the middle of the stressful ones. Even if you are overloaded with things to do, make time to enjoy the beauty of life and live today.

©Chandler Kim Photography 2012

Tumblr
Wordpess
Gmail

Justin Stapp: Funky

I think artists sometimes get so caught up in their own medium, and own work that they often at times lose sight of the art community as a whole.  I know for myself my dear friend who does awesome make up, sure he is still learning and might have a long way to go...but who can say they have achieved artist nirvana? I realized after watching him apply makeup for a shoot we were collaborating on just why you should call someone a makeup artist. After we finished the shoot I asked him if he could do something "Funky" for me, he came up with this in about 5 minutes just playing around.  Realization: think of everyone as an artist in the work they do, sure they might not do the same kind of artwork you do, but someone's passion is most probably always art in its own right.

Funky: Chandler Kim

What is more funky than some fun-keys?! Lately I have been pushing myself to be more conceptual with my work, so when the theme of Funky was chosen I was determined to take the funk to the next level. I associate fun, groovy colors and of course music with the word funk, so incorporating all these elements was important. When I found these great key covers at Urban Outfitters, the idea of Fun-keys came to me! Check out this link Key Cabin to see more clever ways to keep your keys funky fresh!
©Chandler Kim Photography 2012

WordPress!
Tumblr
Gmail

Justin Stapp:Mirrors

Mirrors, they show us the world behind us when we look into them, but what if they could show us the times behind us? How many people would lose themselves in mirrors? Would it just be the vain at that point that look into mirrors because they love seeing themselves, or would it come to include more because they miss things that have passed?  What if you could look into a mirror and see your childhood looking back at you, if you could lose yourself in those moments of your past? The world would be different, definitely different if that was possible...it would be a world of mirrors and glass.

Energy - Junior Robles

Are you tired? Are random thoughts keeping you up all night? More importantly, have you ever wondered why people drink Red Bull? I'm sure you have. Red Bull energy drinks give bursts of energy for those who are in desperate need of some serious energy during those sleepless nights, high levels of exertion, or just plain stress. Red Bull's, "drug of choice", (to get you hooked or amino-acid) is essentially Taurine, but others may think otherwise. You see, certain levels of Taurine exist in our bodies, when our bodies run out of energy, our body's ability to create Taurine decreases and drinking Red Bull will help solve that problem... Whatever the case, the truth is Red Bull energy drinks will have your five human senses feeling alert.


Lightly carbonated. Serve Chilled.


juniorrobles.blogspot.com

juniorroblesphoto.com

twitter.com/jrrobles89

RICH: Lauren Larsen

DIRTY.DIRTY.RICH.RICH. I got my inspiration for this alternative, rich scene from the one and only Lady Gaga. Using a model with tattoo's and a 'harder' look while in a feminine pose, with a high fashion outfit, composes my idea perfectly. Using repeating patterns and mainly black and white color her tattoo's shine through. The clash of both is eye catching..

Model:Ashley Neutgens

©Lauren Alysse Larsen

For more photographs: www.laurenalyssephotography.com