Two days into my Yellowknife Vacation and I have felt so much love and support. There have been deep conversations with friends, laughter, and moments of intense creativity.
Last year I worked with Erykah on two creative portraiture projects, one was regarding Mother Earth and the second was a Levitation portrait.
Erykah is a true creative, she is an exceptional nail tech, Jagua designer, dancer, and model. Not only was it a joy to photograph her in the heart of Yellowknife overlooking Frame Lake, but it was refreshing to reconnect and spend some quality time together.
I brought my bolt of tule and lace with me in my carry on and I fashioned a dress from a white bed sheet and used the tule to create shape and an ethereal movement to the fabric as well. It’s creative sessions like these that revive me as an artist.
I hope you all enjoy this new series!
Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.Erykah tam, Fine Art Portraiture, Yellowknife Photography, NWT Photography, Stephanie Lauren Photography, SLPHOTO, Summer, 2015.
I often find myself online looking for inspiration. Today I came back to two photographers that I love, Miss Aniela and Aaron Nace of Phlearn. Their work in levitation photography sparked my creativity.
Erykah Tam, my most recent model for my “regrowth” series ( which I will be featuring on the blog this next month) had the perfect dancer like posture that levitation photography requires.
This Photograph is titled “Mind over Matter” and I want to keep adding to this levitation series. If you are interested in learning the technique both in shooting and surreal editing I am considering hosting a “Levitation Photography Workshop” in Chilliwack BC this fall.
If you like this image, please share and leave a comment!
“They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
This verse has been a favourite of mine for countless years and a source of inspiration for my photo-shoot with Gwich’in model, Nigit’Stil. I had bought the feathers many months ago in hopes to bring my dream to life; when Nigit’Stil echoed my idea in creative conversation I knew she had to be my face for the series.
The night before our session I planned out lighting, make-up, and composition. I have a deep passion for photography, but not many people know my love for makeup artistry which I do like to stretch my muscles in these creative situations. I really love how it translated so fluidly with my vision to include feathers in lieu of her eyebrows. It is truly a blessing to have a fellow artist like Nigit’Stil have full faith in my creative direction.
I hope you enjoy the creative vision for my series of images entitled “The weight of my wings”.
After our indoor portraits Nigit Stil and I ventured out into the brush of Yellowknife. I specifically wanted to have two very different styles within this photo-shoot. The first being a cascading entanglement of feathers and hair, and the second to be a magnificent nest of brown curls and feathers. I was very happy with the conversion that took no less than 5 minutes to pin up.
There is nothing greater than the last image of a session taking your breath away completely. This last portrait below was taken as I was disassembling my studio lighting, I saw this pose and took what is one of my most favourite creative portraits to date!
The beauty of Yellowknife is found in its rolling hills; painted with a warm cinnamon hued brush and evergreen trees perched atop monolithic rock formations. Upon moving to Yellowknife I joked about the constant state of white, how I had become color-blind in the constant winter slumber. As the sun melted away the blankets of snow I saw the true character of the landscape and I was instantly inspired.
Sadetlo is a beautiful Yellowknife model; and when I asked her to join me on an impromptu photo shoot capitalizing on the beauty of nature she was excited to play with the vision I had.Nature and the human form combine in this series of images, influenced by the setting sun and moody clouds, this session centered on the Awakening of Spring shows the initial thaw of a cold world coming back to life.
