CLASSIC THROW BACK PHOTOGRAPHY BY VAN STYLES :: LOOKING BACK & LOOKING FORWARD TO 2015 :: MY YEAR IN VISUALS

Well, 2014 is coming to a close. I know people usually say the year went by so fast when doing a re-cap, but honestly I think time went by at a good pace. Having the good fortune to spend another year traveling and shooting photos with friends, it would only make sense to share with you some of my favorite photo sets from the past 12 months. So scroll down for a little photographic flash back and I hope you all enjoy the selected shots.

 

JANUARY: MONICA ALVAREZ

While out in N.Y. for Agenda Show, I had the chance to meet and shoot with Monica Alvarez. We linked up on a day that turned out to have some bad weather. Regardless we headed over to shoot at my friend Louie’s loft in SoHo. While inside, we noticed the snow really started to come down. Seeing an opportunity, I asked Monica if she would be game to shoot outside on the fire escape. I think she saw it too because I got an enthusiastic “yes!” from her. Outside we we shot  a couple of looks in freezing temperatures, but you wouldn’t know it by how collected she was with the look on her face. Being in L.A. and never getting snow out there, this was a rare moment for me, and I was glad to have been able to shoot this with Monica. She definitely showed her ability as a model to get the shot, no matter the condition.

 

JANUARY: SNOW STORM

I was truly having a great day out in N.Y. After my shoot wrapped with Monica, my good friend 13th Witness hit me up to go shooting in the snow with him, Jason Goldwatch, and Louie. I invited Monica along for the adventure and away we went. It was definitely an amazing time, shooting photos all over New York while the snow was falling. By the time we made it out to Coney Island, the snow had stopped, but left a blanket of untouched snow all over which was rad. I remember my fingers being so cold at one point, making it difficult to shoot. This night is definitely going down as one of the most fun nights of my life.

 

MARCH: SXSW

One of my favorite types of content to shoot is a good live concert. SXSW has plenty of those going on, if you didn’t already know. I was at the Fader Fort and was able to check the YG set. He had just come out with his album and was making some big noise with his music. During his performance, I was able to capture one shot in particular of him tossing a blunt into the crowd. It was just one of those moments that would make you pat yourself on the back for capturing. I am sure it will remain one of my favorite photos for a long time.

 

MAY: KARRUECHE

When Bobby hit me up asking me to shoot for The Hundreds Magazine, I was instantly down. I felt it was awesome and a compliment for him to ask me, considering he usually shoots all of the covers and main articles himself. So I find out I am going to be working with Karrueche. Being that this was for the summer issue, it seemed like a fun idea to have her wash Bobby’s Delorean. This was selected as one of my favorite sets – aside from enjoying the photos captured, I don’t know when the next time I will be able to photograph a beautiful woman hand-washing a Delorean like this. Thank you again, Bobby!

 

JUNE: GARY, INDIANA

While out in Chicago visiting trashhand, he took me on a drive to Gary, Indiana. He mentioned there were some abandoned places here, but words couldn’t prepare me for what I saw. Large schools, apartments, and churches all falling apart due to lack of upkeep. Again, living in a place like L.A., this is a rarity, where as soon as something is vacant, someone is there to tear it down immediately for a Starbucks or shopping center. This was a big eye opener to the economic state of just one city in America.

 

JULY: #STREETMEETNY WITH 13TH WITNESS

I have been doing the Street Meets with The Hundreds for over a year now, and I must say they are one of my things to do. Based on bringing together the photographic community to not only share a common love, but to hopefully inspire. So while back on another trip to N.Y., it only made sense to have one with 13th Witness. He and I were both shocked and grateful at the amazing turnout we had. I must say it was a fun time mobbing through SoHo, Chinatown, and onto the Brooklyn Bridge. And to share times like this with your good friend and a crew of photographers is amazing.

 

JULY: CHRISTIAN S. MANN

This was definitely one of the most emotional things I have ever done. Not just as a blog post with photos, but in general. When I left for N.Y. ,my dear friend Christian Mann was ill with cancer and it was not looking good at all. I had the chance to see him before leaving for my trip, but I had hoped in the back of my mind that he would have a miraculous miracle and beat the cancer. Or at least still be alive when I got back to L.A. On my return, I came to find out he had passed. Filled with a roller coaster of emotions, I decided to just vent to the world about my sadness and frustration. I just wanted to let people know what he meant to me and how thankful I was for all the opportunities he had given me. Without him, I truly don’t think I would be where I am today. I shared some photos from when he was ready to take on the battle with cancer. Inviting me over to his place to join his wife Melissa and his sons Kurt and Joey to capture some moments while they shaved his head. Rather than let the disease take his hair, he wanted to do it himself. Even in his passing, he reminded me to always fight and to never give up. And I will always and forever feel blessed to have met Christian and experienced the impact he had on my life.

 

AUGUST: NICOLE MEJIA

While shooting on a rooftop with Nicole Mejia for a project, we started to get rained out. Feeling discouraged, considering I flew across the country to shoot with her, we decided to flip the situation into our favor. Taking a note from my shoot with Monica, I suggested while the rain falls we should just shoot on the balcony. Nicole was instantly with it – and why not? Rain in Miami is a lot nicer than rain in L.A. This was one of those sets that I knew not only was going to be fun to do, but that the results would be amazing. These photos also serve as a great reminder to take advantage of a moment as it happens. There is always a positive in everything.

 

OCTOBER: YOVANNA VENTURA

I don’t normally do themed projects. Sometimes they can be too constricting. But I did have the chance to shoot one with Yovanna Ventura that I really enjoyed. I was able to rent out a speedway in the high desert area of Los Angeles. I really liked these shots a lot due to the fact of the unique setting for me. Stepping outside your comfort zone is always a good thing, although it may not feel like it. This was one of those shoots that reminded me of that.

 

NOVEMBER: TIANNA GREGORY

Well, I am sure a lot of you were expecting this one. And to be honest, there is no way I could do this list without this set. What turned out as a running joke with Copter Pilot turned into reality. Between his flying skills and me being known for shooting with models, we were able to create something pretty unique in a world where just about everything has been done 10 times over. Flying over L.A. with Tianna and photographing her was not a easy task at all. But by the time we landed, I think we all knew we had something special on our hands. It is not very often you get to do a shoot that most likely will not be replicated for awhile. And when doing something you love – that is a great thing. Rather than following what everyone else is doing, step out of line and create your own mark. While the initial intent of this shot was a creative opportunity to have some fun with people I love, working with the end result showed me something else. People’s reactions these images showed the importance and the appreciation of something original in this massively-connected digital age. So thank you again Tianna for being apart of this shoot and a big thank you to Copter Pilot for doing what he does best. I hope you guys enjoyed my recap and I look forward to sharing more photos with you in 2015!

ART: THESE PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE PORTRAYING CONFIDENT, EMPOWERED WOMEN THROUGH A FEMALE LENS

Photography is a powerful art form that can allow one to express a plethora of emotions, themes and messages in one single frame. Producing portraits that capture people’s attention and make an impact, especially in the age of social media when we consume an overwhelming amount of visual content daily, is not an easy task. When an image is able to move someone, however, it becomes all the more rewarding for the photographer.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the work of three photographers — Amber Asaly, Myesha Evon Gardner and Sasha Samsonova — who use their camera to portray confident, empowered women. By conveying the unique stories of different individuals through their lens, these creatives are exploring and celebrating the complexities of modern womanhood, motherhood and much more.

Get to know Asaly, Gardner and Samsonova, who talk about their creative process, how they establish trust with their subjects and more below.

Amber Asaly

Amber Asaly

Based in Los Angeles, Amber Asaly is known for photographing her subjects mainly on film. With her highly saturated color aesthetic and wide-angle shots, Asaly has been able to create her own signature style, making her images distinctive. The creative has worked with the likes of Hailey Bieber, Winnie Harlow and Emily Ratajkowski, and has lensed campaigns for brands such as PUMA and Frankies Bikinis.

What got you into photography in the first place?

I took a film photography class in high school. We were all asked to show up to class with a 35mm camera. I always had a camera on me but never a film one, because the aspect of it was foreign to me. I knew nothing about it. My best friend’s dad conveniently collected film cameras. He let us go into this magical room full of cameras and let us pick one out for us to use for class. Little did I know that camera I chose opened the door to the beginning of my career. I was in love with every aspect of film — the viewfinder, the texture, the development process and even the smell of the developing process. I literally loved everything about it. It truly became my third eye.

How do you establish trust with your models and create a safe space for everyone involved in a shoot?

Good energy on set is the most important aspect of a shoot — more than lighting, cameras, lenses and all that technical jazz. Making sure everyone feels comfortable on set is key — not just the model but the whole team. Energy can be felt through the results of my work.

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers out there?

If you want something, you can get it. You just have to be willing to put in the work. Nothing that lasts long-term happens overnight. Long-lasting success is built over time. So with that being said, be okay with being broke for a minute because you need to trust that the outcome will be a success. You have to crawl before you ball. If I can do it, I swear you can too.

On social media, numerous models have recently shared harrowing accounts of alleged sexual harassment or abuse at the hands of photographers they worked with. What do you think needs to change within the industry to stop these situations from happening?

Keep bringing awareness and keep calling them out. F*ck these people in power that think they can take advantage. Stop using art as an outlet to be a creep. It’s 2021, Diet Prada is one DM away from exposing anyone and anything corrupt.

Myesha Evon Gardner

Myesha Evon Gardner

Brooklyn-based art director and photographer Myesha Evon Gardner attained her BFA in graphic design and photography at Parsons School of Design. Since then, Gardner has dedicated her work to highlighting the cultural, social and personal experiences of the Black community through exploring the themes of legacy, love and labor. Most of her visuals arrive in the form of photographic and figurative portraiture, photo documentation, as well as editorial conception.

Who are some of your creative inspirations? How have they influenced the way you see the world through your lens?

My creative inspirations range from legendary photographers like Gordon Parks, Irving Penn, Carrie Mae Weems, Dana Lixenberg, Herb Ritts and Lois Greenfield, to the very mundane. The things that I see in day-to-day life truly inspire how I view the world, because I love to capture stillness in everyday beauty that is often overlooked. This practice is applied to the types of subjects I seek to capture.

Parks is a huge influence for me because his work ranges from sociopolitical — documenting poverty and civil rights — to capturing fashion for Vogue. He was one of my earliest examples to show that there is no one category to lend your eye as a photographer. Beauty is not found, it just is, and I believe that every person, place or thing has a beautiful story that is worth being told. Someone just needs to see that and therein is the true gift of being a photographer.

What kind of stories did you want to tell when you first started out photography?

I was raised in a home with a large family, so naturally, I was drawn to documenting them. I was so enamored with their natural beauty and wanted to showcase what I saw to the world. I spent a lot of my early years capturing portraits of my sisters, Mecca and Myonna. Most of my early work was featured in books that my classmates and I designed, and in group exhibitions where I sold prints. I began receiving awards for my work and being recognized by artist organizations such as Scholastic Art and Writing. By getting that kind of recognition at 16 and 17 years old, it was then that I knew how important it was for me to capture Black women and women of color.

“There are levels of femininity, masculinity, duality and multifaceted-ness that define women through various non-traditional examples and expressions. Being sexually empowered is and should be however a woman chooses to exist.”

What led you to use your lens to portray confident, sexually empowered women?

It is important for me to explore and redefine themes of legacy, labor and love within communities that have been historically left out of the conversation. Motherhood is a subject I frequently focus on within my work. The role of a mother is profoundly complex, and as the person and individual, she/they are often stripped down to a very basic and singular value. Women have an innate strength and, rather traditionally and universally, are expected to give birth and sustain life while holding their world together in every role that they play in life. I question, “Where is that same woman allowed to feel safe and to show those vulnerable moments that require a sense of support?” It is my goal to document there is no one way to be a woman. There are levels of femininity, masculinity, duality and multifaceted-ness that define women through various non-traditional examples and expressions. Being sexually empowered is and should be however a woman chooses to exist.

How do you establish trust with your models and create a safe space for everyone involved in a shoot?

My subjects always have a level of control and agency where they create a safe space for themselves to feel confident in their vulnerability. It is important for me that, first, they feel comfortable in every capacity and, second, for me to always be mindful that they are letting me into that safe space. I love photographing people who say things like, “Well, I’m not a model, so you’ll have to tell me what to do and how to pose,” when in fact, I’m never trying to capture something inauthentic to who they truly are. During an entire session, I have a conversation with my subjects so they are less aware that there is a camera in front of them but there is a person behind that camera that really is dedicated to understanding their journey.

In what unique ways do your images differ from the rest?

My imagery can range from intimate portraits, fashion editorials, movement photos of dancers and documenting everyday life through street photography. I’m most fascinated by subjects who are least expected to be approached or engaged, because those stories often deeply resonate with me. I think it’s important to show people that their stories have value by sparking those conversations, documenting their world and giving them the opportunity to be seen, and possibly even more understood than before.

Is there anything you’re working on this year that you can share with us?

I’m working on an ongoing personal series. Recently, I am most proud of the portrait that I created with an old friend, Jaquea, who was nine months pregnant with her daughter, Love. The series is an exploration of how individuals identify themes of love in their day-to-day life. In this project, I’m highlighting love languages, intimacy, vulnerability and emotional moments of peace in minority communities. The subjects are captured in environments they feel the safest in — whether it’s in their home, car, church, bathroom or wherever they choose. I will be sharing more later in the year.

“Beauty is not found, it just is, and I believe that every person, place or thing has a beautiful story that is worth being told. Someone just needs to see that and therein is the true gift of being a photographer.”

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers out there?

Ultimately, I strongly believe in your life experience being your best teacher. Your perspective makes your eye unique — let your perspective be your guide and influence. Mentorship is also important, but it doesn’t have to be limited to one person nor necessarily someone in the photo industry (one of my first mentors was my grandmother) — rather someone who can pass along a sense of wisdom or enlightenment. Be gentle with yourself, stay true to yourself, become an expert at learning and trying, and photograph the work you want to see in the world. Most importantly, take your time.

Sasha Samsonova

Sasha Samsonova

If you didn’t already know, Sasha Samsonova is the woman behind most of Kylie Jenner‘s editorial portraits you see on her Instagram account. Samsonova has also worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Chrissy Teigen, Lili Reinhart and Emma Roberts. The Ukrainian native used to be a professional ballroom dancer. During a dance championship, she was approached by a ballroom dancer photographer who encouraged her to pursue photography after seeing her work online. Thanks to that encounter, Samsonova went on to photograph for Harper’s Bazaar at 17 years old.

Who are some of your creative inspirations? How have they influenced the way you see the world through your lens?

I absolutely love David Fincher, Quentin Tarantino and Charlie Kaufman when thinking of movies that created a basis for my creative taste. Helmut Newton will forever yield a powerful influence on my photography. Over the years, the list of my favorite photographers have changed and shrunk. Don’t get me wrong, I admire the work of so many artists, but no one stays in my brain quite like Newton.

How do you establish trust with your models and create a safe space for everyone involved in a shoot?

I talk to my models, a lot. While they are in the makeup chair, we normally chat about the shoot and about whatever else comes to mind. I appreciate and adore my models, and I try to communicate that from the get-go. I make sure I walk them through our day and what’s happening in my head with ideas for the shoot. I’ll talk to them about how dressed or nude they would feel comfortable being during the shoot, and never push for anything that doesn’t feel right to them. I show what I want in terms of posing by using my own body. I’m constantly communicating and screaming out all kinds of little compliments from behind the camera when we find a good moment together. We have fun and we keep a very chill vibe.

“I’ve felt incredibly inspired by models who are a bit more mature and ladies who are curvy in all their glory. This shift in the industry feels liberating and beautiful.”

How do body positivity and diversity play a part in your image-making?

For the past couple of years, I’ve felt incredibly inspired by models who are a bit more mature and ladies who are curvy in all their glory. This shift in the industry feels liberating and beautiful. It shapes my photography by inviting new subjects in the lens and those have been some of my favorite shoots lately.

Can you walk us through your creative process?

It’s a scattered mess if I’m working on a personal project, and a perfect step-by-step process if I’m working on a specific job. However, I normally always start with finding a random source of inspiration like the Martian surface or the rainforest, and then I bring myself back to Earth and start thinking about how do I combine these broad things I love with the reality of a photoshoot. I’ll pick out details that speak to me the most about the environment I’m envisioning and the latent for a given shoot, and try to find a world that could fit both perfectly.

On social media, numerous models have recently shared harrowing accounts of alleged sexual harassment or abuse at the hands of photographers they worked with. What do you think needs to change within the industry to stop these situations from happening?

This is a really tough and sensitive topic for me. The problem is it’s happening everywhere, and I’ve had my fair share of these “experiences.” I’m not a model but a woman. I don’t know how to stop it from happening unless we start talking and thinking about women completely differently. Unless we make a fundamental shift as people. I understand the specific question about the photographer-model dynamic, but it’s impossible to comprehend what needs to be happening in a photographer’s head to feel like they are somehow in a position to act this way. I mean, just the thought in my head sounds so disgusting and obnoxious.

What advice do you have for aspiring photographers out there?

Don’t box yourself in one “kind” of photography. Be open, look for what makes you skip a beat and don’t be afraid to abandon fashion photography for a while. Just remember that your vision applies to everything you see, not just when you are on set and expected to perform.