Like many artists, I am always looking for inspiration.  Music has always been a big part of my life and frequently plays a large part in the creation of my photos.  The hauntingly beautiful work of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós ranks at the top of my all-time favorite music.  Jónsi, the front man of Sigur Rós, is releasing a solo album in April.  The song Go Do, below, was the inspiration for this shoot.

Thank you for experiencing this song with me.

As Jonsi sings:

You will survive, will never stop wonders

You and sunrise will never fall under

We should always know that we can do anything

Go do!

xoxo,

klc

Self-portraiture holds a very special place in my heart.  A few years ago I attempted the ‘365 Project,’ its a phenomenon on the photography site Flickr where people pledge to take one photo of themselves everyday for one year.  Well, I only made it to day 143, but the amount that I grew in my photography during that time is immeasurable.  Photography for me isn’t just the act of taking a picture.  When I need support, when I need release, when I need to feel the most ME, I pick up my camera.  Life has been tough for me recently, and I’ve needed my photography more than ever.  I haven’t put any of my self-portraits on the blog before because I want this to be a place where I display my more commercial work, but this series of photos really encapsulates my style and vision as a photographer and artist.

So try not to get too tired of my face, and instead focus on the composition, light, and colors.

I listened to the song Standin’ on the Whippgrass by Justin Vernon (now known as Bon Iver) before braving the cold for this shoot, and the lyrics and song fit quite well with the end result.

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The song is pretty hard to find, so this is the best I could do.  It doesn’t really get going until about 1 minute in, so skip ahead if you’d like.

Lay low little babe

You’re still my precious child

You’re all old and grown now

But you’re still the same inside

Standin’ on the whippgrass

Standin’ on the whippgrass

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Watch and see how we last

You’re not alone tonight, babe

You’re not so far from your home

You got the strength of all us, babe

I give a prayer unknown

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Just sittin’ on the whippgrass

I’m so full

and this is so vast

I know we’ll all be together, babe

Someday, somehow

Carry to a higher bound, babe

It’s not a sight or a sound

Smokin’ around

It’s within me somehow

I’ll carry to what I am bound

The truth that I have found

Standin’ on the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

See how it lasts

It’s within me somehow

I’ll carry to what I am bound

xoxo,

klc

One of the best parts of my graduate school experience was the opportunity I had to meet great people.  Although I’ve only known Jen and Clarice for a little over a year, they feel like old friends.   I had such a great time modeling for my friend and photographer extraordinaire, shoothead, that I was inspired to host my own fashion shoot.  J & C were great sports and the three of us had a blast being goofy  and pretending to film our own episode of America’s Next Top Model

Jen captured this shot of me prepping, and has her take on the day on her blog

I’m a lucky girl to have such wonderful people in my life.  Now, on to the hotness!

Clarice’s brightly colored outfit provided great contrast to the rusty and crusty shed that we shot in.

I love the intensity in Jen’s look here. It was hard to get the light straight when bouncing my flash into a corner, but I like the uneven-light that was the result
Blues and greensShake it!One of the girls suggested that Clarice looks like she’s caught in a spiderweb…I love it.

And finally, what sort of photo shoot would this be without the obligatory jumping shots?

Thank you again girls for a wonderful afternoon!