Archive for the ‘Portraits’ Category
Happy Saint Valentine’s Day
February 12, 2010
Standin’ on the Whippgrass
February 11, 2010Self-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.
|
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
KLC Photography Valentine’s Day Promotion
February 9, 2010
So, unfortunately, I don’t have a Valentine this year. Sad for me – great for you!
I’m putting all my VDay love into my shooting - If you book a portrait/engagement/whatever-you’d-like session in the month of February and mention this promotion you’ll get a one hour shoot at your choice of location for $100. (The shoot only needs to be booked this month, we can shoot whenever you’d like.) You’ll receive a disc with all the edited and organized images with full reproduction rights. If you love my work and would like to book me for your wedding I’ll offer 10% off the package total.
I can’t wait to share and spread the love! Please contact me at korri@korrileighcrowley.com with any inquiries.
Pashupatinath Briddhasram
January 6, 2010The Siddhi Shaligram Briddhasram (Home for the Elderly) is the only state-sponsored nursing home in the country of Nepal. The home is located inside the Pashupatinath Hindu temple – the largest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the world. The temple sits on the banks of the Bagmati river, a holy waterway that flows to the Ganges. Cremations are performed here daily, and the smoke plumes from the fires drift overhead as worshipers offer marigold garlands to Shiva.
The conditions at the Biddhasram are a bit shocking at first to Western eyes, but the residents here are actually among the lucky few. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with over half of the population living under the international poverty indicator of surviving on less than $1.25 per day [source]. While steep ancient steps and slick stone walkways pose a danger to the residents, the benefits they receive of hot, regular meals and a stable living environment outweigh the risks.
I spent most of my time at Pashupatinath in the ward that houses residents with disabilities. The ailments of the patients range from manageable tuberculosis to severe mental handicaps. Many of the people in the following photos could no longer verbally communicate, perhaps in these photos a bit of their lives can be seen without needing words.
This gentleman is almost totally blind and spends much of his time in his bed alone, yet when I asked him in Nepali how he was doing he replied with an enthusiastic “I’m beautiful!!” His spirit stayed with me long after I left the home.
Speaking of spirit, this man greeted me with a smile and booming namaste every morning that I came to the home
These two are husband and wife and came to the home together. She is quite disabled, and he never leaves her side. A true love story
This women is severely mentally handicapped and is prone to spontaneous hysterical ranting fits. Only two things keep her calm. 1. Helping with the daily chores and 2. Having her hand held. When volunteers come to help clean the ward they offer their hands, otherwise one of the other residents sits quietly with her. They don’t speak. They just sit. Hand in hand. The last portrait is of the hand-holding friend.
xo,
klc
The Faces of Rural Nepal
December 24, 2009
I have spent the last three weeks volunteering in the rural Terai region of Nepal. I was based in Narti, a very small village in the Dang district. Dang is home to a large population of the Tharu people, an ethnic group that was immune to malaria and enjoyed their way of the region for many years undisturbed. When malaria was eradicated, hill people from the north began to move in and seize the land of the Tharu. Today, over 70% of the population of the Terai is landless and live in extreme poverty. In the face of their difficult lives, all of the people I met during my time in Narti were warm and welcoming, happily offering a smile, which is often all that they had to give.
These are some of their faces.
I’ve been feeling a bit homesick around this holiday season, so I’m glad to be able to share with all of you a taste of what my home has been like for the past month.
Much love
klc
Beautiful Girls
October 31, 2009One 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 greens
Shake 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!