DEMURE

"Color is my daylong obsession, joy and torment."

CLAUDE MONET

_________________________________________________________________________________

Color theory has been a topic of much interest for me in the past couple of years.  In regards to my personal style, my artistic sense, and even how I've nested in my home, 'to color or not to color' has been of steady debate.  As it turns out this same topic has been of particular significance to a handful of other creatives, past and present.  A similar intrigue with coloration seems to have been a controversial subject for Claude Monet, and I must say, the above quote quite perfectly defines my own thoughts about the subject.

Nearly two years ago, by means of a bridal inspiration'ish photoshoot I did in Brooklyn with my dear friend and florist Pola, I can now see where my journey into what has now become an intriguing interest in botany has stemmed from.  Curiosity bloomed in the prospects of designing and creating with a mindset towards complimenting the rawness of botanicals in a modern impressionistic way.  Since that day almost two summers ago where I pulled ripe figs off Pola's fig tree one moment, and laid them on a table top setting flowing with nectarines and ranunculus the next, I've had the earthy scent and natural contours of those simple fruits continually held in the palm of my figurative hand.  Those little figs were a lesson in living in the beauty and delicacies of each season, and therefore those qualities became a strong foundation for my creative aesthetics.

With the blooming apple and pear trees of last spring throwing around their bright greens and waxy whites like those Brooklyn figs, I decided to further my 'fig lessons'.  Spring whispers such a sensuality and so I devised a photography and styling exercise based in a setting that fed off the almost demure aspects of seasonal minimalism.  I wanted to play in that natural, neutral palate that skips around for a few weeks between April and May.  You know, the one where the bulbs are finished flowering and all the vine plants are really starting to take off?  I was inspired to keep that simple and nostalgic aesthetic in design, making sure to hold true to nature's organic gestures without getting kitschy.  Kitschy is such a turnoff.

My lovely childhood friend Alyssa entertained my request in humanizing my chosen photoshoot settings, one of which actually being my small, childhood home orchard.  I wanted to use her simple, elegant qualities and I contrived the challenge of seeing if I could capture her emotion and grace without actually having her looking at me.  Body language and breathe can be such difficult expressions to capture, and capture well, but Alyssa's meekness was so beautiful to be in the presence of and it is as if my focus points were warmed with each of her exhales.  I will admit, I think the number one thing I learned from this exercise was to capture the frame I want in camera as best possible.  I am working on not cropping in post.

So, with all this being said, I'd like to share a few of my favorite images from my springtime photo and styling exercise.  Colors are clear and natural, post processing is minimal, and I found the settings to be interesting without intimidation.  I executed this personal project independently which was especially inspiring and I think added to my lessons learned in connecting to subject.



*Are you a photographer?  Have you ever photographed in color play?  Also, I am dying to know, do other photographers do personal projects without an entourage of fellow creatives/vendors?