Author: Suzanne Sease

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:   Blair Bunting

The World’s First U2 Spy Plane Photo Shoot at the Edge of Space

“Eight years of planning, and six months of training, all to sit in a cockpit for five hours to do a photoshoot while simultaneously being the furthest human being from the planet (other than those on the ISS). To put it simply, I would get into a spacesuit, climb into a Cold War spy plane that would then be chased by another spy plane to the Edge of Space to conduct a first-of-its-kind photoshoot.

Being overcome by emotions was not an option, as one cannot wipe their eyes in a spacesuit, and irritating them with tears can make focusing a camera impossible. It wasn’t the only wild challenge that faced me on this photoshoot. As to top it off, I could not get too excited or exhausted, for excess breathing and heart rate would immediately ice over the canopy at the altitudes we were at.

The sheer sight that existed at the apogee of the flight was (and still is) difficult to process. The sun sat not far from the half-moon, both against a black background as the blue sky I had seen all my life was behind me. Then as I veered down, the most emotional views I have ever witnessed existed, it was planet Earth. Beautiful blues, greens, and browns, but not even a hint of mankind could be seen, the curvature of the planet filled this absence.”

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:   Andy Anderson

 

Andy Anderson Taps Into Cuba’s Diverse Visual Canvas for a Personal Fashion Project

Andy Anderson believes that to have true success as a photographer, it requires you to be obsessed with the art form and for Andy, staying curious. It’s this fervor for the craft that fuels his creativity and a deep appreciation for collaboration that brings his visions to life. Recently, Andy created a personal project focusing on fashion photography, a genre he has explored over the past year.

Not commissioned by a client, this personal journey was to expand his portfolio and test his ability to art direct a fashion shoot. The shoot was a celebration of craft, an opportunity to grow as an artist and in the end, the images prove that Andy’s philosophy and talent meld together to create beautiful imagery.

Andy says that his choice to travel to Cuba comes from visiting the country for the past 30 years and learning about the country’s rich diversity of people, architecture, and clothing. All of these things offer the perfect palette for his creative vision. The visual diversity of Cuba provided an ideal canvas for the shoot and Andy’s deep love for the country only fueled his enthusiasm for the project.

When asked what the best part of this shoot was, Andy unequivocally responded with “the crew.” The significance of a solid crew was amplified by the unique challenges of working in a closed society like Cuba. Not only did the local crew help to facilitate the logistics of the shoot, but they also helped navigate complexities like obtaining locally sourced clothing for the fashion project. This wasn’t just about dressing the models; it was about embracing the authentic Cuban style by using clothing that was sourced within the country, some of which were vintage and celebrated the rich history of Cuba. The expertise and professionalism of the crew were vital in ensuring that every aspect of the shoot, from location scouting to art direction, was executed flawlessly. Andy Anderson described them as the most professional crew he had ever worked with, and their dedication to the project was a testament to their commitment to making this personal shoot a success.

During the nine-day shoot, Andy and his team scouted a variety of locations, from sandy beaches to private homes, bustling streets, and boxing gyms. Each location was carefully chosen to showcase the distinct beauty and culture of Cuba. Havana, with its captivating scenery and frozen-in-time charm, proved to be a visual treasure trove and enhanced the allure of the images. Working with local talent added authenticity to the shoot, as the models were local to the area and represented the community visually and culturally.

Andy’s approach to the project was fluid and open-minded. He began with a rough idea but allowed the creative process to evolve organically and collaboration and experimentation were key. This project inspires us and is a reminder that curiosity and creativity and instrumental in evolving your work. We’re excited to share the still imagery work with you now and keep an eye out for the 16mm film Andy and his DP Cavin Brothers shot on location in the coming months.

Local Cuban Crew:

Executive Producer – Josue Lopez Lozano

Producer – Daniela de Mello

Stylist – Narciso Martinez

Hair and Make Up Artist – Jennifer González Vigo 

Model – Melanie Wilma

Model – Lea Vall

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Annabelle Breakey

This is a body of work that focuses on a world that we all secretly have, but don’t really talk about: Guilty Pleasures. Guilt oftentimes is deeply intertwined with our relationship with food. Those tantalizing, excessive, and undoubtedly indulgent yummy experiences that we all pine for – to gorge, swig, smoke, stuff, dip, indulge, just over your fill. This work is not to be a guilt trip; It’s meant to be a guilty pleasure and to be enjoyed and explored with your own sense of wanting and to have a giggle over your own experiences. No judgement, all fun.

The reason why the subject is so appealing is that 38 percent of Americans confess they’re at least a little ashamed of their guilty pleasures, with 39 percent admitting to lying about them and 22 percent hiding one from their partner.

Whether the food is expensive, like indulging in a Tomahawk steak and bottle of red wine, by yourself, or excessive such as ordering way too much Chinese takeout and reading trashy novels in bed while eating by yourself, the goal of this work is to have a playful poke at our inner selves. We’ve all wanted what’s in the pictures to some degree.

Through this project, I want to free viewers to enjoy their own culinary guilty pleasures. In other words, go there and not be shy, within reason. We’re all human. Your love for food should be a sign of self-care, not weakness. Sometimes we just need a little fun with our relationship with food and not feel bad about it. Live a little.

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:  Rob Gregory

I began photography in the mid 90’s as a freshman in high school. I was signing up for classes when my older brother, who was full of older-brotherly wisdom and advice, pulled me aside and said, “Hey! I know you need an art credit. You should take Photography. It’s an easy A.” Funny how one person’s passing grade can become another’s life-long passion.

 

Back then I was rolling my own film, developing it by hand and enlarging it in the dark room. For years, I shot black and white exclusively. Even later, when I moved into digital photography, and began my career, I still gravitated towards high contrast, dark, moody images.

One day, a few years into my career, a creative director was reviewing my portfolio and said something that ended up having a huge impact on my work. He said, “Man, I absolutely love this stuff. I just wish our clients would go for something like this.” I asked what his clients typically liked, and he explained that they tended to go for bright images with lots of color.

I mulled over what he said and knew I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone. I went back to my studio and started exploring a world full of light and color — and I absolutely fell in love with it.

This project is an example of work that fully embraces this bright world I have come to love. I used LED lighting with full RGB capabilities to create unique color combinations that complimented the wardrobe choices. In recent years, I’ve found myself shooting with continuous lights more often than strobes because I love the versatility they provide. They allow me to control color temperature and RGB with the touch of a button.

This project wasn’t all smooth sailing though. I often say that my job is mainly problem solving, and this was no exception. The biggest issue I ran into was that the camera port on my main camera had apparently become loose and my tethering cable wouldn’t hold a connection to my computer. I spent HOURS working on it the day before the shoot before finally giving up and moving over to my backup camera: my trusty old Nikon D800. So, for all the gear snobs out there, this project was shot with a DSLR and lens that were both purchased back in 2012.

No matter what challenges may arise, I believe that having a clear vision for the work you want to create is the most important aspect of photography. When you have that North Star, it’s easier to roll with the punches and adjust without losing your cool or direction for the shoot. When you know where you’re going, nothing can stand in your way.

Credits:

Wardrobe/Prop: Madeline Telford

HMUA: Viki Moon

Models: Eric Ntrakwa, Hailey Wilkins

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:  Rick Wenner

Wrongfully Incarcerated by Rick Wenner

 Bruce Bryan Video – www.vimeo.com/832297219

 

 

Throughout my career, I have been primarily known as a celebrity portrait photographer. While I truly love creating portraits in the entertainment industry, my personal work has been portraits focusing on inspirational people with powerful stories such as para-athletes and The Patriot Guard Riders. My latest personal project creating portraits of wrongfully incarcerated people and documenting their release from prison and wrongful incarceration rallies in NYC is a body of work that I am very proud to share with you. It is a work in progress, and I am committed to building this body of work to help tell these stories and hopefully inspire change in our judicial system.

In September 2022 I was commissioned to create portraits of Josh Dubin, a prominent civil rights attorney, and Derrick Hamilton, a former wrongfully incarcerated man of over 20 years, to announce their new leadership roles at The Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo Law in NYC. Little did I know that while I was creating with these two men, I’d be inspired to pursue a new project focusing on the wrongfully incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people who regained freedom through exoneration and clemency. Hamilton told me his story of how he was wrongfully incarcerated and getting himself exonerated by studying law and a relentless pursuit of justice. Dubin told me a few stories of clients that he worked with and helped regain their freedom. During my conversation with Josh, he told me of a photography series that could have potentially traumatized the subjects. Formerly incarcerated people were brought back to the location where their lives forever changed and were sometimes asked to pose in the exact location where they were arrested. Immediately, I felt inspired to create my own project and bring the same compassion, emotion, and integrity that’s seen in my work to tell the stories of the wrongfully incarcerated. The work you are about to view tells the story of Bruce.

The work you are about to view tells the story of Bruce Bryan’s wrongful incarceration. On October 30, 1993, Travis Lilley, an 11-year-old boy, had just returned home from a neighbor’s birthday party and brought his mother a slice of birthday cake while she worked at his grandmother’s beauty salon. Shortly after Travis arrived, a shooting took place between Travis’ stepfather, his accomplice, and a young boy they previously fired a gun at while robbing him of money and drugs. Tragically and sadly, Travis Lilley was struck by a stray bullet and succumbed to his injury.

Unfortunately, the criminal justice system produced a culmination of factors for Bruce Bryan to be wrongfully convicted. From the unethical tactics of the former Queens Prosecutor John Scarpa, who has a history of misconduct, to the biased and traumatized court-appointed attorney, Reginald Towe, who at the time of the trial was undergoing treatment for PTSD-related symptoms and later admitted to being unable to properly relate and create a defense for his clients.

While Bruce found himself in the dark and cold prison cells of Upstate New York, he made a conscious decision to not simply serve time, but rather to have time serve him. He began to embark upon his journey of transformation while simultaneously fighting for the truth to prevail. Bruce lived his life by the parable of The Dandelion & The Wild Orchard. “A dandelion can thrive in just about any environment. I decided that I had to be that dandelion. I was going to thrive despite where I was at.” Bruce Bryan earned an Associate’s degree in Humanities and a Bachelor of Science degree, participated and completed numerous certification programs, he presented a TEDx Talk, co-wrote a children’s workbook for children of incarcerated parents, he developed the first NYS prisoners gun buy-back program, and so much more, all while he was incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit.

In 2022 Bruce Bryan was granted executive clemency by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and released from prison on April 24, 2023.

This project has been created in honor of Bruce’s story. I visited Bruce at Sing Sing Correctional Facility to create his black and white “Incarcerated Portrait”. The following week I went back to Sing Sing to document Bruce’s release from prison after close to 30 years of wrongful incarceration. Two months later I visited Bruce at his home in Jamaica, NY to create his “Freedom Portraits”. In September 2023 I documented the Wrongful Convicted Rally at City Hall in New York City.

My project is not limited to the wrongfully incarcerated though. I am building a full-length series that shows everyone involved in getting the wrongfully incarcerated out from behind bars, including attorneys, community leaders, and government officials.

These stories must be told, and I am committed to this work.

To see more of this project, click here  and Bryan’s story

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

 

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:  Geoff Cardin

Bringing the old world into the new, Geoff Cardin’s, Ground Glass Project, is a portrait project reminiscent of the early days of photography where pictures were not taken, but photographs were created. Using an 8×10 view camera to create the look and feel of the portrait while photographing the ground glass with a digital camera, this project blends old techniques with modern technology to create a truly unique experience and portrait. This project is all about the people and capturing the unique personalities of each person.

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

 

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Ian Spanier

In the heart of Venice, California, I enlisted the help of custom hat maker Brandon Wise, for my latest personal mini project. I wanted to capture the essence of Brandon’s craftsmanship and artistry through a series of portraits of some of his clients, of course wearing his fine works of art.

I’d met Wise on my previous personal project, (MoTo, which was a series of portraits of motorcycle riders). He stood out from the crowd with his long hair and unique hat, and when I learned he was a former photojournalist, of course we “nerded out” on cameras for a moment.

Photographically, I love the challenge of working on location, so I centered this shoot around Wise’s custom hat maker’s shop, making it easier for his clients to join us- and at the same time challenging myself with the unknown hurdles working on location provides. Weather, space limitations and the mystery of variables always make for a more satisfying day, when overcoming the uncertainty results in success. I chose to use what’s been kindly called “the Spanier Stack,” by my photographer friend Andy French. Essentially a seven-foot Westcott silver umbrella with diffusion placed over a 43” deep silver umbrella with diffusion on the same light stand thanks to a mafer clamp and pin. I used Westcott FJ400

Strobes for power, and the ability to override ambient light being outside. I set the seven foot two to three stops (depending) over my smaller umbrella which then acts as a fill. This works great with subjects in hats as the shadow from the hat is not an issue if only using one light. As an added plus, these are portable lights, so no need to plug in. As with most shoots, I’m using a Canon R5 with a 24-70mm lens. Behind my subjects is a Storm Background on a c-stand.

Through the lens, I sought to convey the personalities who enlist the deft hands of Wise’s profession, the meticulously chosen materials, and the dedication to preserving time-honored techniques.

In every frame, I aimed to showcase the fusion of artisanal mastery and modern sensibilities alongside making a portrait of a stranger, a skill I’m always continually honing, particularly with “real” people- which can be far more challenging than actors, models and personalities who are accustomed to being in front of the camera.

Venice, with its eclectic blend of cultures and lifestyles, provided the perfect subjects, ripe with individuality and expression through headwear. The use of a custom canvas backdrop was intentional to compliment the custom-made theme of the shoot.

This project is a celebration of the hat maker’s dedication to his craft and a tribute to the unique spirit of Venice. In each photograph I wanted to encapsulate the spirit of an artisan, and the diverse tapestry of personalities that adorn Brandon’s bespoke creations.

In a world where mass-produced fashion dominates, this series invites viewers to pause and appreciate the artistry of handmade hats. It invites contemplation of the relationship between artisan and wearer, and how a custom-crafted hat can be a vessel for personal expression.

My hope is that these images not only offer a glimpse into the world of hat making but also inspire a deeper appreciation for the artisans who continue to breathe life into timeless traditions.

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:  Kremer / Johnson

“Canine Cool: A Pawsome Partnership”

In “Canine Cool,” we explore the remarkable bond between humans and their four-legged companions, revealing dogs in a light that showcases their undeniable coolness, style, and human-like qualities. This photographic series is a celebration of the profound connection we share with these incredible creatures who have earned their place as the best partners a human could have.

Through our lens, we capture moments of pure charisma and charm as dogs exude an effortless coolness that mirrors the traits we often associate with the most stylish and composed of humans. Whether they’re sporting a pair of sunglasses, working on a vintage muscle car, or simply watching a scary movie with their humans, these images challenge the traditional notion of a dog’s role as a mere pet.

Each photograph tells a story of companionship, loyalty, and a unique partnership that transcends words. These dogs are more than just pets; they are friends, confidants, and trusted allies. In their eyes, we see a reflection of ourselves, and in their gestures, we find gestures of love, understanding, and shared adventures.

“Canine Cool” invites viewers to step into a world where dogs take center stage, not as subjects to be photographed, but as co-stars in the narrative of our lives. As we explore the stylish and human-like qualities of these remarkable animals, we are reminded of the unwavering companionship they offer, the smiles they bring, and the joy they infuse into our everyday existence.

Ultimately, this series serves as a tribute to the remarkable dogs who enrich our lives with their unconditional love and remind us daily that the best partner a human could have is often found on four paws. Through “Canine Cool,” we hope to evoke a sense of appreciation for the extraordinary bond we share with our canine companions and inspire others to cherish the moments of coolness, style and love they bring to our lives.

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Kate Woodman

Call Of The Sea

Sometimes you spend days, weeks or even months preparing for photo shoots…and sometimes you make magic in 2 hours with no plan at all.

I met Bryan on the set of a proof-of-concept dystopian sci-fi film called Porter a few years back. I was shooting set stills for the production and Bryan starred as the lead character Klaus, an intense and complex character with a tragic backstory and a vendetta. Bryan and I hit it off immediately, and two years later as he happened to be passing through Oregon, we jumped on the opportunity to create this little impromptu photo shoot at the beach.

One of the things I found so compelling about Bryan’s performance in Porter was that despite his very limited dialogue, he was able to channel virtually the whole spectrum of human emotion through expression and body language. As a photographer who loves to create true characters in my own work, this is obviously a dream come true, and I find myself gravitating more and more towards actors as talent because they can take that character and make it their own.

Such was certainly the case for this shoot. There was very little pre-production for this one—we loosely decided on an old sailor type for the character, and I grabbed a few different wardrobe options before hitting the road to the coast where I met Bryan at the beach about 2 hours before sunset. The Oregon coast has some really spectacular landscape formations, with big haystacks jutting out into the sea—and this particular day had this beautiful layer of mist that created a dreamy atmosphere and made for spectacular colors.

As soon as we put Bryan into the first look, he immediately transformed into this gruff hardened sailor.  We let the landscape be our inspiration, finding different ways to interact with it—from climbing on the rock formations to being drawn into and eventually fully submerged in the sea. We used only the sun as our light source, opting for simplicity and efficiency but also creating a very cinematic aesthetic. There was very little dialogue between the two of us—just a symbiosis of creativity that allowed this series to be birthed.

It’s the nature of a lot of my client work to be very planned and thought out by necessity. However, I love shoots like this that challenge me to work creatively and intimately in the moment. They are a great reminder to me that quality meaningful work does always require complexity—just great creative relationships and the ability to utilize what you have available to you.

To see more of this project, click here

Instagram

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:  Matthew Brush

Fifty years ago, long boarding was sidewalk surfing, a faster, farther variation of skateboarding, and now it’s not. Over the past 20 years it’s evolved into something esoteric and fast like a medieval duel in the future. A future where post-apocalyptic nerd warriors in faded but colorful leathers, duct tape, aerodynamic helmets and two kinds of sneakers, race speed-boards downhill, over 50+ miles per hour, down jet-black spaghetti turnt roads in the magnificent golden wheat hills in Marysville WA. Just for some glory and cash and annual bragging rights.

Each year, hundreds of long boarders, and street lugers from around the world make their way to a remote hillside in Southwest Washington.

It’s the world cup Maryhill Festival of Speed – the largest gravity sports event in North America, which is held in a place most people have never heard of…. historic Maryhill Loops Road in Goldendale, Washington.

Maryhill Loops Road was the first asphalt road in the Pacific Northwest, constructed in the early 1900s by a man named Sam Hill, who was passionate about the Columbia River Gorge and building good roads. This private 3.5-mile road full of hairpin turns and switchbacks was created originally so he could teach his wife how to drive.

Today, the road is ideal for gravity sports because it’s closed to cars and the pavement is smooth and grippy, which allows racers to handle corners at high speeds.  Not to mention, it’s now used for major auto and moto commercials.

For years, I was into skateboarding and had somehow always found myself shooting it, especially early on in my career.  One of my good friends and OG longboard legend from Portland, OR, Robin McGuirk, had asked me if I’d be interested in coming out for the downhill weekend race.  This was back in 2009.  At the time, they were just 3 years into having these races.  There hadn’t been much documentation of the event as of yet other than just some of the riders and their buddies shooting what they could.  At the time, I think I was one of the first to really treat it as an actual sporting event yet make an attempt to create some fine art story from it.  It was wild!  You literally camp on a giant field like it’s a music festival with people from all over the world.  They party like there’s no tomorrow yet manage to wake up and race!  The first year I documented this race it was down pouring rain and terrible weather.  My cameras got annihilated, but I didn’t care.  I was in the thick of it, determined to come out with some amazing shots.  For the 4 days I was there it was wet, cold, and well… you can imagine.  Not a pleasant place to camp with equipment and try to be artistic.  I still loved what I shot that year!  Fast forward to 2013.  The race is much bigger now and almost like a giant sponsored Red Bull type of event.  This year was dry.  This year the landscape looked a little different, and now there were more windmills on the property.  I guess that’s how farmers make money these days. They lease out their land.  None the less, I was back to shoot more colorful leathered characters flying down the hill.  Of course, this time I also brought some help because I wanted to make a film about this event. https://matthewbrush.com/MOTION/2

As, I’m writing this, I’m really missing this place and would love to go back soon.  They had cancelled it and almost permanently called it quits for a number of reasons, however, it came back and is still alive today.  They usually run the race during Labor Day weekend.  Over the years, I’ve sold prints from these series, and they’ve also gotten me jobs!  Some people still comment on my downhill skate work.  Sure, I’ve shot more of it, but I’ve also moved on to other photo projects that seem to pique my interest.  For me it’s the curiosity of finding something during the process.  Mary Hill definitely delivered!  I’ll be going back again soon.  I’m not sure what I’ll do, but I’m sure I’ll figure out a way to make it new again.  To date it’s still one of my most favorite personal projects, and although it’s old to me, it’s still new to someone.

 

To see more of this project, click here  and here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Beth Galton

Cut Food

Classic food photography involves the right people with talent and taste. Choosing the props, preparing the food in an appealing way, and lighting it so that it’s appetizing and beautiful creates a successful image.

My training has been as a classic food photographer; understanding the need for creativity and collaboration between the food and prop stylist and myself to produce an appetizing and beautiful image. For an assignment, we are tasked to photograph the surface of the food occasionally taking a bite or piece out but rarely a cross section of a finished dish. The goal is to make it appetizing and beautiful- to make the viewer hungry or influence them to recreate the dish.

This series was inspired by an assignment in which we were asked to cut a burrito in half for a client. At first, I thought it unappealing but soon realized the potential for a whole new perspective for looking at food. Cross sections are not new- a cake half eaten shows it’s interior. When applied to food items which are unexpected yet commonplace, even easily recognized within our food vocabulary, we move past the simple appetite appeal we normally try to achieve and explore the interior worlds of these products. In collaboration with the food stylists, we chose subjects which we felt were iconic symbols within our Western food culture; classic items that many of us grew up eating. As we shot each subject, it became apparent that some images needed to live in pairs such as the soup cans and the pints of ice cream. Shown together they create a stronger statement about their symbolic nature.

After testing various options, I came to realize that placing these subjects against a black background with a singular hard light helps focus the viewer on the hard reality of each interior; the texture and surface quality allowing each subject to reveal its own unique world within. There is a pictorial quality harkening back to magicians with rabbits coming out of black hats. My premise was to create imagery which looks as if it is happening magically, but as real as possible. Our approach is very low-tech using gelatin, glue, Crisco, scissors, and saws while fabricating each object. When necessary, some compositing was utilized but my background is of capturing everything in camera on a single sheet of film. I wanted these images to look this way.

It is important to mention the collaborators involved in these images. Without them, these images would not exist. Food stylists: Charlotte Omnès and Michelle Gatton. Retouchers: Daniel Hurlburt and Ashlee Gray.

To see more of this project, click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Chava Oropesa

Con Mucho Cariño

A soul-warming collection of my Mon’s recipes.

Let me tell you why this project is so important to me. My mom was a great cook, she was a full-time home maker and made all our meals from scratch. She created a handwritten cookbook with all her recipes, and some handed down from her mother and grandmother. There were over 120 recipes and my dad, being an engineer, created a way of organizing and indexing as my mom continued to add new recipes to her book.

The recipes are so delicious and remind me of my life in Mexico while living with my parents. Both of them have passed on, and for a few years I have been thinking of a way to honor them by cooking my mom’s recipes and photographing the process. I am also hoping this project will help keep some of these wonderful recipes alive.

Why “Con Mucho Cariño”? Because that’s the way my mom would sign off her letters when writing to me: “With lots of love”.

I also believe her recipe’s secret ingredient was that too, lots of love.

_____________________________________________________

I’m Chava, an Oakland based Photographer and Creative Director whose love for photography and food, and even the packaging it comes in, has transformed into my life’s passion.

Growing up in Mexico City filled my life with colorful culture which has deeply influenced both my design style and photography.

To see more of this project, click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

 

Today’s featured artist:   Jennifer MacNeill

The farm auction project grew from childhood memories of attending the liquidation sale of my stepfather’s family dairy farm and my current interest in local history and desire to gain entry into old barns and homes that surround me in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. We have some of the richest farmland in the United States and so often our farms are being replaced with housing developments, warehouses, and shopping centers.

When I started working on the project in 2021, I had little idea that the private worlds I would gain entry into would be filled with so much mystery and tinged with sadness. Many of these auctions are used to settle the estate for a farmer who has passed. They lived a hidden life many of us never even think about.

There is a secret thrill in exploring these old houses and barns with little restriction. Studying the architecture, disrepair, and personal belongings to learn about the history of the area in properties dating back well over a hundred years. Mingling with auction-goers and engaging in conversation to further investigate the lives of the people who once lived there, to get a sense of who they were.

Through my images I seek to piece together clues showing how the farm owners lived, the process and people that attend these auctions, and visually preserve a vanishing history.

To see more of this project, click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Zach Anderson

The Millennial zeitgeist is ever shifting, though there is one thread that weaves its way through the fabric of the cohort: acceptance and admiration of uniqueness. Amplified even more by Gen Z, it’s hard to ignore the pursuit of a sense of self among this group.

Zach Anderson strives to share his experience and perspective in his photography, including his friends as subjects. His coming of age has shaped his visual aesthetic and can be seen through the attention to color, freshness, and youthful communication through his imagery. And as a Millennial, telling stories of identity through his art is a priority.  

Combining his love of distinctive color to communicate emotion, music as a barometer for feeling and his celebration of the queer community, Zach’s new project highlights Drag Queens in Boise, ID. Sense of self and acceptance at the forefront of this art form, Zach aims to emphasize the talent and effort that goes into each performance.

To see more of this project, click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Kremer Johnson

“Palm Springs Bears” – Capturing the Soul of Palm Springs’ Bear Community”

In the vibrant oasis of Palm Springs, a unique culture thrives, embracing an extraordinary sense of community, design, and humor. Within this warm and welcoming enclave, we discovered a profound admiration with a group of individuals known as “bears” – gay men who exude strength, authenticity, and a profound sense of belonging. “Palm Springs Bears” is a photo series born from our deep affection for this remarkable community, a whimsical portrayal of their lives and the spaces they inhabit.
To create this visual narrative, we searched social media, reaching out for potential subjects. The process of casting our subjects through social media platforms allowed us to connect with individuals who were not just willing to participate but eager to share their stories. Their enthusiasm and willingness to be vulnerable in front of the camera opened a door to a world of authenticity, enabling us to portray their lives in an uninhibited light.
Embracing the spirit of innovation and creativity, we rented a house in the heart of Palm Springs, a place that symbolizes a sanctuary for many members of the bear community. Within the living room of this temporary dwelling, we constructed a wall, symbolizing both unity and the protection of a sanctuary. For each subject, we adorned this unique backdrop with distinct wallpapers, carefully chosen to reflect their individual personalities, aesthetics, and stories.

 

 

To see more of this project, click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:  Sara Forrest

Mention the state of Kansas and maybe you draw a blank and wonder “where is that state anyways” or perhaps you think of the history of the state.  The Brown vs the Board of Education case, Bleeding Kansas or even just the arduous drive passing through on I-70.  For me, it’s memories of wading through creek beds, watching the stars on the hood of the car with curious cows staring at you in the moonlight, chewing on summer clover and taking long drives to nowhere, half enjoying the ride and half keeping an eye open for adventure.  For me, the adventure always found me in the tallgrass prairies.  The land is quiet, some folks from the cities and coasts may even claim desolate.  There’s always a coyote scattering on the horizon or a meadowlark keeping an eye on you from a nearby post.  Late afternoon clouds open and close in the sky like a giant house curtain on nature’s stage.

This series of photographs are part of a larger series on family friends and communities in the Flint Hills tallgrass prairies of Kansas.  “Tallgrass prairie once covered 170 million acres of North America, but within a generation most of it had been transformed into farms, cities, and towns. Today less than 4% remains intact, mostly in the Kansas Flint Hills.” (via nps.com).  Every spring, prescribed burns snake through the landscape.  Native Americans were the first people to use prescribed fire, as it attracted buffalo to the new grass for easier hunting.  Research has shown that cattle gain more on pastures that have been burned because the old grass and thatch have been removed.  Without these burns, invasive Eastern Red Cedar would choke out the native grass and use up a lot of the water in the soil.  As you walk the prairies you often see buffalo grazing in the distance.

I can not speak to the cowboy way of life, simply because I do not cowboy for a living.  The only way to really get a taste of what that kind of life is like is by getting yourself a good seasoned cow horse, a good mentor and submerging yourself into the lifestyle.  I can throw a rope off my horse and am learning to work cattle, but the demanding, often life or death work in the elements day in and out is not for the faint of heart.  The experience and the opportunity to become friends with and be welcomed into this way of life has not only humbled me, but taught me more about heart, respect, and dedication than anything I have been a part of so far.  These are a few photographs that put a lens behind a typical day of the life of a cattle rancher on the great plains.

To see more of this project, click here

To order prints click here

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APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram

The Art of the Personal Project is a crucial element to let potential buyers see how you think creatively on your own.  I am drawn to personal projects that have an interesting vision or that show something I have never seen before.  In this thread, I’ll include a link to each personal project with the artist statement so you can see more of the project. Please note: This thread is not affiliated with any company; I’m just featuring projects that I find.  Please DO NOT send me your work.  I do not take submissions.

Today’s featured artist:   Hugh Kretschmer

 

Normally, I steer clear of clichés in my work; it’s a bit of a rule of mine. But there was something about this series titled “The Perils of Being Ken” that was different. The concept relentlessly occupied my mind, inundating me with ideas. The decision to proceed was solidified when fate introduced me to Kristopher Ohlsson, a student who walked into my Portrait Class I was teaching at a local college – the living embodiment of the character in this series. It was an unmistakable sign to move forward, hitting me like a beautiful slap in the face.

This seven-image series is the only exception where my rule clashes with the creative surge. The initial concept sparked a torrent of ideas, resulting in more photos than we ultimately included in the final edit. Some worked well, while others fell short. Yet even the ones that didn’t quite hit the mark inspired new ideas that ultimately brought coherence to the project. Consequently, the shoot stretched over two days, with a six-month gap in between.

The series’ essence hinged on creating a “small world” appearance, achieved through perspective control lenses in real locations across Los Angeles. However, after testing an array of perspective control (PC) lenses on my DSLR under similar circumstances, I found the results weren’t as strong as I had hoped. Dealing with too many uncertainties, I opted to achieve the desired effect through post-processing in Photoshop. This gave me complete control over points of focus and allowed me to guide my audience’s attention precisely.

The production’s success rested heavily on the makeup and wardrobe aspects, making it essential to have the proper support. For this, I turned to the expertise of Make-up Stylist Isaac Prado and Costumer Gillean McLeod, two seasoned veterans with whom I had collaborated multiple times before. Their contributions were the linchpin of the project’s triumph, and their ingenuity and skills left me in awe.

Wardrobe, Gillean McLeod: https://www.instagram.com/gilleanmcleod/

Makeup, Isaac Prado: https://www.instagram.com/pradoisaac/

    

To see more of this project, click here

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Hugh Kretschmer’s work has been exhibited in Paris, Berlin, São Paulo, Montreal, Serbia, New York, and Los Angeles and was the subject of a retrospective at the Hoban Museum, Seoul. His photographs are permanently displayed at the 9/11 Museum at Ground Zero and in the Library of Congress archives. His work has been recognized by the International Photography Awards, American Photography, Communication Arts, Graphis, Siena Awards, and Society of Publication Designers. His client list includes Vanity Fair, New York Times, Fortune, National Geographic, Time Magazine, Old Spice, Penn & Teller, Sony, Honda, Purina, and Evian, among others.

APE contributor Suzanne Sease currently works as a consultant for photographers and illustrators around the world.  She has been involved in the photography and illustration advertising and in-house corporate industry for decades.  After establishing the art-buying department at The Martin Agency, then working for Kaplan-Thaler, Capital One, Best Buy and numerous smaller agencies and companies, she decided to be a consultant in 1999.  Follow her at @SuzanneSease.  Instagram