PressTwentyTwo: April 2011

Friday, April 29, 2011

Another day..

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Happy birthday to the one that gave me life.

My mom & I
Photo Credit: Nikolay Chekhovskiy

Today is a very very special day. 49 years ago, this world was blessed with the birth of an amazing woman. She lost her mother at a very young age and faced many hardships that are not even heard of today in our free land and comfortable homes. Yet, she came to be an intelligent, beautiful, and strong woman that I have yet to look up to and learn from. She married at 22, and for the past 27 years she has lived a selfless, altruistic life. She has raised a family of nine, and still works 24/7 taking care of everyone but herself. I've complained about the all-nighters I've pulled throughout my college years, but it's not nearly as close to the countless nights my mother has pulled. And even today, she still has many sleepless, restless nights. Her work is never-ending.

I'll be honest I have never appreciated my mother enough and many times I've taken her for granted. I realize what a special woman she is and how I'll always be indebted to her for her unconditional love and selfless giving. She gave me life, and has done her absolute best to raise and make me who I am today. She has raised an amazing family that I'm fortunate to be a part of, and expects nothing in return. To me, that's one amazing woman that deserves the best honors, awards, and medals that people can possibly receive on this earth. And even then, that wouldn't be enough to recognize all that she has done.

Happy birthday Mamochka!! Your birth into this world has blessed many, and has made life for us on earth a better place to be. I will always be grateful for your life and unconditional love, and hopefully one day I'll be everything you hoped I would be. Я тебе люблю.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Everyday is Earth Day.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Unwrap Your Opportunities.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Covergirl.

The photo below is from a specific project photoshoot and was used to create a Covergirl magazine ad (made-up school project, actually turned out better than the actual ones out there ;)) I had to take a photo with the model not wearing any make-up at all, it would later be applied in Photoshop. Rachel kindly agreed, although most girls today would probably refuse.This photo turned out so great that I wish I could use it in some sort of a 'natural beauty' ad. It is the original with no make-up involved at all, only turned into black & white. Rachel is one of my favorite people to work with (and in my opinion more beautiful than any model out there.) She has the ability to retain her natural expression in front of a camera and that gives me the ability to capture her in her truest sense.

This photo alone is one of the many reasons why I enjoy photography so much. I love to photograph people, but I love to photograph real people just as they are. Not what they're trying or appear to be, but something that exposes their real beauty and their true inner self. Our society and especially the media, have changed the way we look at people and what we think they are or ought to be. When I photograph, I always search for that expression, the moment when I can catch a glimpse of something more than what that person appears to be. Many times those expressions go unnoticed, they might only be minutes or even seconds that pass by and are easily forgotten. And even though this photo was taken for a specific project and was posed, as an artist I feel rewarded because it still holds that expression I was searching for in her.

I like to make art with real people because I'm drawn to real people. We are all created different and have something special and unique about us that no one else does. Photos such as this have the ability to speak to us and we can all relate to the person in them.

Monday, April 18, 2011

A sense of place..

Saturday, April 16, 2011

How to apologize.

Photo credit: Katia Chekhovskiy

Children know when they do something wrong, but they also know how to demand justice. My baby sister Victoria definitely does :)

Friday, April 15, 2011

Headed to the moon.

Smuggler's Moon singer/songwriter Matthew Eastman.
© N. Matveev

For more promo photos check out the Smuggler's Moon page.

Transparent.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Art is what we call...

...the thing an artist does.

"It's not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human.

Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It's in the soul of the artist."
Seth Godin

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Walking into the unknown..

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Interaction.

NOVA: An Inspiring Documentary About Contemporary Art

NOVA is a DIY documentary about art and the artists behind it, based on Brazil’s Nova Contemporary Culture, which brought together 140 leading international artists come together for a monthlong festival of live performances, video screenings, audiovisual installations, roundtables, experimental gastronomy and various other creative showcases. The film features dozens of bleeding-edge artists, and spans an incredible breadth of creative expression.

NOVA The Film (trailer) from ROJO on Vimeo.

Filmed in August 2010 at São Paulo’s MIS-Museum of Image and Sound, the documentary is a living hallmark of the incredibly diverse ecosystem of contemporary art, exploring some of the key pillars of creativity, from collaboration to inspiration.

Watch the full NOVA documentary on Vimeo.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Art from the black & white darkroom.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

GR International Wine & Food Festival

Visit the Food Festival page to view more photos from the Grand Rapids
Wine & Food Festival 2010

Monday, April 4, 2011

Children are special.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Irina's Diner.

Thank you for the delicious breakfast Irina, it was definitely worth every penny of the $26. I know I'm definitely coming back to your diner soon, so I'm glad I got the coupon! I forgot to order from the "Other Entries" menu, so I'm ordering from that one first next time. I will also make sure I pay you extra, since I forgot to pay while I was so busy enjoying such an amazing experience at your diner! ;)

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