Kids On The Block...

I have been searching for some raw unadulterated inspiration. Pure unfiltered and honest. For days and nothing...

I have changed the living room furniture around... Only to go back to the original setting. Made up a thousand recipes from the leftover Easter ham. Cut my hair and bought a new lipstick. Searching high and low and looking for inspiration as if they were my car keys and I had misplaced them... Then a knock on the door...

The kids on the block...

Not certain if it was the sunlight or their spirit... They filled me up like a bouquet of mylar balloons and I am now ready to create...

To whomever stumbles upon these images and words ...

Happy Springtime.

Fleeting...

*unedited stream of consciousness...

It is not a comeback I have been here for years. There is rebirth and hibernation and I partake in the process.  There are nights when my whole body is on fire and my fingers want to burn through these pages like a girl smokes a cigarette on prom night.  For this is where I ran when I felt all alone. Me... in my truest form I run to what I know. Searching for connections like that one light bulb on the xmas lights strand we keep tightening with the hope of brilliance. 

The cycles of life can be so chaotic and at times I just laugh and those around wonder why...

But it is life that have taught me to laugh as hard as I can even when those moments seem inopportune... even when it seems rude. 

Because I know nothing lasts forever, because I know everything is so fleeting and life can be aggressive when it takes things you love from you. I laugh because even what seems promised it never is. At times what I fear the most is what I already know.

Fleeting...

I came home one afternoon to find a neighbor's garden filled with flowers. Cantaloupe color buds and flowers that for some reason filled me with sorrow and inspiration. 

Maybe it was the weatherman's fault for broadcasting over the airwaves right as I pulled up that there would be rain. I pictured the buds and flowers wilting after they've waited all year for this one moment of splendor. Enduring all the elements for this one week in Spring and the show would last one day. It is such notion that filled me sorrow. 

I called upon the muses to show their face and help me paint with light this cantaloupe and tangerine dream I had... Thanks Amy.

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anais Nin

About Inspiration...

So, I am filled with such inspiration that I am never worried about the future. Because I know inspiration doesn't find you. You must go and beg for it. Inspiration is way too precious and complex for it to give itself out.  It doesn't willingly come and shows its face at you unless you go and seek for it. Inspiration isn't a submissive force but a tempestuous energy one that is untamed and carefree. 

Art can be so messy and dirty while its pouring out of you. A real demon that drags you along through the back-alleys of your mind. It is not something you can stop even if you want to because in doing so you might drive yourself insane. You throw yourself away to be an artist and many times you attempt to blend and fit in and unsuccessfully you must retreat to that safe place which helps in the creation.

I met another young designer named Elyssa she will be graduating from the Savannah College of Arts and Design as a fashion designer. Her inspiration were the gardens at the palace of Versailles. I tried hard to recreate images at a location that were reminiscing of Europe and of course France. The following images represent her Senior project and collection. I hope you enjoy the images as well as the fashion. 

Versailles

Designer: Elyssa Michelle

Photography: Adriana Iris

Location: Versailles.

Thanks Elyssa and all the models that took part of this session on a hot summer afternoon...

About Brigid...

I am moving through life inspired by everything and anything. There is a lack of arrogance on the things that will move and inspire me. My work continues to use the trees as the platform and frame to so many images that I dream up in my head.  They stand like soldiers and as the perfect props for my creations.  As a child I would climb an acerola tree and nap. From there I would also spy on my childhood crush when he would visit his grandmother in the summertime. Growing up on an island with a tropical rain forest will do things to you and your imagination. 

So I continue tip-toeing to edge of this page just to show you the latest images I created with some good friends. Inspired by fairies, Ireland, Brigid of the Celts, the woodland and the baptismal powers of a river and in search of atonement.

Brighid of Gael

Photography- Adriana Iris

Model, MUAH- Jacqueline H.

PA's - Cathy Lou, Anita N.

Location- Gael

Thanks again Jacqueline for being an amazing muse and inspiration.

In the meantime you can also find me at Do Savannah this week with a piece for a column I just started writing and contributing named Homegrown Savannah. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and please... Stay Sweet!

Sands of Time...

Trying my hardest to grab onto this thing called time. I try to hold it between my hands, to make it stand and stop and be still. Wishing it wasn't ruthless and would just wait for me. Time, continues to betray me. The other night at the very last minute I remembered I had scheduled a conceptual shoot for the following day. The music festival left me flying so high it slipped my mind and with no location or wardrobe planned... I decided to go ahead and do the shoot. The images reflect that I,  in fact, am struggling with time but not with ideas. As props we used things I found in the trunk of my car.  As a backdrop we used the skies and the sand. So here it goes... 

Sand Clock...

Model: Blair W.

Photographer: Adriana Iris

PA: Ms. M

Location: The Desert

Thanks Blair you were the perfect muse...

Enjoy the weekend next post will be all about St. Patrick's and the celebration in Savannah, GA. For now... Erin Go Bragh! 

Brought to you by the letter A...

Savannah has been bathed in sunlight for the past few days.. Don't hate us but we've  had three days of temperatures in the low 80's with a yummy breeze and pink sunsets. Open windows at night feels like a premature summer and I really dig...This morning it finally rained because in reality that is too much and completely unfair to my northern friends.

Wednesday, I set off to create Africa in Savannah. Inspired and trying to subside this wanderlust feeling within I did a session with Shaunii R. I try really hard to create worlds and spaces within a frame. I work hard to not repeat myself with concepts and ideas.  I work hard so each shoot is different and unique. In the end not only I am happy for the challenge but the subject feels proud and happy to have been a part in the creation of it. 

I must tell you after my shoot my car battery died... 

I must tell you two Southern (one can be seen in one of the images) gentlemen helped me get back on the road...

I must tell you that the one driving the pick up truck  (no picture of him available) was so dreamy...

I really must tell you that Shaunii and I felt as if we were a part of an 80's John Hughes movie montage.

Africa:

Model: Shaunii R.

Photography: Moi

Location: Africa?!

Asia...

Model: Shaunii R.

Photography: Moi

Location: Asia?!

one of our car trouble helpers in the background...

There you have it... Two places in one.

Thanks Shaunii R. You are amazing.

Have a great weekend.

Wonderland...

Many friends and loved ones are going through shifts and changes and I am as well. The beginning of any given year presents us with the opportunity of growth and rebirth and most of us embrace it. Questioning my own existence and future is as normal as brushing my teeth these days. 

Like the frog footman shows up with an invite to the croquet game... the return of old lovers via Facebook friend request is one I always question. Puzzled, I accept. Something happens when we reach a certain age and with fondness we navigate the roads and rivers of the past as if we've dropped something along the way...

What I remember from those days is a plethora of boys I've kissed. Beautiful boys that provided me with even more beautiful adventures, music, art and laughter. They never meant any harm and I would always leave them before they had a chance to leave me. Then, all I needed was someone warm to hold onto and read poetry with. Drink wine and kiss me until the sun would come up or until my lips were burning... chapped... from all the kissing. These boys all tasted like mangoes and papayas who was I to deny myself of such sweetness. They would lay on my lap and fall asleep. 

Dreaming of who knows what...

Alice could possibly be one of my favorite characters and as an homage of me going down the rabbit hole and with the help of Krista that wanted so badly to be Alice...

I present to you...

Alice:

Model: Krista. T.

Photography: Moi

Wardrobe: Krista

PA: Cake

Location: Wonderland

Thanks to Krista for this shoot. I had a blast.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Red...

Red is strong, fierce and passionate. 

Red is determination and at times surreal. 

Red is the color of love and hungry lips.

Red is also the color of shame...

Red...

Model: Laura Y.

Dress: Vintage

PA: J. Waits & B. Crosby

Photography: Moi

Transportation Sponsored by: Hertz 

Carvings: Indonesian Folk Art

“Your red dress,’ she said, and laughed.

But I looked at the dress on the floor and it was as if the fire had spread across the room. It was beautiful and it reminded me of something I must do. I will remember I thought. I will remember quite soon now.” 

Wide Sargasso Sea

We tried to go for a second concept. We tried because we had beautiful dresses that needed to be worn. We tried but the skies told me it would only be about Red...

White:

Dress: Nicole Edge = Kleo Sewing Studios

Jon and Blake you guys are amazing and I am lucky to be surrounded by so many creative artists. Laura thank you for an amazing session. 

May the odds be ever in your favor...

Hello friends and Happy New Year.

I come around today for the first time since last year so I could complain about one of the biggest projects that I have embarked on. For two weeks I have been building and constructing thousands of things by hand. I have scouted, planned and searched for a location. A location so far away from home that I need a guide to get me there. I also now hold on to my fingertips which are bleeding. Bleeding from my sewing needle that kept insisting in threading my fingers along.

Complaining because in the last 48 hours a storm has been brewing promising me nothing but clouds and rain. I had called this shoot Red. I name all of my shoots but this one the name came early and it stayed and stuck like the Taylor Swift album.

I have danced back and forth about tomorrow. So many people will be involved in this project and for sure the weather could fuck it all up. I have done everything including some witchcraft in the search of clear skies. Not sure where and why this determination but something tells me that Red will be unique. Just like the fiery title I should push forth. Perfection would be that the weather will actually be the magical ingredient to make this one of the most successful shoot I have ever embarked or perhaps the biggest failure.

I have a 48% chance of showers during my shooting time. I by no means am a gambler but here I go...

Next post will hopefully be RED...

Gone With The Wind...

I could talk about the holiday season and all the work and stress has proven to be but I won't. Instead I would like to share with you one of the greatest Sundays I have had in my life. You see it all started on Saturday when we welcomed the Winter Solstice with all these people...

Then on Sunday I woke up to meet up with some of them and we went off to create some art...

And I met Bonnie awhile ago and something told me then that we would get along just fine. Soon she will be moving to the west coast and when she asked that I take a few pictures before she leaves Savannah not only I was excited but completely honored. The idea was to fuse a few things together to obtain the final images. We used the spirit of Lady Savannah which serves as the dramatic backdrop and we added a little bit of Gothic drama as well as the elegance of a flamenco dancer and the fiery spirit of a pin up. We ended up with a very original and authentic punk rock version of  Gone With The Wind...

Gone With The Wind...

Model: Bonnie B.

Dress: Private Collection.

Photography, Fan and Magnifying Glass: Moi.

PA: Deedee C.

Location PA: Chuck D. Mouse.

“I wish I could care what you do or where you go but I can't... My dear, I don't give a damn.” 

―Gone with the Wind

“I'd cut up my heart for you to wear if you wanted it.” 

― Gone with the Wind

"With enough courage, you can do without a reputation."

~ Gone With The Wind

“I bare my soul and you are suspicious! 

~Gone With The Wind

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season and I promise Santa... I've been good.

Thanks Bonnie for an amazing session.