the rest is still unwritten
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Art Attack x Style Files: FLORIGAMI

I consider myself very lucky to have always been surrounded by very talented, creative, intelligent, funny and driven individuals. Earlier this year, colleague, photographer and friend Kaity Chua, asked me to be a part of a collaborative series: Florigami.

Now, Kaity and I have already worked together and produced some pretty cool editorials (which will probably be blogged about in the future), but Florigami is different, this is by us and for us.

Florigami, Kaity's brainchild, is a true collaboration. I discover that two other colleagues at our day job, Angee Chua and BL Martirez - who respectively handled Hair and Make-Up and assisted the shoots, were also to be part of the Florigami team. I was soon introduced to Vicky Velasco (who I now call the Paper Queen) was to create and supply all the paper sculptures for the shoot. Marco Ortega built the six-foot stool  and swing set as Production Designer.

The planning process was so organic, the idea of a flower headdress evolved into a space-age geisha. At another time Kaity says, "I wanna do a bull-headed biatch layout,". That layout transformed into a punk-rock-matador-Frida Kahlo amalgamation.

You know what, instead of me talking about it, let me just show you.



Friends, I am very proud to present:














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During our last day of shooting, the team decided that this will be an open-ended project. If at any time a new concept or layout is imagined, the team would reassemble and make it happen. We want this project to *ehem* keep blooming. Yikes. So yeah, stay tuned. I already feel a few ideas budding (okay that's the last pun I swear...). Seriously, much like the original concepts developed organically, I really do hope that this series grows in a similar fashion.

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Special Thanks to our models:
Jessica Yang - the Space-Age Geisha
Eriko Malabanan - the Bull-Headed Biatch
Pauline Prieto - Thumbellina
Nikita McElroy - the Reverse Marie Antoinette
Jasmine Maierhofer - the Mad Hatter
and
Natasha Bautista and Nova Torres: the Swing (Out) Sisters

This would not have been the same without you.


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So, Miss Ria Bolivar, see you at the next Florigami shoot?

I wish.


Art Attack: Half Drag

Team Latrila during the Half-Baked challenge of RPDR All Stars
Drag is an art form. The transformation from one gender expression to another is unbelievable. This is a big part of why I am a huuuuge fan of RuPaul's Drag Race.

Anywho, while searching the interwebs for photos for my Season 5 blog post I came across this amazing portrait series: 

HALF DRAG
by
LELAND BOBBÉ

The series of portraits by New York City-based photographer Leland Bobbé depicts some of the city's drag performers in 'half drag'. You'll get the picture.

Seriously, check out Leland Bobbé's website here. Also check out his Neo-Burlesque series!

Without further ado (but with the photographer's consent) here are screen caps of his jaw-dropping and visually arresting collection. Click to enlarge, and enjoy!

Miss Fame
Vivienne Pinay
Adriana LaGlam
Heidi Glum
Fifi Duboise
Victoria Falls
Sabel Scities
Viki Vilianess
Roxy Brooks
Pixie Aventura
Azraea
Cherra Secret
Crystal Demure
Epiphany
Honey Davenport
Honey LaBronx
Tara Miso Rice
Shequida
Pusse Couture
Jessica Payge Dae
Digna Shae
Kizha Carr
Miss Fame
Maddox Madison
Tina Burner
Onna Rampage
Jordan Fox
Kittin Withawhip
Ladyy Havokk
Maddelyn Hatter
Magnolia Applebottom
Pattaya Hart
Sherry Vine
Titania Steele
Yuhua Hamasaki
Chandelier Period

Holy Macaroni, right!?

The prints are up for purchase at Leland Bobbé's page: http://lelandbobbe.com/

I hope that this amazing series inspires us to re-think our definitions of beauty and gender. It is clear that both are fluid and non-exclusive.

Keep an open mind, an open eye, and an open heart.



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Don't forget to check out Leland Bobbé's impressive portfolio at:  http://lelandbobbe.com/

Half-Baked Image of Team Latrila from: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/latrila