Death Of A Clown: Collection 3

In this third installment for the "Death of A Clown" (DOAC) series, I chose to highlight ''The Mime".  In this collection I wanted to depict one of the supporting characters that I just simply thought was really "Cool/Edgy". My challenge was to interpret "The Mime" displayed here in such a way that distinguished differences in style, functionality, and Mood for the traditional "Mime Artist". The most unique quality being the ability take what is imagined and make it real with shadows. You will see a number of examples of this being put to work through out this collection. I also wanted to make sure the mood/feel was darker and more sinister based on this character portraying one of the antagonist of the series. It's in the subtle details where I placed allot of my focus in this collection. The Mime in this collection represents control, dominance, & a heartless state of mind! There IS a much bigger story to the method behind the madness, so please take time to review the entire collection and look out for more to come from the DOAC series!

"The Mime"

Special Thanks to the production staff:

Model- Edge

Clothing Designer/ Stylist: Lamil Stephens

Make-Up: Keya DeLarge

Hair: Clay Nielsen

Studio- The Shot Atlanta 
Media Sponsor: The G Cafe

Philosophy: Beauty Defined

beau·ty /ˈbyuti/ Show Spe[byoo-tee]  

–noun, plural -ties.

1.

the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

"Invisible Beauty" Model: Mackenzie Conn-Powers Make-Up: Keya Delarge Location:Aurum Lounge

As a photographer I have many perspectives on beauty and how it relates to who and what I photograph.  In many cases it is simply what inspires me most. An opinion that is projected through the very fiber of my imagery. A long time ago someone told me "The true power of persuasion  is getting another man to accept your definition as his/her own." I would take it a step further and say it is also accepting that definition and making it your own by bringing new perspective! What you know and feel is beautiful....IS!  My hope is that we simply come to a common understanding and start from there! 

"The Gaze"- Model:Roni  Make-Up:Keya Delarge

"Tribal" Model: Annie Tee Make-Up: Keya Delarge

"Untitled" Model: Lauren Make-Up & Styling: Lamil Designs

Take a moment to consider this, the next time you look up at the clouds and reminisce on the child hood game of  "Shapes In The Sky" think of defining beauty the same way. The beauty you see won't always be visible to others, but with a little direction they may be able to see beyond their own understanding! For the month of April I will be highlighting all things beautiful in my world so join me as I highlight the relative and the abstract perspectives of JAS Photo!

"Shapes In The Sky"

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Join JAS Photo's Facebook fanpage here

 

JAS Photo Says Thank You!!

Dear Friend:

On behalf of JAS Photo and the production staff, I take this opportunity to express our sincerest appreciation for your support. I am deeply grateful for not only your support, but also your inspiration!

It is through the support of individuals like you that I am able to continue to strengthen my vision, and to develop new and innovative projects to share exclusively with you.

As we approach the turn of a new chapter for JAS Photo, I will continue to strive to create that which has not yet been seen or felt.

Again, thank you for your help in making this vision a reality.

Sincerely,

John Stephens
Photographer/Director
www.jasphotoonline.com


Join in here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JAS-Photo/110741018940287
Follow here: www.twitter.com/jas_photo

The G Cafe presents "Behind The Mask" with JAS Photo for "Death Of A Clown" Collection 2

Death of A Clown - Behind The Mask from The G Cafe on Vimeo.
"Death of A Clown" is a unique and exclusive creative collaboration with JAS Photo. In this clip John Stephens, Director and Photographer, discusses his vision for the project and gives some background on the story. Johnson Cooley ("Patch") talks about his role and the path of his character's evolution.



Actor:Johnson Cooley

Designer/Stylist: Lamil Stephens

Make-Up: Keya DeLarge

Hair: Keka Heron

Behind the Scenes: Chieu Lee Photography

Media Sponsor: The G Cafe

Studio: The Shot Atlanta Studio



http://www.facebook.com/TheGCafe

www.jasphotoonline.com

Death Of A Clown: Collection 2

As promised here is the 2nd Collection for the "Death of A Clown" Series. Since the first posting I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could bring a better, more visual collection like this one to life. I thought that writing a short story would help motivate me and move the project forward a little faster. To my surprise that little story began to grow beyond the imagery and left me with tons of details to pull from for my shoots.   Resulting in what you see posted in this blog entry. This portrays a clown who not only finds solace behind his clown make up but also covers up his pain with patches.  This collection highlights the comfort in ones own ignorance and how uncomfortable it can be to change.  This project is all about how clowns deal with new found emotions as well as come to grips with their own mortality.

"Patch"

The character  "Patch" goes through three transitions with in this particular collection. He struggles with his uncontrollable nature to please, fighting to make the right choice for growth, & hiding his true pain behind his patches!

"In Transit"- Growing from naive beginnings and becoming the person he was meant to be.

You will find a familiar face from the last collection showing the main character "Jenni"  interacting with in Patch's thoughts as he searches for answers. Depicting the chaos that he finds his life in & where it all began.

"Lost & Found"

At his lowest point we see what he does to mask his pain when no one else is around. A troubling scene meant to show how far he will go to avoid dealing with his own reality.

"Behind Closed Doors"

I have already begun pulling things together for the next shoot for Collection 3. There are two more collections to be completed as well as 2 scenes from the story. I am also continuing to write through out this process to soon finish the full story to accompany the imagery. This project is very close to my heart and I am genuinely excited for the next steps to making it something great. Much more to come so be on the look out for behind the lens footage coming soon.

Special Thanks to the production staff:

Actor/Model- Johnson Cooley

Clothing Designer/ Stylist: Latoya Stephens

Make-Up: Keya DeLarge

Hair: Keka Heron
Behind the Scenes: Chieu Lee Photography 

Studio- The Shot Atlanta 
Media Sponsor: The G Cafe

"Behind The Craft" with JAS Photo Part 1 Presented by The G Cafe

I was recently interviewed by The G Cafe for their premier installment of "Behind The Craft" the series. I had a blast sharing with them and being able to speak candidly about some key reasons why I shoot and my outlook on photography. Look for more to come from this interview and learning a little bit more about the man "Behind The Craft" yours truly. Thanks go out to The G Cafe for the wonderful feature & giving me a platform to share my views with their audience! Learn more about The G Cafe and all the great things they are doing over there at www.theGCafe.com & also follow them on twitter for news updates @thegcafe ....

JAS Photo Exclusive: Behind The Scenes @ Darien Brockington's "RAIN" Video Shoot

I recently had the pleasure of working with Darien Brockington  for his upcoming music video shoot "Rain".  A great day of shooting with a stellar cast and production crew. Over the years Darien has always been a blast to work with and continues to impress me with his enormous talent.  As Director of Photography the process became so much more gratifying as I was allowed the creative freedom to give input into some of the key parts of the project. At the end of the day let the work speak for itself!!! Take a moment to view the "Behind the Scenes" trailer created by yours truly and some exclusive images from the shoot.

For more info about Darien Brockington visit: www.dbrockmusic.com
"THE COLD CASE FILES" AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ON ITUNES & AMAZON.COM

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Wardrobe Styling by Brian Short of TFT Style

Make-Up by Lamil & Hair Styling by Shanna

Introducing Diamond Analycia as "Layla Jones"

Director- Muta'Ali

Are You Selling Out Your Passion?

(Most don't know that I was an artist way before I picked up the camera....So here's to me dusting off the rusty hand and getting back to my roots! Hope you enjoy)

I have been thinking about a lot of things lately, but what sticks out the most to me is the
topic of creative potential. Some people recognize/use their talents and others never realize their gift and lose them. Who's to say that we are using our talents in the right way? I want to pose a question to ponder while you read this "What would/could your talent be if not driven by material gain?". When I left my corporate gig on **Sunday May 26th, 2006 @ 3PM I thought I had it almost all figured out.:) I was going to stop working for the machine and embrace the freedom of making a living off of photography....I'm starting to wonder if I'm truly maximizing the opportunity that was placed in front of me with that decision. I believe there is an abundance of potential in each of us and we are only realizing a fraction of what we are capable of! Is it possible to expand our creative limits while selling our passion to make a living? Don't get me wrong "Baby got to eat" and we must do what it takes to provide for our families, but if this is all we do "Where's the time for yourself in your own passion?" I will be making a conscious effort to set aside time for my passion and push myself to create images/things that haven't been seen before. Hopefully my contributions can be an example of what you can do with your talent. Miles Davis once said "I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life." I don't have all the answers but I do have plenty of questions...We talk about so much but understand so little...Watch for the signs and TAKE your turn people!

**Never forget what it took to get you exactly where you are right now!~jasphoto


Here are examples of my passion with in some of my first images:
"Gods Reflections"- This was one of my very first shots....Still one of my favorites!

One of my first fashion shoots;)

Another one of my early fashion shoots....

A Muse Me!

Moving towards the next chapter of where I'm going as a photographer, I found it only fitting that I put out an open casting to offer someone a  great opportunity to create some extraordinary work with me and my team. I am currently looking to bring a muse into the fold for new perspectives and new concepts that I am working on as we speak. If you are wondering why all the hoop-la...Well it is kind of a big deal for a creative. A muse acts as a conduit for creatives to vibe off of for new ideas and inspiration. For this reason I am looking to add someone to the team that is passionate about what they do and not afraid to have fun in the process. If you feel that's you or if you know of someone that might be interested, simply direct them to the casting page on my website for more details. All submissions should be directed to jasprojects@gmail.com for review.

Going Green!

As a photographer I am always looking for new ways to do things that can improve my own efficiency as well as staying aware of the environmental effects. Over time I have been incorporating my own best practices, and will continue to look for new ways to do my part in going green. I would like to encourage others to evaluate your own area of expertise and determine how you can play a part.

A few Best Practices:

• I no longer use CD's for file delivery unless expressed by client. I send all image proofing and final high resolution edits via FTP(File Transfer Protocol). It allows me to send larger files up to 3GB which replace the need for CD's/DVD's.
• I use rechargeable batteries instead of regular batteries. It saves me money as well as it cuts down on disposable items I have post shoot. (I used to have to throw away at least 10 batteries per shoot)  
• I am making a conscious effort to shoot more in natural light (best light anyway) which will ultimately conserve some of my electric consumption. 

These are just a few ways that I have modified my daily routine to go green. I look forward to continue growing in my own awareness! If you would like more in depth info about going green as a photographer or client visit www.greenerphotography.org 

"What you didn't know yesterday can make a difference today!!"

A DAY AT THE GALLERY

For sometime now it has been a goal of mine to display my work in a gallery setting.  Driven not for aspirations of monetary gain, but for personal accomplishment. On April 22nd I got my opportunity and had my first showing at Hagedorn Gallery for the Urban Lux Magazine "Lux List" Event.  Walking in as a person who is used to being behind the scenes, I experienced a great since of joy to see others admire my work in this open forum. Please take a moment to check out some of the beautiful images provided by Chieu Lee Photography   .  I look forward to this being the first of many!! Special thanks to everyone who came out to support!!!!

"What I'm listening to Right Now" Tribute Image

These are images I shot back in 2007 of Janelle Monae . I figured since this is What I'm Listening To Right Now I should post them as a tribute. Ironically enough I have never posted any of these images until now....So enjoy and check out her music!

JAS Photo Shop Talk: Dance Theater Study

For the last 2 weeks I have been preparing to shoot with the African American Dance Review  (AADR) as their official photographer for their 2nd season production. Theater is a brand new animal for me to tackle and there are a number of variables that are uncontrollable in this environment. Knowing these challenges I have been studying to ensure that I am fully prepared for the gig. In my search of the internet I ran across a helpful resource (Theater Photography) that gave a great overview of capturing the essence of  a performance with great images.

As with any talent or profession you never stop learning and having fun if you love what you do. Last week I visited a dress rehearsal for the AADR performance and not only did I have a chance to sketch out my game plan for the show, but also enjoyed watching the makings of a great performance. Being a photographer you get opportunities to work with a variety of  great groups and individuals from all areas. The one thing I learned above all  is to be prepared and expect the unexpected. If you are looking for tips like I was, below you will find a short list of things that I felt would be useful:

• Go to the dress rehearsal to plan your shots before the show (if possible) to find key moments. Don't hesitate to take notes.
  
• Use a tripod or mono-pod to stabilize your camera to reduce vibration  in low light enviorments
• Refrain from using a flash b/c it can be distracting to the dancers and I feel it takes away from the mood of the lighting on the stage
• Shoot RAW if you can to adjust color variance in post processing
• Keep in mind the perspective of the audience based on the show being made for them not the photographer. 
• Look for the story behind each image you take otherwise you will end up with hundreds of images that don't truly depict the performance accurately. 

I invite you to come out and see a great show as well view work by yours truly in the production material. Find the details below:

The African American Dance Review Season II production (The Progressive Realization of Dreams) will take place on January 28-31, 2010 and February 4-6, 2010 at the historic Rialto Center for the Arts - Georgia State University in Atlanta. All proceeds will benefit the CFED Foundation.

What You Don't Always See!

A shot I used for "Death of A Clown"  that just started growing on me, so I am sharing it with you!;) My fascination with this image comes from the colors and the textures that draw me in. Many times I find shots like these in my archives, but don't always have a place to show them to the outside world. Hopefully this brings you a little bit closer to understanding the mind behind the lens.

Death of A Clown: Collection 1

Emotional Distress

The 1st of 4 in the series, I wanted to depict the Clown displaying a sense of foresight and intuition about the end. My goal was to create a collection of images that told a story through not only the Clown's expression and look, but also through the colors and still life infused into the collection. If you look closely from the top to bottom you will find vibrant colors starting out which soon fade away, representing the gloomy future ahead. I added the still life of a Poinsettia to represent what the Clown was seeing that was causing her emotional distress. Depicting the transition from life to death (In some cases back to life:). After doing a little research I found the Poinsettia's history to be a fitting compliment to the back story of the collection. It took me three days to determine what flower I was going to use, because I am not a big fan of cliche driven symbols....Lastly you will find the Clown gazing into the balloon as if she was a fortune teller looking into a crystal ball seeing her own future. Leaving the collection with an image that represents what is soon to come.

What's Next? 

I am already working hard on the concept for the next collection. I can assure you it will be even more dramatic & detailed with back story/symbolism. This is only 1 of the 4 collections that will be incorporating different models and looks.  Ultimately leading to the last collection which is the "Death of A Clown" so stay tuned!;)

Special thanks to the team who worked on Collection 1- Model: Zoya / Wardrobe Styling: Lamil Designs /Make-Up: Keya /Hair: Zara /Jewelery Designs: Aakoffii

Constructing "The Death of a Clown"

(Model: Zoya /MUA: Keya /Wardrobe Stylist: Lamil /Hair: Zara /Jewelery: Aakoffii )

Back in 2007 I decided to write a list of ideas that I wanted to create and develop before they were forgotten in the shuffle of time. One of the first ideas that I wrote down was "Death of A Clown". I was inspired by the traveling show "Cirque Du Soleil Corteo" where they show the imperfections and mortality of a Clown who dreams of his own funeral. First question that I asked was "How does A Clown Die?" and from there the idea was born to create a series that shows the "Death of A Clown". My interpretation is that a Clown dies when they no longer see the humor in life and become vulnerable to life's struggles. A common thread that link us all together, our own mortality.... 

The first collection in the series are images that show the most basic concept for "Death of A Clown", emotional distress. You will see the subtleties of a Clown who knows that the end is near. I  also wanted the look to be just as subtle, so that the clown is not immediately recognized on first look.  

(Upside down balloons were added to symbolize how the Clowns life was about to be turned upside down.)

I had a blast doing this first shoot for the series which has definitely got me super excited to complete the series! There will be 3 more collections which will lead up to the "Death of A Clown. Look for the final image of collection one coming soon as well as the remaining collections for the series.

Presenting Darien Brockington in "The Cold Case Files" Coming Soon

I have been photographing Darien aka "Dbrock" since he released his first EP about 5yrs ago. I was riding to his debut release "Connected" from The Foreign Exchange about a year before I even officially met him. Since then he has developed into a great "Soul Crooner"
being featured on such projects as "Just visiting too.." by Zo! most recently. Dbrock is now back with"The Cold Case Files"offering brand new material scheduled for release December 29th. Last month we did the photo shoot for the project & lets just say he's going in on this one hard! I was honored enough to get a sneak peek and all I can say is get ready for some HEAT! If this is your first time hearing of him, your in for a treat... If you have been there since DAY 1, your in for a really special TREAT!;) To make sure you get the full scoop on Dbrock and his sound, go sign up on his website www.dbrockmusic.com for lots of goodies to bring you up to speed as well as update on where he will be performing! Not to mention while your there, check out more of our work together for his latest project!

You can also follow him on twitter for his latest updates Here

 

Check him out in "Take off the Blues" by The Foreign Exchange

Take off the blues from Koning Baviaan on Vimeo.

ReEvolution

(Model:Maxx/MUA:AunJolie/Designer:Fly Couture/Wardrobe Stylist:Lamil Designs)

What better way to start off my official JAS Photo Blog, than with the topic of ReEvolution. I have been over whelmed with ideas, creative concepts, and new techniques that have been on my mind for sometime now. It could be because my time lately has been limited to client driven gigs or maybe it's just because the time has come to shed the old work and bring in the new! Which ever the case I have found myself amp'd at the thought of the coming attractions that lay ahead! Keflon61 and myself are currently working a series of images called "The Pegasus Project". This project will be a push for both of us to integrate detailed pre-production and post production through the perspectives of both our styles. So with that said Bookmark Us, Follow Us (JASPhoto & Keflon61), visit our website and allow us to take you on a fantastic journey of ReEvolution with in our world of photography!

Max was one of the first male models that I recently photographed. Outside of the cologne campaign I just did, this was my first real creative endeavor with a male model. You can check my port for the proof!lol Don't know why it has taken this long, but hey no better time than right now!! It was a great shoot and you will be seeing more from it in the days to come.


 


















Link of the Day: What you will find out about me, I am all for the education of others interested in learning about photography. Seeing that we are in the holiday season I thought it only fitting to post a link that explains how to photograph holiday lights effectively. Pretty helpful if your out trying to capture your special moments in front of your Christmas lights! Click here