As I’m beginning to complete my photoshoot projects for 2019, I get to reflect on the various locations where photography has taken me since I became interested in lifestyle photography. Up to this point, with a 48-mile distance, Brooklyn is the farthest place to which I traveled to photograph someone’s portrait. Going to Brooklyn in New York takes me about two hours, including a subway transfer, which may be nothing for most people, but for a semi-reclusive, introvert person like me, it sure is an adventure in itself!
Pictures on this post are from my photoshoot with Elyssa in Bushwick, a Brooklyn neighborhood filled with vibrant urban art. Elyssa is a New York-based model with experience in the fashion industry who is familiar with this location and suggested it to me. We met in Bushwick halfway in the afternoon under a fantastic quality of light that made things pop and also diffused contrast from one moment to the next. With so much color and light variation all over the place, we ended up with a variety of images that, in my opinion, evoke different moods and complemented with Elysas's style. To follow Elyssa on Instagram, check @elyssa_scarlett.
From the moment I got to Bushwick and began to take it in before meeting with Elyssa, I was soon absorbed by its classic infrastructure, including stoop steps, water tanks on rooftops, and the occasional classic vehicle; all of which are reminiscent to film noir movie scenes I enjoy watching. Although the great variety of murals and graffiti art certainly are enough to make a lasting impression, what stood out to me the most was a feeling of history in this place. I couldn't help to wander how much was lived inside those apartment buildings, businesses, or even sidewalks.
This photoshoot in Bushwick with Elyssa was sort of an affirmation to how I now feel responsive when working with a camera in a new place. The amount of experience I have earned in these past photo sessions has made me more aware of context, and it’s great to have 'context' supplement my creative vision as it helps increase my chances to leave with a successful image.