Unexpected Treasures

Head Lamp & Green Fire Truck
Patagonia, AZ

Been thinking about where the treasures are and how to find them. Many times the treasures require searching and lie somewhere beyond the beaten path. Some times they are behind barriers like this chain link fence. Nevertheless there are life treasures to be found.

Some of the best treasures, I've found, are the unexpected random pleasures of meeting new people and establishing new friendships with strangers. Fellow sojourners on life's journey. To my surprise, I love people and care deeply for them. They enrich my life; its why I freely share both my art and words with them.

There are many who have more than me financially, but few have been blessed more. My treasure chest brims full with the friends and rich memories which I've accumulated. My manifest is full of treasures and my life is far from over. By the way I keep score, I should die a very wealthy man indeed.

www.photographybyalhernandez.com

Dancer With Wings: Photo Shoot Part Two

Dancer With Wings
Saritza Velilla-Jenkins
McKinney, TX

For several months, I've been contemplating photographing belly dancers. Like any other commercial photographer, I realized that were several aspects of this shoot which included the clients wants and needs and my own artistic vision.

Saritza Velilla-Jenkins

Like the dancers, I also envisioned my own choreography and story board. The location would add to my canvas as would the dancers and their colorful costumes. My objective was to shoot two types of images: one for them and one for my own project, two very different voices and styles.

Fortunately for me, Lidia Dalida, Saritza Velilla-Jenkins, and Vickylin Malak were all willing to assist me with my project as was my friend and photographic assistant, Del Maclaren. All three dancers were equally interested in my artistic pursuit. Like me they were passionate at what they do. Like them, desire to express oneself outweighed fear of reproach. That voice was louder than the many voices of insecurity.

Originally, the objective was to demonstrate the difference between a point and shoot photographer and one that creates art. However, in the process of studying and doing my research, the art of belly dance, the costumes, music and movement awakened more of my creativity and curiosity. At times, the feelings of an artist made me comprehend my own dormant desires to find my artistic voice.

As the shoot progressed with each dancer, not only was I able to comprehend them but also their desire for self expression. Belly dance is about feeling pulsating rhythms that lift the spirit to dance, celebrate life, and transcend beyond. The dancer literally takes on wings as she entertains both the audience and herself. It's her stage to do as she pleases and the music dictates. Music, life itself, choreographs the dance and she dances in essence to the melody of life. Learning to dance life's melodies is learning to live and to enjoy life. It was certainly not what I expected to learn.

www.photographybyalhernandez.com

The Princess and The Photographer

Regal Simplicity

"Of course, I do have a slight advantage over the rest of you. It helps in a pinch to be able to remind your bride that you gave up a throne for her"

King Edward VIII

Once upon a time, in a land far away from New York, there lived a photographer who wanted to make young brides dreams come true. He had spent his life making corporate dreams and visions come true but the rewards left him hollow, void of feeling. He never knew why until he met an undiscovered princess.

The young lady, a princess in waiting, like the photographer  also didn't know her own qualities. She searched for the right photographer who would be able to capture her wedding day with her prince. When the day came for the photographer to meet the young woman, his eyes grew as he envisioned what the princess could not see. He would make her a princess before her own eyes.

Prior her wedding day, the photographer took the undiscovered princess to a dreamy castle, a place appropriate for a photographic coronation. He knew in his heart that this location would be befitting a princess in waiting. 

When the princess arrived at the castle in her simple chariot; she was amazed and nervous, a bit overwhelmed. The photographer was equally amazed but not at her nervousness but at her inner beauty that matched her regalness. Before she even changed into her wedding regalia he could see her majesty.

Inspired by what he saw and how he felt, the photographer began to photograph her majesty, fit for a prince. Together the princess and photographer worked along with their entourage to create with light what the photographer could sense and see.

"You are beautiful." The photographer whispered as he shot his frames. "You don't truly know how beautiful you are but I will show you and others forever." He worked quickly trying to use his allotted castle time wisely. They had started early in the morn but at the stroke of twelve, at noon, the proper owners of the castle would return.

After many visions, locations, and changes, the photographer and the princess's work came to a close. "May I see what you've done thus far?" She inquired. He held out his camera to the young uncoronated princess to view. 

"I hope these please your majesty; your beauty is worthy of a king." Your servant simply tried to capture you in the best possible light and how your majesty truly is. The princess smiled broadly as she viewed the images in awe. She never thought that she was a princess let alone worthy of a prince. Now she knew better.

All fairy tales end with happily ever after. I am happy to report that the both the new princess and photographer will both live happily ever after because they had the privilege of working with each other.

The END