Blue Dress: express your true nature

Bold, Beautiful, and Blue... As I pour myself a cup of ambition in learning Portrait & Studio Photography, I also started building my own model pool. Rather than hiring a pro (budget-wise, I can't afford one), I listed some people that I know and set qualifications that I posted in my Facebook March 19, 2010:

"I'm looking for a female model to work with me this Sunday: Asian or Latina, tall, slim, long hair, expressive eyes, nice smile/skin. No make-up/hair style required. No restrictions. No allergy as it's Outdoor Portrait Pictorial...TFP / TFCD arrangements only."

Uma & Chi were the last on my list. Not because they didn't meet my criteria but because they are camera-shy. On a daily basis, you'll see them comfortably wearing jeans&shirts and no make-up, scrubs for Chi, and hiking pants/shirts/boots for Uma. But they are both beauty and brains.

Early Spring 2010 - the Mustard grass grows itself. We trespassed a private farm (that I've been eyeing for years) in the countryside, a perfect setting for my theme Blue Dress: Express Your True NATURE. To enhance my shot and to give extra layer of depth, I added some props for this pictorial: red hat, red daisies, orange-purple scarf, and simple jewelries. I had planned for an early morning or before sunset pictorial but didn't happen. The strong natural light during the mid-day is always a challenge.

Uma: Sanskrit name meaning "luminous or serene". Also a name of the Goddess Parvati. In Hebrew, it is "Peace of the World".

Uma is my hiking buddy and my bestfriend. We met while on a hike in Point Reyes in 2006. A native from India but (over)educated in the U.S. Her passion is hiking and her music (Indian Classical).

Uma is beautiful and poised. She didn't know that not until after our pictorial. While reviewing the images from my camera and on screen, she kept on asking me "Chu, is that really me?"... Her modeling reveals her true beauty and helped building her self-esteem that she is one beautiful creation.

Chi is Maria Azita. Azita is an Iranian-Persian Feminine name meaning quick-minded, sensitive nature. Also a name of an Iranian princess.

Chi is a former co-worker and a friend. We still work for the same company but in different department. As she moved up to higher position, I comfortably stick to my position and working myself out to the wonderful world of photography. Her passion is her family.
Chi is beautiful and gorgeous. Her serious look reveals more seductive alluring look. This girl can walk the model runway!

Bold, Beautiful, and Blue...I turned my camera-shy friends into super model and let them express their true nature in my Blue Dress Collection. As I build and create my own model pool, I also empower these simple ladies to bring out their beauty and let them shine!

"Blue color is everlasting appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight. The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most." - John Ruskin

[click the images to enlarge]

Anything Goes: When I get to compete with the Masters

For the first time in the history of LVCC - March 26 Anything Goes "Fun" Night Competition

• not rated (no outsider judge, instead we judge other photographer's work)
• new rules: we compete with everybody, one cannot vote their own work and can only vote once on each category.

[In a regular meeting competition, we compete based on our level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and the Masters; we have an invited "outsider" judge to critique our work and any winning images will be sent to Northern California Council Of Camera Clubs N4C.]

Exciting isn't it?...but what's the chance of winning if you get to compete with the Advanced and Master photographers?....Then I thought "If I carefully review and select the best images from my collection and let Creativity kicks in, I will have the chance to get some vote and never think about winning. Besides, it's a Fun Night!"

How did I do?....

Architecture: Milwaukee Art Museum
1st place: Marichu Pereira
total #images: 19

comments from the photographers:
1. Wow!
2. It will draw your eyes to the Museum.
3. Good light!
4. I like the detail and the shadow...
5. I never thought that you can submit in Monochrome.

my commentary: I'm never good in Monochrome but I decided to do and submit in Black&White. This is the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin last Spring 2009 which I recommend that you add it in your list. If it's not windy, the roof will open up and will look like a sailboat. Inside it's like a Star Trek space ship.


Post Card: Plumas County: Fall Season
total #images: 16
comments from the photographers:
1. I like the inclusion of the Highway sign.
2. I love the Yellow flowers sitting on the red foliage. And the right Depth Of Field effect.

Not a winner BUT a runner up - a tight competition with the winning image from the Master (our club's president). Missed by one point for a tie-breaker (I voted on his image).

Fashion: Blue Jersey Dress: Express Your True NATURE
total #images: 19
comments from the photographers:
1. Wow! did you go to Napa for the Mustard?
2. You can enter this also in Creative Competition

Not a winner but a runner up - I get to compete with the Master (my photographer)! At the end of the night he came to me and said "Marichu, I thought you're going to beat me again!




Other Pictorial: The Wicked Camper
Not a winner. I just threw it in there...simply for fun :D






To win and to become competitive with the Masters (rated or not) means alot to me...To get the majority vote of my fellow photographers has a big effect in my self-confidence ~ an assurance that I'm capable of producing winning and competitive images especially when I least expect it (Monochrome:Black&White).



If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing ~ Marc Chagal

[clcik on the images to enlarge]