Zodiac by Chroma Magazine

CHROMA magazine

zodiac april 2021

CHROMA magazine

A publication celebrating young & talented creatives from the VSAA photography community and beyond. Volume 6 issue 4 April 2021 Editor: Isabelle Bennett Advisor: Abby Harris Staff: 11 issue.com/chromamagazine chromamag2015@gmail.com All photographs belong to the artists and have been published with the permission. DO NOT copy or share any images without explicit permission from Chroma Magazine. Thank you for respecting the photographers featured and the integrity of their work.

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Editors Letter As spring rolls around, our staff wanted to find a unique theme to highlight each individuals talents. This is how Zodiac began, it is an Issue dedicated to astrology and the ideas behind different star signs. This issue is meant to be lighthearted and we hope you see the fun and dedication behind each photographers series! Sincerely, Isabelle Bennett

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Table of contents Lily Jonas//6-13 Bria Austin//14-21 Anna Saltzberg//22-27 Ethan Waddle//28-35 Isabelle Bennett//36-41 Abby Harris//42-49 Kaitlyn Norstrom//50-55 Tori Moffet//56-63 Ian McCuen//64-71 Will Braaten//72-77 Brandon Nerat//78-85 Bella Williams//86-91

Cover Photo// Isabelle Bennett

Awaken Lens Awaken Your Your Lens

By: Lily Jonas 6

Sparked by the curiosities of zodiac symbols and their embodiment in peoples’ lives, I aimed to capture the individual identity and reveal what can lay under the surface of a photograph. When I think of zodiac signs and astrology, the first thing that comes to mind is the birth chart every human has that reveals their individual identity based on information of their birth day. A misconception that comes with zodiac signs is that every person who is of a particular sign acts and pertains the same traits, which is far from true. Zodiac signs hold the ingredients for a person's identity, giving a very broad overview of the characteristics and practices of each group, not the detailed, individual characteristics that separates one aries from another.

I wanted to set the mood for my photos by staging my models in a dark setting with one light source and dark clothing to capture the purity of their being. Through muted tones, I wanted the photos to be raw and authentic of their true beauty. With the photos, I pulled them into Photoshop where I experimented with how I could add a deeper understanding of each person's human identity pertaining to astrology. With illustrations on the photographs, I projected birth charts in addition to the portraits. I also included the symbol of the sun that holds tremendous importance and in a centralized symbol in the universe. Through my series, I wanted to highlight the importance of diving deeper into someone's identity to enlighten the depth and power each individual holds beyond their appearance.

Awaken Your Lens Lens Awaken Your 13

AURA

Bria Austin

What did I do? I took aquarius themed zodiac pictures and utilized white and blue colored light to not only represent water but also air because aquarius is an air sign. I wanted these photos to have an ethereal and comforting feeling so I used a piece of plastic wrap to give the pictures a soft and grainy effect.

Why did I do it? I chose the aquarius zodiac sign because that’s my zodiac sign. I really wanted to focus on pictures having to do with water because I hadn’t really taken pictures like that yet, and it was nice to use pictures with a simple backdrop and simple props.

How did I do it? I used a sphere opaque light for the lighting and I took the pictures using my bathroom sink and a model. I put my camera on the highest shutter speed setting.

Arcane

-understood by few; mysterious or secret.

Anna Saltzberg

For my zodiac inspired photo series I choose to focus on the zodiac sign of aquarius. Aquarius are born between january 19 and february 19. They are an unique sign not understood by all. Through my series I wanted to focus on different aspects of aquarius. One being there symbol which is the water bearer. The water bearer represents carrying the emotion of others and helping them. I also wanted to focus on the traits of individuals born under aquarius sun. Those people tend to be unique, caring, independent, and loyal. But they also tend to disassociate themselves from others when they get overwhelmed and that makes people tend to see them as emotionless. But that is just how they react when overwhelmed. They also have colors associated with the sign, some being neutral colors found in nature but also blues. In my series I had my model out in nature to help show natural colors. She also wore a blue accented dress, and the background of a few photos was the sky. I had my model portray a calm, but strong emotion in her photos. I wanted them to feel her strength and her uniqueness. In my photos you can see my model holding a pitcher, that is to represent the water bearer aspect of my sign. I took these photos outside using my digital camera, I utilized the natural light and shadows to take my photos. I then edited these photos on lightroom to give them a film-esque look, and an edit I think makes the photos look timeless. I choose Arcane for my title because people under the aquarius sign are misunderstood by others and we are a unique sign.

Arcane

-understood by few; mysterious or secret.

pleiades

Ethan Waddle

For this series, I chose the sign of Taurus. Taurus are often seen as down-to-earth and relaxed homebodies, so for my subject, I chose the most honest and relaxed person I knew, which happened to be my dog, Pickles. Taurus is my dominant sign and the one I feel most attached to, so it felt like the obvious choice while exploring my birthchart. To take the photos, I set out a blanket for Pickles and waited for her to settle down (which took maybe all of ten seconds). After she was comfortable, I repeatedly invaded her personal space with a standard Canon 18-55mm lens. I chose to do this series in this way because I had never taken quality photos of Pickles before, and I can definitely say that I’m proud of these ones. I would have taken photos of her in nature, but, to her, a nice fuzzy blanket is much better.

twin suns Isabelle Bennett

I focused on the astrological sign Gemini and how people often associate this sign with being two faced or a snake. I made my photos look ex pensive and over done to fall into the stereotype that they are often egotistical and only focused on how other people see them. I thought looking at what people would say are negatives about this sign in a fun way that comes of pretty might add another layer to the thoughts behind it.

ARIES

Abby Harris

The symbol of the ram, with it’s powerful horns known as “the horn of plenty” embodies strength, passion, and courage. The first zodiac sign, Aries, is known for its reactionary and impulsive character, which can serve to ignite necessary change by destroying the status quo. The photo graphs chosen for this series were created with the fearlessness needed to take risks and try new things.

My photography doesn’t typically fall into the realm of graphic

design, until now. I enjoyed giving myself permission to take risks with edits, color, and placement. Photography and graphic design are good friends and I enjoyed bringing them together for this series.

My model, Miguel, is an aries like me. His strong profile and bold

stare sum up the confidence required to live as an Aries. Miguel is a fear less leader, bold, risk taker, courageous, pioneer with a fair heart.

kaitlyn norstrom water signs

EARTH SEASON

For this Zodiac Chroma, I decided to go with one of my two signs, Taurus, the earth sign. Taurus is the sign of comfort, the sign of stubbornness, the sign of those who are dependable to the point where they get lost in others problems and for get about their own.

Tori Moffet

GEM

IAN MC 64

MINI

CCUEN 65

Then took photos of both my sister and I, side by side to represent the twins. To get the double effect of me in the photo, I simply put my camera phone in panorama mode and ran to the other side of the camera so it looked as if I was looking at myself. The theme for the project was zodiac signs and I have always wanted to learn more about my own zodiac sign. So this was a great opportunity to research the different things that represent Gemini to incorporate them in my photos.

For this series I chose to base the photos around my own zodiac sign, which is Gemini. I took my sister to the park near our house and dressed us both in yellow (the color for Gemini). I took a picture of wind blowing through my sister’s hair because it represents Gemini’s element air. I took a pho to with my sister wearing Gemini’s stone.

Eccentric Thoughts -Will Braaten

Eccentric thoughts is a small series on the zodiac sign aquarius. This sign is known for being shy/quiet but eccentric/energetic, as well as an air sign. I view them as a very ethereal sign and I took inspiration directly from that. Due to all aquarius’s entail I choose to do a very calm peaceful theme to my images. Capturing natural beauty in the things around me.

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Rainfall

Brandon Nerat

For my series I didn't know what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to use water. My zodiac sign is aquarius and even though it's an air sign most people associate it with water. I like messing with extremely slow or extremely fast shutter speeds. So water + fast shutter speed + a friend willing to be shot with a hose = my series.

I wanted to try to get water droplets frozen in mid air but the droplets were too

small so it became a little hard to see. I try not to do any post editing, but I had to do some color correcting on this series.

I used a 1/4000 shutter speed with a prime lens. I had taped a hose to my car and

clamped the trigger down so that it was constantly spraying. At the time of shooting it was still winter so the water was extremely cold. Thankfully I had a friend who lived next to me and was willing to get sprayed with a hose in the middle of winter.

Rainfall

By: Bella William

Earth Signs

For my series I chose to highlight my beautiful plant room and some of my most favorite plants. As an earth sign, I feel my best and most at peace when I am surrounded by and get to take care of nature. This room is my favorite room in the house by far and its where I spend most of my time

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