Light and Truth issue Two Overview

LIGHT AND TRUTH

INS IDE

ISSUE 02 - SPRING 2012

WH AT’ S

AN INSPIRATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL

WELCOME This spring issue is above all infused with the lightness and refreshment of the season. And what a lovely light it is: not yet the thick and generously golden glow of summer, the light of spring possesses a kind of weightless beauty all its own. Tender, nuanced, shifting and luminous, it calls to our imaginations and coaxes us to play. For photographers in particular, the return of such light evokes a delicious joy, a hopeful anticipation of so many radiant photographs come‌ With this in mind, we’ve gathered an enormous range of materials to inspire and clarify your creative and technical flow this season - from tips on spring cleaning for your business and perfecting exposure to details on capturing gorgeous shots of everything from families to food. And yet as we compiled this material, another theme organically emerged on its own: the importance of imperfection. Many of the featured stories and images, including a look at Japanese Zen aesthetics, Ukrainian egg painting, and awakening our senses in the woods, now form an extended meditation on the tender impermanence of existence and the myriad ways in which our art evokes and expresses our relationship to it. All are meant to rouse and kindle your own responses to the season and your ultimate journey as an artist.

So as you throw open your windows, air out your studio space, and get your equipment ready for your most brilliant season yet, take time to deeply refresh your creativity and insight with this newest issue of Light and Truth. Enjoy!

contents 05 07 13 19 25 31 35 45 57 69 79 87 97 107

SPRING CLEANING

Preparing for the busy season ahead.

WHAT IS THIS WORTH? Reflections on an artist's value.

FILM GOES DIGITAL Scanning simplified.

ORGANIZING YOUR BUSINESS Tips to keep you organized and productive.

WABI-SABI

Imperfection through the lens.

FILM & FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

By White Loft Studio.

ERIKA VERGINELLI

Interview with photographer Erika Verginelli.

BARN SWALLOWS

Photo essay on clothing designer Shannon Wilson.

PYSANKA

The art of Ukrainian Easter eggs by Olga Lang.

ELIZABETH MESSINA

Interview with photographer Elizabeth Messina.

MICMOJO PHOTOGRAPHY

Interview with photographer Jan Scholz.

BLACKBIRD STUDIOS

Photo essay on artisan potter Paige Coull.

THROUGH A FOREST WILDERNESS Refreshing our senses in the woods.

PREPARING FOR THE SEASON AHEAD Advice by Laurie Johnson Photography.

LIGHT AND TRUTH ISSUE 1 | SPRING 2012

Cover photo by Elizabeth Messina for 2012 Ruche lookbook. www.shopruche.com

Amy & Richard McDowell Photographers & Editors

Jessica Kerr

Writer & Copy Editor

Ineke Kkamps

Contributing Photographer

Laurie Johnson

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

FEATURE ARTISANS

Erika Verginelli Elizabeth Messina Jan Scholz White Loft Studio

Shannon Wilson Olga Lang Paige Coull

Contributing Writer

Brandon Wright

Contributing Writer

Michelle Loewen

Contributing Photographer Light & Truth is published quarterly by Red Leaf Studios Inc. All content in this journal is Š Red Leaf Studios Inc. 2012. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

CONTACT US

info@redleafstudios.ca ADVERTISING

info@redleafstudios.ca www.lightandtruth.ca

AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS

INSIDE ISSUE TWO OF

LIGHT

& TRU TH

Spring Cleaning SPRING BRINGS WITH IT A NATURAL SENSE OF INVIGORATION AND MOVEMENT, PRESENTING US WITH THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO TIDY UP AND CLEAR NEW SPACE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES - INCLUDING OUR BUSINESSES. HERE WE FEATURE TIPS FOR BRINGING FRESHNESS AND VITALITY INTO YOUR WORK AND PREPARING SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE BUSY SEASON AHEAD. Photography by Michelle Loewen

What is this Worth?

MOST ARTISTS GRAPPLE WITH THE ISSUE OF PRICING THEIR WORK AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. FEARFUL OF ASKING TOO MUCH BUT DISCOURAGED BY ASKING TOO LITTLE, WE OFTEN STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH FAIR PRICES WITH CONFIDENCE. HERE WE ADDRESS THE MANY FACTORS AT PLAY IN PRICING AND OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING THE VALUE OF WHAT WE DO.

Exposure: Taking the Mystery out of the Light Meter SEEING LIGHT EVENTUALLY BECOMES SECOND NATURE WHEN YOU SHOOT FILM, BUT THIS PROCESS ALSO INVOLVES CAREFUL ANALYSIS, VISUALIZATION, AND COMMITMENT. IN THIS STRAIGHTFORWARD

TECHNICAL

ARTICLE,

PHOTOGRAPHER BRANDON WRIGHT CLARIFIES EXACTLY HOW TO METER USING THE LEFT SIDE OF YOUR BRAIN WHILE LIBERATING THE RIGHT SIDE TO CREATE.

Film Goes Digital: Scanning Simplified FILM IS NO LONGER SEEN AS THE WAY OF THE PAST - IT’S A CLASSICALLY RELEVANT TOOL FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPHER WITH AN ASTUTE EYE AND ADVENTUROUS WILL. WITH THIS IN MIND BRANDON WRIGHT BREAKS DOWN THE DETAILS, EQUIPMENT, AND TECHNIQUE OF ACHIEVING PERFECT SCANS.

Organizing Your Business OVER

THE

YEARS

WE’VE

CONTINUALLY

REFINED THE SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW US TO STAY

ORGANIZED

AND

PRODUCTIVE

IN

OUR BUSINESS, DETERMINING THROUGH A PROCESS OF TRIAL AND ERROR WHAT WORKS AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITHOUT. TO HELP YOU ESTABLISH YOUR OWN ORGANIZATIONAL FLOW, WE’VE LAID OUT A SET OF SPECIFIC TIPS

AND

TRICKS

THAT

HAVE

PROVEN

INDISPENSIBLE, INCLUDING DETAILED CLIENT FILES AND CLIENT WORKSHEETS.

Wabi-Sabi Through the Lens WABI-SABI, A QUINTESSENTIAL JAPANESE AESTHETIC, IS

THE

BEAUTY

OF

RUSTIC

IMPERFECTION,

IMPERMANENCE, INCOMPLETION - OF LIFE AS IT APPEARS ON THE THRESHOLD OF EMERGENCE AND DISSOLUTION.

IN THIS CONTEMPLATIVE ARTICLE

SET AGAINST A BACKDROP OF HAUNTING IMAGES

BY INEKE KAMPS, ARTIST JESSICA KERR EXPLORES THE PHILOSOPHY OF WABI-SABI AND GATHERS SOME QUALITIES, THEMES, AND PRACTICES THAT ALLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS TO TAP INTO NEW WAYS OF SEEING IN THEIR CRAFT.

Film and Food Photography “SHOOT WHAT YOU LOVE AND ALL GOOD THINGS WILL FOLLOW,” SAYS HEIDI MURPHY OF WHITE LOFT STUDIO.

IN THIS BEAUTIFUL

ARTICLE HEIDI SHARES HER LOVE OF FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY AND ALL THE SPECIFICS OF SHOOTING EXCLUSIVELY WITH AVAILABLE LIGHT, CHOOSING THE RIGHT FILM STOCK, AND ALLOWING THE UNEXPECTED TO BECOME PART OF THE STORY - NOT TO MENTION A RECIPE FOR HER MAGNIFICENT HONEY, SAFFRON AND GINGER CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL...

Erica Verginelli WE ASKED TALENTED BRAZILIAN PHOTOGRAPHER ERICA VERGINELLI ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HER INCREDIBLE PORTRAIT AND COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS, WHERE SHE FINDS HER INSPIRATION,

AND

HOW

SHE

DISTINGUISHES

HERSELF SO SUCCESSFULLY FROM HER PEERS IN A CROWDED DIGITAL MARKETPLACE. HER ANSWERS COME ALIVE AGAINST A BACKDROP OF HER MOST TENDER AND AUTHENTIC FAMILY IMAGES.

Barn Swallows A PHOTO ESSAY AND INTERVIEW WITH SELFTAUGHT DESIGNER SHANNON WILSON OF BARNSWALLOWS APPAREL REVEALS THE INTRICATE BEAUTY OF THE CLOTHIER’S STUDIO AND THE INTRINSIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FASHION, NATURE, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Pysanka IN THIS SPECIAL SPRING PHOTO ESSAY AND INTERVIEW, ARTIST OLGA LANG SHARES THE HISTORY OF PYSANKA – UKRANIAN PAINTED EGGS – AND THE RICH SYMBOLISM AND TEACHINGS OF THIS ANCIENT ART FORM. DELICATE PATTERS, SATURATED COLOUR, AND OLGA’S DEEP JOY FOR LIFE FILL THESE PAGES AND EMBODY THE RENEWAL OF THE SEASON.

Elizabeth Messina NOT ONLY DO ELIZABETH MESSINA’S GORGEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS GRACE THE COVERS OF COUNTLESS MAGAZINES, SHE IS ALSO THE CREATOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING

BLOG

KISSTHEGROOM.COM,

THE AUTHOR OF A BRAND NEW PUBLICATION, THE LUMINOUS PORTRAIT, A WIFE, AND A MOTHER OF THREE.

IN THIS LENGTHY INTERVIEW GRACED BY

ELIZABETH’S TIMELESS IMAGES, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HER ETERNAL QUEST FOR BALANCE, HER TOP-SECRET SHYNESS, HER DREAM PHOTO SHOOT, AND HOW SHE MANAGES TO PUT HER SUBJECTS SO BEAUTIFULLY AT EASE.

Micmojo Photography HERE GERMAN FASHION AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER JAN SCHOLZ, NOW BASED IN BRUSSLES, BELGIUM, SHARES SOME OF HIS MOST STRIKING IMAGES WHILE SHEDDING LIGHT ON HIS SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT LOCATION

AND

THE

TRANSFORMATIVE

EFFECTS OF INSPIRATION.

Blackbird Studios IN HER WORK, CERAMICIST PAIGE COULL FINDS A VOICE TO SPEAK ABOUT HER HISTORY, HER PRESENT, HER ENVIRONMENT, AND PEOPLE WHO SURROUND HER. WE SPEND AN AFTERNOON WITH PAIGE TO CRAFT A LIGHT-FILLED PHOTO ESSAY OF HER UNIQUE CREATIVE PROCESS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HER ARTISTIC JOURNEY FROM FIBRE AND PHOTOGRAPHY TO HER ULTIMATE TRUE LOVE - CLAY.

Through a Forest Wilderness AS ARTISTS, AND ESPECIALLY AS PHOTOGRAPHERS, MOST OF US DWELL WITHIN A STRONGLY VISUAL REALITY. HERE WE ENTER THE COASTAL RAINFORESTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST TO EXPLORE A RENEWAL OF EACH OF THE FIVE SENSES, EMERGING REFRESHED, CONNECTED, AND INSPIRED TO CREATE.

Preparing for the Season Ahead AS THE WEDDING SEASON APPROACHES, MANY OF US ARE TAKING STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK AHEAD GOES AS SMOOTHLY AND SUCCESSFULLY AS POSSIBLE.

HERE LAURIE JOHNSON SHARES

HER EXCELLENT ADVICE ON PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING RUSH BY HONING IN ON SCHEDULING, ORGANIZING EQUIPMENT, PACKING THE RIGHT STUFF, FOR

AND

MAKING

SMOOTH,

POWER-FUELED

STRESS-FREE,

AND

SNACKS

ENERGIZED

WORKDAYS.

AND SO MUCH MORE!