Allure: Solitary Confinement this Christmas

By Erika Yamaguchi

24 Dec 2009

I've been studying black and white since, FOREVER. I want to master it and embrace its goodness! So, here again, its christmas.

For me its another boring season, because i don't get to spend it with people i love or at least i don't get to spend it with people i want to spend christmas with. I decided to make myself happy for the moment, despite the sadness. I thought of a concept with how i feel about christmas this year. I came up with an i idea in my head, a picture of some peg. I thought, why not shoot a topless girl, with long black hair, and an emotion thats not for christmas at all. That's how it started.

I didn't have much of options in my home. All i have was a flowery wallpaper, and some white doors. But then again, i can't let it stop me from making my idea come to life. I talked my sister in to it, gladly she agreed to be my model. At first i thought, why not a family portrait, me, my mom, and my sister topless, with long black hair, and a uniform like pose. It sounded great. But my mom was busy. So, eventually, i did hair and make up for my sister, and the shoot began.

I had 3hrs left before christmas. I made sure that my black and white theme will be a beauty and at the same time i will be able to show my message. Its hard to shoot B&W specially if you haven't mastered it. If you have the passion, and the courage to shoot and shoot and shoot, you'll get what's expected. Try and try! You'll gain a lot! Try to focus on your subject, and make sure your background isn't a clutter to your subject. Let the contrasts be solid to attract the art of black and white. Remember, Lighting is a must! Wether available or not, work with what you have!

So, to make it short, i ended up with 700 photos. I had to choose wisely. All in all i kept 6 portraits of my sister. I loved the outcome. I loved how it defined my christmas. It looks bright and all beauty, but inside its like i wanna break free from it, i wanna shout and tell the world, my christmas is another "Ordinary day." But still, i'am happy with my shots. Its the best christmas present i can ever give myself this holiday.

Beauty in ones solitary state is a confinement to the reality of fear.

VOTE: Do you like this story?

Tell a friend about this story!

To
From
Message
or

Preview

Hi there!

thought you might like this story!

http://jpgmag.com/stories/14403

Thanks,
—The JPG team

4 responses

Chris Sanford (Deleted) gave props (24 Dec 2009):
Great story; voted! Congratulations to you and your sister for a beautiful series; you turned your Christmas boredom into a triumph!!!
Winston D. Munnings said (25 Dec 2009):
Very creative and well done. Hoping you have a lovely Christmas, however.

Merry Christmas.

Winston.
Erika Yamaguchi said (25 Dec 2009):
Thank you winston:) i did have a lovely christmas:) food was good:)
Adrian Reilly said (27 Dec 2009):
Great idea & images, Christmas can be a lonely time of the year for many people