Christmas and Sibling-hood

Happy holidays my dear readers!

Today I am sharing some portraits of my brother, and, as the holidays draw near (really really near!), I find myself thinking about the way in which holidays bring families together. I remember being a child and loving Christmas, because everyone was cheerful and we naturally balanced time together with quiet time alone (usually playing with our new toys). As I got older Christmas became more tense as my brother and I began to draw apart. As our relationship deteriorated so did our enjoyment in each other's holiday company. Fortunatly over the past few years my brother and I have been slowly rebuilding our relationship, and becoming... well I like to think that we have become friends. There are still rough patches and topics that we avoid discussing, but we have gotten back to the point where we can joke around and enjoy being in the company of the other. I am looking forward to this Christmas in part because it means I will be able to spend more time with my brother, and hopefully continue to get to know him better as a friend as well as a sibling.

Is there anybody you are looking forward to learning more about this Christmas?

May your holidays be filled with joy,

AK

The ISBN Project

Hello my dear readers,

Today I have a very special project to introduce- the ISBN Project. The premise of the project is simple- the subject provides me with the title of their favorite book. I then take that title and find the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). After the ISBN has been found, the subject chooses a place on their body and the ISBN is stenciled onto that location. The area is then photographed against a black background. 

This project is very dear to me because A) I am a bookworm and I wish to earn my Master in Library Sciences, B) I believe that a person's favorite book reveals something about who they are, and C) I am intrigued by the way in which we, as a society, define ourselves by numbers (school ID numbers, social security, height, weight, credit card numbers, etc.). I hope that this volunteer based project will cause people to consider these themes, and perhaps give them a glimpse into the lives of those around them. 

I have already completed one volunteer's image, which was shot this past Easter when I first conceived the project. I then placed the project on hold while I completed my Bachelor's degree and had stencils made. The stencils are now complete and I hope to begin shooting very soon! If any of you are interested in participating or are just curious about the project, please feel free to email me at akphotog@hotmail.com. 

I hope that you are all having an amazing summer, 

AK

To Brianna- A beautiful model and a dear friend

An oversize sweater that once belonged to someone's grandfather. A beautiful girl, a dear friend, seeming to softly glow in the fading light. A click- the shutter- and then through the silence comes another sound: laughter, laughter all around. We talked, we laughed, we drew closer together- and as I look back upon those images I see you perhaps more clearly. Mysterious, beautiful, strong, and yet still growing- you, my friend, are a constant source of inspiration.

With my thanks for sitting constantly infront of the camera and for laughing at my jokes as if they were funny,

AK