The Heart of Things

There comes a time in every picture takers life where they are required to step outside of the box and try something a little different. Something that lies somewhere between the safe and mundane, and art. Few of us wanna be photographers will ever produce anything the masses will understand and love. Few of us who picked up a camera a few years ago and have very little "formal" training will ever see our pictures grace a gallery wall. And that is perfectly ok.

Even so, anytime you practice any kind of art you find yourself wanting to push the boundaries. To step outside and try something new and maybe just a little uncomfortable. Just to see what you can do.

I am lucky enough to have a friend who has a vision. She has an artists eye herself and the courage to push boundaries. And so our little boudoir session was born.

Of all the shoots I've done I can honestly say that this was probably the most fun and the scariest of all of my picture taking ventures. It is probably the first time I've ever gone into a shoot with a vision and a true story to tell. I knew going into it that these were not pictures that the majority of people would appreciate. It's a little edgy, a little raw, and a little...well, naked.

 When you are blessed such as I was with a beautiful subject and gorgeous light, it's hard not to get stunning pictures. Even if out of most everyone's comfort zones, I found a certain peace stripping the photos bare and making art for arts sake.

It's true, these will never hang on a gallery wall. It will, however, hang forever in my heart as a step towards taking chances and never allowing myself be confined by any kind of social constraints. Taking beautiful pictures of beautiful people? This is what makes my heart soar.