Collab with Nicole Matthews

Giann Enid (me)
photo by Nicole Matthews
Facebook: Giann Enid
Instagram: @giaoliv
Twitter: @giaoliv

                                        

Nicole Matthews

Facebook: Nicole Matthews Photography
Instagram: @nicoolematthews
YouTube: Nicole Matthews

                                         

 For the past two Saturdays I received the opportunity to work with the incredibly talented Nicole Matthews. We collaborated together on a project that she was working on for the college she attends (Cleveland Institute of Art). Her idea was to re-create some of the Disney Princess stories into a dreaker way, and she succeeded! The photographs where absolutely stunning and super creative. As we worked on making her ideas come to life we also shot a few other photos with other people and it was super fun. On our first Saturday together we shot by ourselves. I took photos of her and she took photos of me. We also filmed a video of how we shot our photos, props etc. Nicole also made a speed edit on how she edited the photograph which is extremely helpful. Check it out!

Here are a few photographs by Nicole:

Location of our first session together:

The location took place in a local abandoned building. Its a beautiful spot in which I've done many other sessions like the one where all of the papers are flying up in the air. Funny thing was that a police officer showed up and asked us what we where doing, and when we explained he was totally ok with it, but then he told us that he thought we where
there feeding the homeless.

Some of the images that I shot during our first Saturday together:

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Our second Saturday together:

Snow White costume made by Nicole, for her college photo project.

Our beautiful location yesterday. (Somewhere in Avon Lake)

Prop used yesterday for one of Nicole shots which might still
be a work in progress.

Nicole did an amazing job on Merima's make up yesterday! I felt so
bad for Merima as she had to wear such little cold in the freezing weather,
but it all paid of at the end. I really love working with Merima because she's
always willing to go the extra mile!

Final Image by Nicole Matthews:

Here are two of my final images:

The dead of the earth.

From the earth.

                                  A few other photos I took during our session yesterday!

Carlin.

Nicole.

Carlin, Nicole, Merima.

Self Portraits

These are just a couple of "selfies" I have taken in the past few months! Enjoy! And thanks for he great support! :)

Bayan

                                                          

 

Bayan and I have been friends for about a year and a half now. And since the day that we met I wanted to photograph her. She's just so beautiful and sweet so I'm glad that we're good friends! For this series I had a terrible time dealing with technical difficulties such as "noise", because we shot pretty late and my camera wouldn't catch the small lighting there was to give, but we managed to work it out a bit!

What I tried to interpret through this series was the power to be free from the impossible. A young girl breaking away from all impossibilities, and creating them possibilities in reality, and becoming free to do them without a worry in the world! There are no impossibilities in this world, you can truly do anything that you set your mind to, fly even! It is all in your mind to think that you simply "can't be free from doing something" you have the power to choose! And the biggest gift that we have is the power of imagination, so if you think something is impossible... Imagine it! Because it is as real as any reality!
     

Jordan

                                                                        sleep walking

                                                                            purity

                                                              lost thoughts, & lost dreams

      This is Jordan, one of my best friends from high school. What I find unique about this series is that the second we agreed on her letting me take these photographs she said "I'm too awkward for photos, i don't know if i can do this". I replied by telling her that all I needed was for her to do nothing! I love Jordan's unique look, and when I was thinking about this concept I thought of her. Her pale skin is so flawless and just simply beautiful, and let me not get started on her beautiful facial features!

      I intended for this concept to speak to those who are heaving a rough time in life at the moment, and continuously think about "ending it". Even in the darkest times life can bring us we have to stay positive, I know it's hard and we feel as if the way out is by "ending it once and for all" but just think about this? Isn't getting the chance to exist and experience it already beautiful? Think about how privileged we are to see the world, to feel it, and to breathe it. Life is though but it's all about challenges and overcoming them, and you CAN do it. Because as cliche as it sounds, life is what YOU make it and even if you stand alone, or are drowning in sorrow keep your head up because after the rain there's a rainbow, and you won't be there forever. Live because the fact that you've received a chance to be here, is already enough!

How I create a levitating image!

Step1: As you can easily see Danielle holds Giannette's leg as Jordan flips her hair. After this part of the photo is done, I take the exact same photo of the background only. (the use of a tripod is highly recommended)

Step2: (I used photoshop cs5 for this part) On photoshop I simply combine both photos, adjust them with one another (pretty much making them
one). I then use the eraser tool and erase Danielle and Jordan out of the photo. There! it's that easy!

Step3: I make the color adjustments of my choice, such as; color balance, hue and saturation, color curves, vibration, exposure etc. And there it is all done! Try it!

 creatures in my dreams

Danielle

                                                                  some place far way

                                                            don't be scared, it's over now

                                                                     skin of the night

      Danielle, and I have known each other for many years now, we're practically sisters. she has been one of my "models" since the day I got my first camera, so for this series I wanted to use her unique looks to create a small concept. I hope that this to speaks to many of you as it speaks to me, especially to the ones being held back by something that makes you believe or think you can't accomplish/do something. These images interpret the fight we all have with ourselves, thinking we're "not good enough". As you can see in the first frame she has clothing on, hiding away her natural beauty, (or self, it doesn't necessarily have to just interpret being self-conscious about your body type, it's an overall interpretation of your mind). In the second frame she is wearing less clothing--meaning she's feeling a bit more confident, and trying to break away from what is holding her back. Last frame shows her nude body, as she has learned to be okay with exposing her self: (meaning she breaks away from the burden that kept her away buried in thought, of not being good enough.) 

Honestly I'd like to share a personal story that inspired me to create this. I myself feel everyday of my life as if I'm not good at anything I do, and I'm always terrified to take on challenges because of this. My mind has a mind of it's own, and I tend to over think everything. I freak out about the smallest things, but lately I've been going out of my comfort zone, and learning to appreciate/value my self a little bit better. I've even taken on challenges I would have never taken before, and I can honestly say that some of the positivity has made me a better, stronger individual. I've learned to understand that life is much more bigger than any problem, or any challenge. We have to learn, and break away from the things that imprison us from living.

Miguel

                                                                             Miguel

 As some of you may know, Miguel and I have been together for quite a while now, and honestly I couldn't wish to be with anyone else, this is my better half! He is one of the only people who has brought me up when when the world's fallen down. Miguel is also one of my biggest inspirations, not just with art but with life itself. I have never seen such dedication in a person with everything around life, it's simply amazing! But the story behind this photo is quite funny actually. He is a poet who stands in front of hundreds of people and easily performs, but to take this simple photo he gave me the hardest time. His excuse was "I don't want to, I'm tired". But I know his pride was too high to stand there and "model" for me, and I think it was the cutest thing ever!