Smaragd's Photos

Tori in the historic Fairhaven District of Bellingham, Washington.

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Gotta love that tat. How come you never see anybody with a Microsoft Windows tattoo? (Don't tell me. As a lifetime member of Team Apple myself, I already know.)

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I created this concept and graphic yesterday after the combined news that flickr is censored at the source in certain countries, plus Thomas Hawk being wrongfully censored by Flickr staff. Please take this graphic and repost it everywhere you can -- especially on flickr, but also here, on photobucket, wherever. Put it on MySpace, Facebook, your blog -- anywhere it can be seen. If Yahoo! and Flickr are going to censor people, let's make sure EVERYBODY knows about it. Let's get flickr closely associated with "censr." They are earning their own reputation; let's help them out.

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Tori in the historic Fairhaven District of Bellingham, Washington.

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My first shoot with Mariya. We started out in my studio, then went to a church just down the road to shoot in front of their heavy wooden doors, and finally went across town to end the shoot in our local cemetery. Mariya is a strong collaborator in that she had a good idea of what she wanted from the shoot. But she was also receptive to my own ideas and input. I really believe working with a model should, ideally, be an equal creative partnership. This shoot was a perfect example of that -- an even combination of her ideas and mine, the synergy of two creative streams coming together.

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My first shoot with Mariya. We started out in my studio, then went to a church just down the road to shoot in front of their heavy wooden doors, and finally went across town to end the shoot in our local cemetery. Mariya is a strong collaborator in that she had a good idea of what she wanted from the shoot. But she was also receptive to my own ideas and input. I really believe working with a model should, ideally, be an equal creative partnership. This shoot was a perfect example of that -- an even combination of her ideas and mine, the synergy of two creative streams coming together.

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Larissa Vanity is a rising model in Northwest Washington. She has strong presence, an equally strong personality, and is both a total knockout and a true professional. Although I've been aware of her for well over a year, this was my first shoot with her. Although it was raining — a downpour at times — she never balked, and even embraced the rain with enthusiasm.

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If you ever have an opportunity to cross Washington State by way of highway 20 through the North Cascades, be certain to stop at Washington Pass Overlook. A very short trail leads up to the overlook where you can take in an amazing view of Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winter Spires, Kangaroo Ridge, and the highway winding through the trees below. The scene is breathtaking, and it alone is enough to make the whole trip worthwhile.

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First photo shoot with Dana. I had a really good feeling about this shoot beforehand. I think it met and exceeded any expectations. Dana is tremendously fun to shoot with, being adventurous and playful. She also managed to draw shy, reclusive me out of my shell a bit. Had a really good time, and shot far more photos than I ever have in one session before. Good thing I had just got a second memory card for my camera! More of Dana to come over the next several days.

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My first shoot with Mariya. We started out in my studio, then went to a church just down the road to shoot in front of their heavy wooden doors, and finally went across town to end the shoot in our local cemetery. Mariya is a strong collaborator in that she had a good idea of what she wanted from the shoot. But she was also receptive to my own ideas and input. I really believe working with a model should, ideally, be an equal creative partnership. This shoot was a perfect example of that -- an even combination of her ideas and mine, the synergy of two creative streams coming together.

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First shoot with Flannery. Sunny day on a big lawn, with a reflector to light her face. She's amazing.

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My first shoot with Flannery. Like Faust, I first noticed Flannery in Machine's photos. I feel a little intimidated shooting somebody who has already been so beautifully photographed by a photographer whom I admire. In those cases, I'm always worried about whether I'll be able to do her justice, or if I will look inferior compared to other photographers. But photography is not a competition. And I'm gradually learning that my own style is different enough that it's hard to draw an immediate comparison with other photographers.

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Aleah's first studio shoot. Aleah is a new model right here in Bellingham, a classic blonde beauty with a sparkling smile. This was the first shoot in which I've experimented with using a "hair light," and I think the results are great. We did a lot of straightforward portrait shots, and I think we hit gold. The photography here is less adventurous or experimental, and more about just capturing the beauty that is already there. And I really wanted to make sure she had some great headshots to act as a starting point and foundation for her modeling portfolio. I'm sure we'll do more shoots in the near future.

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My first shoot with Orpheus Faust. I first saw her in photos taken by Machine, and was stunned. I knew immediately that I wanted to work with her. It was months before I approached her about doing a shoot, but she agreed to work with me. After a couple of failed attempts to arrange a shoot, we succeeded today. Faust is even more amazing than I expected. Her personality is much more friendly, funny and relaxed than anybody is likely to guess from her photos. And when the camera points her way, she turns on like a spotlight. She lights up and gets straight to business, hitting great, dynamic poses like she was born for it. An amazing girl, and a fantastic model. I can hardly wait to shoot with her again.

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"American woman gonna mess your mind." -- Bachman Turner Overdrive

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New shoot with Jessika in the studio. Some real forethought and planning went into this shoot.

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Beautiful, romantic Miss Cat's Valentine's Day dream. Miss Cat is a member of the Northwest Pinups 4 Troops.

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