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I love dance.

Sharky — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:23:08 +0000

It’s always a challenge to take pictures of moving subjects in low lighting.. especially when shooting dancers.. mostly because I want to be dancing with them or just watching them and enjoying the performance… But I was recently asked to shoot my friend and favorite choreographer, Ryan Heffington’s Christmas dance extravaganza, “Babes in Toyland” at the Sweat Spot. It surpassed all of my expectations! Some of my favorite performances were choreographed by Maurice Harris and another by Jasmine Albuquerque. There were so many talented dancers involved.. it was an A+++++++++++++! Here are some of my favorite images.. to see the whole lot of them.. go here.

adding some color….with holi powder

Sharky — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:20:43 +0000

If you saw my last post, I featured my 4 muses who took a backstage to my spring 2012 collection photoshoot.. well, at the end of the shoot we couldn’t help but add some color to these beautiful white bodies. They were like blank canvases waiting for something.. so I brought my holi powder from India and we played.. Here are some pictures of our frolicking fun color explosion.

the 3 muses, in color

the three muses

legs!

feet!

those eyes!

The Four Muses

Sharky — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:43:28 +0000

I recently shot my lookbook for Secession’s Spring 2012 Collection.. you’ve seen some abstract glimpses of the graphics.. and soon you’ll be able to see the actual clothes! But first.. I wanted to show you my four muses! It is the concept behind the shoot.. The shoot was called “the four muses of Spring 2012″ .. I believe there were originally 3 muses.. (daughters of Apollo).. but then later there were 4 (Zeus and Plusia’s daughters). I liked the idea of having 4 girls representing my own personal muses.. painted to look like live Greek statues, standing behind the model to add a little depth and a sort of narrative. Shooting clothes on a plain white background bores me.. and although, I know it should be all about the clothes.. I think it’s also about an image and a story.. so here are some pictures of the four muses.

The Four Muses of Spring 2012 (for Secession)

Screen printing for Secession!

Sharky — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:23:30 +0000

Without being redundant.. I just wanted to post some pictures of some images I took while at the print house over the last couple of weeks.. as you may or may not know, I’ve launched a clothing line called Secession. We are developing our second season! Spring 2012.. The fashion schedule always frustrates me.. you see this stuff, but you can’t get it for months.. well, that’s just how it goes. If only we could snap our fingers and forget about that nasty production process.. would be a huge relief! But alas.. we must make the clothes.. but before that.. we need to make sure they look cool.. hence the sampling process. It’s my favorite part of it all.. after I design everything, it’s when it all comes to life.. and you get to be such a huge part of how it looks at the print house. Without further ado.. here are a few images .. and for more.. check out Secession Obsession! It’s where we update everything Secession related!

L.A. Street Art in August

Sharky — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:22:44 +0000

After visiting New York in May, I was so inspired by all the street art I came across… especially in Brooklyn. Coming back to L.A., I wondered where all of our street art was.. I realized that it does exist, it’s just that it’s not as accessible when you’re in your car. So I decided to make a point to get out of my car a few times and snap some pictures.. here is what I found..

Le Spec Gallery guy - on Beverly Blvd.

exposed heart - Spring St.

Broken arm - Spring Street

Ghandi - Artist District - 3rd and Traction

girls in gas masks

faces on the wall...

Whatever Lola wants…

Sharky — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:07:40 +0000

Lola gets.. and one evening… Lola wanted a photoshoot.. and she got one.. I believe it’s my first time shooting such a young model.. and it was Lola’s first time modeling! It was soooo much fun! One of my dear friends brought his daughter Lola over for a night of creativity and inspiration.. and I believe we all got that out of the night.

Hatching the egg...

the black bird has hatched...

the bird was her idea...

peacock eyes!

bird loving

don't mess with this girl...

Boom! Boom! Burlesque!

Sharky — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:31:27 +0000

I just love burlesque… I even watched the movie with Christina and Cher… and enjoyed it (so what? guilty pleasure… ) The Sweat Spot recital wouldn’t have been complete without Kelleia Sheerin’s Boom Boom Burlesque routine… danced by the very sexy, and very brave Jessica Spotts, Natalya Oliver and Sami Martin Sarmiento! These girls were hot.. and they definitely sorted out a treat for the audience.. You can see my pics of this performance here. Below are some of my faves…

pelvic thrust

booty!

Natalya shows us how bald is beautiful... and sexy!

Boom!

Boom! Boom!

girl power

Jessica movin' those hips!

Too HOT!

One! (singular sensation)

Sharky — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 22:47:08 +0000

Gosh… this was a crowd pleaser indeed!!! and it was a personal fave for me! I loved all the smiles on the dancers… and the simplicity of the black outfits… love! The dancers in this number choreographed by Ryan Heffington are: Anna Claire Simpson, Anna Curtis, Anna Scott, Brandy Menefee, Daniella Chong, Kaycee Krieg, Mario Diaz, Maurice Harris, Max Levin, Michael Churven, Michael Dantienn, Michael Dunn, Paolo Alcedo, Sami Martin, Steven Synstelien, Terence MacFarland, Victor Reyes and Willia Drew. You can see more pictures, including backstage shots here.

ONE!

ladies

the guys

style and grace

arms out! and smile!

Beauties!

Gettin’ Hairy

Sharky — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:18:59 +0000

One of my favorite dance routines (and there were quite a few favorites) is Maurice Harris’ creation.. titled: In a nineties kind of world I’m glad I’ve got my “HAIR”… It was super tribal, raw and had amazing show appeal! You can see all of my pictures from this performance here. But here are some of my faves. Dancers include Austin, Danny Dolan, Mario Diaz, Natalya Oliver, Paolo Alcedo, Ryan Heffington, Terrence MacFarland, Victor Reyes and Zoe.

Hair / no hair

that look!

birds of a feather

Lions of the pride

whip it

Mario the stud

The rim light.

Sharky — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:13:48 +0000

I’ll be posting many more dance photos from Ryan Heffington’s recent Sweat Spot 1st Annual Dance Recital soon.. but my first post focuses on the few shots I got with a beautiful rim light.. I had no control over the lighting, and fortunately my camera allowed me to shoot with a super high ISO.

In a nineties kind of world I'm glad I've got my "HAIR"

choreographed by Maurice Harris

choreographed by Ryan Heffington - Lady Boys of Sweaty

Steven Synstelien dancing for Ryan Heffington

Marlon Pelayo solo with rose

Marlon Pelayo solo