Uprising Tour with Big Gigantic - Ana Sia and Cry Wolf, Brooklyn Arts Center, Wilmington, NC

I had the opportunity to shoot a pretty incredible show last night (11.28.2012) thanks to the people at Beyond EDM and Progressive Music Group. On the bill was Big Gigantic, DJ Ana Sia and opener Cry Wolf, duo originally from Raleigh, NC. There was a great crowd in a pretty incredible space which was once an old gothic church now turned venue, the Brooklyn Arts Center. Everyone who performed was spot on and did an amazing job at getting the floor moving. However, It was Big Gigantic who was the show stopper with their talented saxaphonist and drummer workin' with the EDM. Here is a couple of shots from the show.

Plantation Wedding

The following wedding was shot in Tarboro, North Carolina at the Coolmore Plantation Home. Coolmore Plantation is an Italianate Antebellum Plantation House built in 1858-1861. The house was designed by Baltimore architect E.G. Lind for J.J.W and Martha Powell. I was recently lucky enough to shoot the Jones Wedding there on November 7th 2012. Beautiful original furniture inhabit all of the rooms along with the original plasterwork. The main hall of the building has a incredible spiral staircase and fresco curving wall adorned with trompe-l’oeil paneling. This incredible space is skylit and the top floor is ablaze with the light that shines through the endless panels of stained glass. In one word : Stunning. Cotton fields surround the home along with a series of the original out buildings. It has, in all, a very fairytale feel from a time long ago... now just add a beautiful bride in a vintage wedding dress and you have perfection! Don't forget that rockin' 1959 Corvette that was in attendance (wink)

Men Ink Magazine Issue #3 Available now!

The New Men Ink Magazine Issue #3 hit the streets Friday! This issue features Gabriel Lehman "Artist Enigmatic" with Cover Photo, Cover Story Photos and One For The Road Photos by Christina Cole. If you aren't able to pick one up locally in Wilmington you can see the online version here... http://www.menink.com/

even Wilmington's Mayor has to have his fix of Men Ink.

Photo Credit for Mayor Saffo goes to Men Ink. Magazine!

Our Calendar Girls are Cookin'

Online voting is up and going for Men Ink's Calendar Girls! And these chicks are cookin'! It's a close race but you have till Friday to get your vote on if you are not attending the actual party to vote. First vote on your favorite image here. You can only vote once so make it count! My shots are #'s 1-8 http://www.menink.com/featured-articles/men-ink-ortons-image-voting-page/

Model: Adrienne O'Docharty

Models Pictured from left to right: Scott Parks, Carol Anne Watts, Adrienne O'Docharty, Morgan Pereenboom Aldridge, Stephania Schmidt, David Harding, Mary Grey Johnson

Model: Stephania Schmidt

You can also vote for the most beautiful model... show these girls some love they really worked hard for Men Ink and me! http://www.menink.com/featured-articles/men-ink-ortons-model-voting-page/

Model: Heather Philip

Model: Morgan Pereenboom Aldridge

Model: Adrienne O'Docharty

Model: Morgan Pereenboom Aldridge

November 16th at 7pm - 10pm at Orton's (133 N. Front Street, Wilmington, NC) is the exhibit and live voting party. So come out, have a couple of cocktails and show your support!

Men Ink Pin Up Calendar Viewing and Voting!

On October 21st, I and a three other great photographers got to participate in something truly challenging and surprisingly fulfilling. I was contacted earlier in the month by the staff at Men Ink to participate with three other very different photographer's to shoot a pin-up style magazine in conjunction with Orton's Pool Hall in Wilmington, NC. They chose four rising, local Photographers, with extremely different styles and backgrounds to shoot one day in a bar with 12 models depicting a modernized version of Pin-Up Photography. The goal of the magazine was to raise awareness to certain businesses, photographers and models by hosting the shoot and then a series of release parties. One of the release parties would be held specifically for the voting of which photograph would be chosen for the cover of the calendar and also for the most beautiful model. The prize for winning being cash awards for the prettiest gal and cover stories for the photographers work. The second in the series of parties involves a meet and greet with the models and photographers where you can purchase glossies of the work, the calendar and have it autographed as well. The main focus of the latter event is to also sell the calendars where as Men Ink in their charitable generosity is donating proceeds to the Full Belly Project.

The Full Belly Project is a non-profit organization that creates appropriate technology for rural communities. Their mission is to distribute income generating agricultural devices to improve life in these rural communities. They design products that are affordable, self-propelled, income generating, durable and culturally acceptable. Their machines are used in over 36 countries and 4 continents!

Back to a little about the contest. We spent the Saturday evening before at a meet and greet with the models and makeup artists. Let me tell you that meeting a model only 16 hours ahead of a shoot with no idea what they look like, what they will be wearing, what the makeup artist can do and then trying to come up with a pleasing scenario without this knowledge in an underground bar with little existing light is a challenge to say the least. The Fairy Circle, a local Wilmington, NC consignment shop, did their best to provide appropriate clothing as close to vintage 50's pin-up as possible. I could be wrong but I think Edge of Urge somehow worked themselves into the clothing as well. The day of the shoot... some of the girls brought their own makeup artists. In usual model fashion we had two drop off at the last minute. I quickly got on the phone and called two of the prettiest women I know in Wilmington and they were amazing and so cool to oblige with such short notice. Somehow I feel it was cheating that I got to shoot them instead because they both are truly flawless. It took little to no effort to make them beautiful and they both know their way around modeling techniques and bring their own personalities and style to the table. I didn't have to tell them anything or do anything... them just being was enough to get the perfect photo. So honestly I think it was a blessing the other girls dropped. The other real gem in all of this was my one model who brought her entire wardrobe trailer and outfitted all of the girls that I shot in authentic vintage gear! You can't ask for that kind of luck!

So the next step is gathering everyone out to come to the voting party which is November 16th at 7pm-10pm at Orton's Pool Hall 133 N.Front Street, Wilmington, NC

The party will introduce two contests: One contest has the invited photographers competing for the top prize: Cover shot on the calendar and $100. For the other contest, the models will compete for the coveted “Hottest Model” distinction, with the winner receiving $50. Photographs will be displayed and party attendees will vote on the respective categories. Besides the live gallery voting, interested voters can also visit http://www.menink.com to judge the photographs and models from a posted slideshow. The winners will be determined upon completion of the voting.

After that...

December 7th Orton's will be throwing another party for the release of the calendar where you can come in and pick one up! The girls and the photographers will be there for autographs if the general public wants one.

And I know since it will be a while before anyone really catches on to the blog I will go ahead and post my favorite.

main FB event is located here https://www.facebook.com/events/238904582904394/

Christina Cole Photography exclusively at New Elements Gallery

If you are looking for limited edition prints from Christina Cole there is only one place in the Wilmington area that carries them. New Elements Gallery located at 201 Princess Street in beautiful downtown Wilmington, NC. New Elements Gallery has been...

"Acknowledged as one of Wilmington's premier art and craft galleries, New Elements offers a wide variety of work by regional and nationally recognized artists. Located in historic downtown Wilmington since 1985, New Elements Gallery features original paintings and prints, as well as sculpture, contemporary craft, jewelry, and custom framing.

New Elements Gallery is proud to represent those artists that consistently produce high quality work, and takes pride in the solid relationships that are established between artist and gallery. We exhibit work by various gallery artists on a rotational basis March through November, often gaining much attention from area press.

Visitors worldwide make a point of returning to enjoy this distinctive collection of fine art and craft, and are frequently impressed by the sheer volume of work available at New Elements, much of which is featured on the gallery's website. New Elements also offers art consultation services and is committed to helping you find the unique piece of art that best represents your style."

the personal representation

Levitation Photography

The first question that would come to mind about mine or anyone's photography, had I been asked, would be ... "is it original thought?" The second would be "what message does it convey?" I often tend to look at my photography as more of an artform than the typical straight wedding, family, children's shoot. I want my work to take with it a little more depth than the average snapshot or over the mantel portrait and the client to take home something original that can stand on it's own. I always want the photographs to represent something genuine and more so, I want to create something very specific, unusual or personal for each client. This is my goal.

Above you will see an example of "levitation photography." Granted, there is now a wide variety of this style of photography available. I think we can all thank Brooke Shaden for the movement it has created. Though, honestly, I don't believe anyone could carry it as well as she. My goal when I brought Ms. Shaden to Wilmington, NC was to learn something new and innovative from her.  And, of course, to provide Wilmington with something different and untapped. There were no intentions to mimic or recreate but to incorporate into the daily aspects of what I am producing. This, in a small town, would be considered a niche of sorts. Of course, as with anything in the forefront, there would be a bandwagon effect. I feel, as someone that digs emotionally into her clients psyche's and tries to show what lies beneath, that the effect will stand on it's own despite various reproductions.

The above study was a photograph from the actual class done in Brooke's fashion albeit with not so much of the refining that she is known for. The photograph entitled "Shelter" depicts someone being swept away as another takes shelter underneath her whirlwind. This was specifically created from Brooke's class for Brooke's class and is in no way intended to shadow her style but only to show the learning process. As the blog progresses you will see tiny attributes to this in each photograph.

Descriptively I would say my photography lends towards the ethereal. I want to depict everyone in a beautiful, enchanting light. Though this is sometimes in a dark way, it is really up to the client in which way they would like to be perceived. I actually enjoy both immensely, feeling they are both a part of one another.

Ethereal

Photoshop. For the longest time I was opposed to photoshop because in my head it was "cheating". Respectfully, it took the teaching old dog new tricks theory to banish that thought process. I mean who wants to be thought of as an old dog? I graduated art school in 1992 and there were no second chances, it was all film, all in camera or nothing. That is the old dog talking... However, as a constant challenge for myself, I hang onto the "Get it in Camera theory"and Photoshop comes second. Below is an example of this idea. We use elaborate sets, locations, props etc. to create the effect first and foremost in the camera and the rest comes secondary. In essence, this creates quite an adventure for the client as well as a whole new level of fun and a one of a kind experience. 

location, pyrotechnics, smoke, available light and creativity

elaborate prop, life size nest built, 20 ft oak tree, fearless model

Hopefully all of this will give you some insight on how I see things when approached about doing a shoot. That what you can expect is 100% of my attention and more so, attention to detail, you and the artful creation that will occur! I most certainly still do regular photography. I will gladly do weddings, head shots, family sessions, children or anything you can think of. Just know, with Christina Cole Photography, it will be a full concentration on you and what you want conveyed in each shot, in a fun atmosphere and professional manner.  

For now more examples of my work can be viewed here until there is more fodder loaded in these blog pages...

https://www.facebook.com/PhotographybyChristinaCole

Contact me directly at:

CCole41@ec.rr.com or 910-547-0960