KB Jones & The Kontraband

Recently I had the pleasure of spending the day photographing KB Jones & The Kontraband. Above are just a few of the shots we took. Not only are these four of the best guys you'll ever met, they're also four of the most talented and original. Whereas most MC's perform over a beat, KB performs with The Kontraband live behind him. Their band is the perfect blend of so many genres, such as hip hop, rock and pop. You can not put this band in a box and that's what I love most about them. They're also fun, so so so much fun! Seeing them live is proof of the raw talent they have and they never disappoint. Give them a listen by going to their website and/or facebook page! And be sure to check out their upcoming show to help feed NYC's homeless animals! March 28th at Pianos, 158 Ludlow St NYC 10002!  See you there!

New Series of Self Portraits

2015 has already left me with really great feelings and we're only two months in. I have been getting my list together of things I would like to accomplish this year and pursuing photography further is a main one. I took photos of a band recently (blog post tomorrow) and they really inspired me to push. So the very next day I went and put myself in some debit for the best purchase I believe I have ever bought, a Canon 6D. I have needed a full frame, professional camera for way to long now but always put it off because I'm really "good" with my money and believed my Nikon 3000 dslr was okay. The truth is if you don't invest in yourself, no one will, so I went out and just did the damn thing! This is already my favorite camera I've ever picked up and clicked the shutter, and I don't even know all of the ins and outs yet. My phone has become my remote, showing me what the frame looks like before the shot is ever taken, giving me 10 seconds to move if needed and see what the final image looks like all without even moving. I obviously had to try this feature out, and these are the results. My first self portraits of 2015. 

People can write off self portraiture as narcissistic, but those are people who might not use the medium to not only create art, but as therapy. There is something really eye opening about capturing yourself in a moment. It's a way of figuring out just who you are and exploring different ways of expressing yourself. I started taking self portraits seven years ago, and have learned who I am inside and out with the help of that lens. Something I've also noticed personally is that I tend to take them in my darker moments. When I'm not feeling so positive or happy, I reach for my camera, turn it onto myself and work through those feelings through the lens. I suggest you try it! "The best camera is the one you have on you" so turn that iphone on to yourself and explore some paths you may have never known about!

Photos/Edits: Victoria Galvin

Collaredowlet@gmail.com

Silence yourself.

"Whatever you hold in your mind will tend to occur in your life. If you continue to believe as you have always believed, you will continue to act as you have always acted. If you continue to act as you have always acted, you will continue to get what you have always gotten. If you want different results in your life or your work, all you have to do is change your mind."-Unknown

We tend to become our own worst enemy, saying things and thinking things about ourselves that we would never think about others. I used to believe I just lacked confidence, or something of the sort and that I would think negatively about myself forever because that's just how I was wired. That couldn't be further from the truth, and I'm glad I learned that lesson. What you give power to in your mind, has power over you, repeat it over and over again.

For a couple months now I have been in the process of changing my mind. At first it took constant effort, until it didn't. What once was negative is now positive, with little to no effort. I remain positive of all things, and try to get my loved ones to do the same. Of course you'll have slip ups, bad days and so on, but even in your darkest hour, change your mind. Just change those negative thoughts back into positive ones. Love yourself for who you are now, even if you're in the mist of trying to create a better life, body or job, because without your own support, you're setting yourself up for failure. Give power to the positive and tell the negative to go take a walk.

Photos: Keri Collins

Edits: Victoria Galvin

Collaredowlet@gmail.com

Deconstruction

Deconstruction: Using vinyl covers and famous artworks, 2013.

These are the last works I ever made in college.

Nostalgia at it's finest.

Calling all ladies!

Ladies! Valentines Day is approaching and whether it's a gift for yourself or for a significant other, we can photograph you if interested! We could do an in studio shoot or on location. Contact me if you're interested in some self loving or shared loving photos!

I started thinking about self love because of valentines day (as corny as that is). I've had the same person in my life for five valentines days in a row, but not this year. The relationship I've been in for about a year now is the most important relationship in my life, and it's with myself!

Have you ever been so mean to yourself and then stopped and thought "I would never think this or say this about anyone." I have and I feel a majority of girls may have as well. Thinking they aren't good enough, pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough or funny enough. When really you're enough, you're more than enough. Whether you're in a relationship with another human being or not, you're always in a relationship with yourself, and I don't think you'd be as mean to the important people in your life as you are to yourself. So stop! Because you are the only you, and that's pretty fucking incredible.

Contact me at collaredowlet@gmail.com if you're interested in photographs of any kind.

A collared owlet first

 

           

 

          

 

Some photos I recently took of Josh, a singer // rapper // song writer.

Quite possibly for cover art. It was the first time I photographed a male in this manner! 

Six words.

 

"Just literally stop giving a fuck"

Six words, texted to me from my go to human in life, my sister.

Six words that have now become my mantra.

Six words that could help many others just like me.

 

 

I am a textbook Virgo (if you believe in that kind of stuff) with OCD and a lack of confidence.

It doesn't come easy changing my mindset, yet I attempt to every morning when I wake up.

Some people believe if you constantly receive positive feedback, that confidence follows and there is nothing
more untrue than that. Confidence is embedded, you have it or you work to have it within yourself,
it's that simple. I try and step back daily, and not compare what I'm doing and what brings me happiness to others.
This practice of changing my thoughts has been something I work on in all aspects of my life, but has
been in full effect art wise since I started to like grit and grain in photos. I am not all that confident in my
clear works, so putting photos such as these out there, takes a lot. Those six words, constantly running
through my head. If you change your thoughts, you can change your life and to be honest
it's working. I do not care, like them, don't like them, fail, succeed. Repeat it, over and over.
 

 

 

Those six words. Literally, stop.