Portrait of a Musical Mind

Charlotte Fine Art Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (4)

Charlotte Fine Art Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (4)

My thoughts have always wandered to what defines a person and makes them unique. What is the character that lives beneath the skin. Portraiture is a study in that sentiment. Seeking an inner being through a relationship with the subject in order to convey a bit of their soul in a photograph. Strength, humor, wit, or wisdom, whatever the quality, a photograph must show more than just a face. I find a musician to be a particularly intriguing subject. Their mastery of an instrument and lyrical prowess is a skill that I have much desired yet been unable to fulfill. They have a way of viewing the world that lends itself to making truths into tunes and memories into melodies.

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The Unknown

Charlotte Fine Art Wedding Photographer

Charlotte Fine Art Wedding Photographer

When I lived in Colorado, exploration was a daily task. I have always dealt with a wanderlust of sorts, and that state gave me the ability to scratch that itch in spades. A vast state with rolling hills, jagged mountains and weather that is as temperamental as my own moods. Such a diverse landscape provided hours of driving and exploration. So off I would go in my ’92 4Runner, to see what there was to see. One of my favorite places to walk and explore was Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The rock formations were beautiful to behold at a distance and even grander to sit on be a part of. What struck me most about these massive red stones reaching skywards was their texture. They were jagged yet full of sharp angles and textures and greatly reminded me of Mediterranean Cypress trees with their overall smooth and stately look. I would often go and sit or walk there in the evening and as the sun dipped low over the Rockies in the west, it’s red soft light wrapped gracefully around the jagged edges and set the rocks ablaze. I would stay there until the sun had set and a cold breeze rolled in. While walking out I would the rocks would seem more imposing somehow as if they were closing in for the night like a flower. I miss that place and the fact that even the tourist areas were still a little bit wild and dangerous.

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The World Has Changed

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (15)

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp (15)

Hi everyone! I wanted to say thank you to all who have voted for me during the public voting portion of the Dedpxl 07 Assignment.
Your support has been more than appreciated and I could not have come this far without the hundreds of people who have voted for my
image. If you have not voted yet, please go over to http://dedpxl.com/dedpxl07-vote-for-the-finalists/ and vote for my image (#8).
Remember, you can vote from computer, smartphone, and tablets. Every vote counts and make a huge difference!
You have until tomorrow evening (Nov 25th) to get your votes in.

Again, thank you to everyone who helped and worked so hard on this project!
Thank you to Reema Abdellatif and Nick Mozea for modeling, Casey Nelson Lombardi for hair and makeup,
my lovely wife Rachel Abplanalp and our good friend Isil Dohnke for assisting and holding reflectors,
and Caroline at FROCK Shop for providing the wardrobe!

Makeup & Hair: Peaches and Glitter
Location: Wing Haven Gardens
Wardrobe: FROCK Shop Revival
Models: Evolution Talent Agency

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dedpxl 07

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp

Charlotte Wedding Photographer - Nathan Abplanalp

My image has made it to the top 10 for the Dedpxl 07 assignment!
I am so excited to see how far it has come in the critiques
and would love if you went over to Dedpxl and cast your vote! and cast your vote!
Thank you for all your support!

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Fine Art: Larissa

Nathan Abplanalp - Charlotte Photographer (7)

Nathan Abplanalp - Charlotte Photographer (7)

For a photographer it is incredibly important to challenge yourself. Give yourself something to think through and plan out from scratch. Personal work gives me a chance to work through ideas and challenge myself with lighting. I generally do not use harsher, direct light, but tend to lean towards the softer, all illuminating light so this shoot was a bit more stretching. It was great to get out of the usual thought process and give myself more options to work with. I am also very pleased to say that I burned through several rolls of Kodak Portra 400 with my Mamiya 645 AFD and hope to get those developed and up on here as soon as possible. A huge thanks to Larissa for working with that direct sunlight in her eyes and giving me such grand photos.

-Nathan

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Vermont December 2011

Nathan Abplanalp - Charlotte Portrait Photography (14)

A small house in Vermont

While in Vermont I had a couple chances to just go out and shoot for me. I love these times that I can just go out and take photos of what I feel like taking photos of. No pressure, just looking for something interesting with good light. I get to play around with any lenses or techniques that I want to. I would recommend that every working photographer do this as it helps to keep your mind sharp and the creative juices flowing. I hope you enjoy them!
-Nathan

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