TonyWardStudio.com

Smile: www.PhiladelphiasDentist.com

Editor’s Note: March 23, 2012 – To contact Dr. Jeff for consultation: 215-592-4747.

Daniel Brooks

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Toan Nguyen

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Taking on this assignment, I knew I had to photograph Daniel Brooks. As a freshman at UPENN, I have become friends with many students since the beginning of the school year. Yet, among those, there is none quite like Daniel. He has charisma – that would make anyone feel like his best friend. Miami is Daniel’s hometown, known for the sunshine and the warm atmosphere that would make any visitor feel like home. Coming from a place that values a relaxing attitude, Brooks expresses himself fully as a person that is always willing to smile. His facial expression of smiling and laughing at the same time accentuates a sense of happiness, his usual emotional state.

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Daniel Brooks

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As Brooks and I became close friends, I also got to know his other emotional states, other than happiness. Very often, when he is upset, he usually knits his eyebrow as if there are many thoughts in his mind.

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Brooks is a smoker. While many smoke to show off their coolness, Brooks is different. He finds in smoking the tranquility he needs when things do not turn out the way he wants. Brooks, then, often smokes when he is upset or feels the urge to clear out his mind. The act of exhaling smoke, as he describes, symbolizes the feeling of relieving stressfulness, which brings him peacefulness.

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Daniel Brooks

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Another reason that he smokes, is because occasionally smoking allows Brooks to concentrate. When there are various external circumstances that distract Brooks from focusing on a certain issue, smoking allows him to eliminate those distractions in his thinking process. This is fascinating, as not only smoking is helpful as a tool of relaxation, it aids him in his thinking.

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Daniel Brooks

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My friend has a habit of exhaling very slowly to watch the smoke vanishing in the air. This is also a reason why I like capturing photographs of him exhaling smoke and with this eyes gazing at the smoke slowly vanishing. This brings a dreamy mood for Brooks, the character in the photo as he seeks tranquility in his activity.

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Daniel Brooks, therefore, presents himself as a character with happiness, as illustrated by a constant smile and laugh on his face. Yet, when he is at other emotional states, there are certain facial expressions or habits that are attached with them. The knitting of the eyebrows and the habit of smoking and gazing at the smoke vanishing characterize Brooks as a very deep person in accordance with his happiness.

About The Author: Toan Nguyen is a freshman enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Class of 2015

www.Alt-Er-Ego.com

Posted on March 17, 2012 – Copyright 2012

Ashley

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Ryan Feit

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……….Stressed out from her job on a New York trading floor, Ashley struggles to smile. It’s not just the long hours, but also the struggle of being one of the only women in a male-dominated business which has taken a toll on her. She is trying to unwind but feels weighed down by the Blackberry in her coat pocket and the previous day’s pressures still on her mind.

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As soon as she removes her business jacket, I can see her begin to transition into a completely different person altogether. She sheds it like a butterfly that slowly emerges from its cocoon.

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Ashley

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After tossing her stress aside, she begins to look forward now and discusses our plans for the evening. She starts to cheer up and I quickly capture a hint of a smile…but it doesn’t last long. Ashley is still looking forward but the trading floor has created a mirror which blocks her vision. I begin to become worried that I might lose her to the past.

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But then…wham! Dionysus takes hold of her and she makes a full metamorphosis. She bursts through the emergency exit, into the stairwell. She has finally escaped the tentacles of her job and it is here that I capture the mesmerizing, confident Ashley I know best.

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Ashley

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She is now mentally on vacation, ready to take on the world. She is excited for a big night out but then she looks even further down the horizon. She begins to talk of vacation plans for Memorial Day, Labor Day and even Christmas. I knew Ashley would eventually break free but sometimes it just takes a little wine.

Photos by Ryan Feit: Copyright 2012

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About The Author: Ryan Feit is enrolled in the MBA program: Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Mikel & Miles: Malibu, 1988

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Mikel Elam

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…………I love this photo of Me imitating Miles! It was the summer of 1988 and my second year as Miles’s assistant. We were at his home in Malibu, California for a few days – before leaving for Japan for various musical engagements. The man in the background of the photo is famed architect, John Lautner – who designed Chemosphere, the masterpiece home used as a backdrop for Brian Dipalma’s film entitled, Body Double. Miles was going to build an extension on his home, to include a painting studio. Of course Miles only wanted the most progressive artists consulting with him, so he chose John to design it.

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Mikel Elam: Strange Addiction

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Editor’s Note: To see more of Mike Elam’s paintings, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.

Brooke Lynne

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Brooke Lynne

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STRIPPED: A Tony Ward Studio Exclusive Blog Series – Part 3

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……….Even though I had modeled nude and been a featured dancer at clubs when I was younger – I never danced at a specific club as an ongoing occupation. I called my best friend who was a dancer a few years ago and worked at several clubs in Philadelphia to help me prepare, and came along during shifts to offer support. My goal here is not to bash any other clubs although of course I think Risque is the best. That’s why I chose it. Different strokes for different folks.
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My first audition was at a go go bar with a couch room. The girls didn’t perform topless on stage and it was brightly lit for a strip club. The girls didn’t really strip. They kind of just danced in their underwear next to the poles. Immediately I was disappointed. The driving force behind this endeavor was my breast needed to be seen! I went to the dressing room to get changed and felt like I had walked into a rival team’s locker room after winning a game. I was perky, excited and introducing myself and they were cold, irritated, and unwelcoming. It was clear my upbeat positive attitude wasn’t appreciated. After a very unhelpful introduction with the DJ and a series of confusing instructions – I prepared for my “moment to shine”. I was asked to dance to one song, leave the stage, change, and go to the office.

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I went on stage with a pit in my stomach. What was I doing? I reached the pole and looked across the bar at the wall to wall mirror and saw myself: bra, panties, and heels. I felt a sense of power and calm come over me. I went through my routine and became more fluid and relaxed as the song continued. What a rush. Then it was over. I rushed off stage as fast as possible because I had no idea what to do next. I proceeded to the office where I was asked to fill out an application with job history and references. The manager took a Polaroid of me and asked when I could start. I said soon, but what I really meant was after I auditioned someplace else. It was definitely a great place to loosen up, but there was no way I could work with girls that didn’t smile. Plus my breasts hated wearing a bra.

Copyright 2012

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To Be Continued……….

Sarah and the Daguerreotype

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Leah Apple

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I decided to make this entire series black and white, although I did give some of the photos a more greenish hue in an attempt to capture a more dream-like, ‘Wizard of Oz’ kind of an environment. The purely black and white photos represent the undeniable reality.

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Early 19th Century to Present

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Sarah lives inside of her own head. She has recently been experimenting with a sort of “old-world” look: high-neck, drop waist dresses, and modest collared blouses. She enjoys shopping for antique art, and together, we have enjoyed admiring daguerreotypes in second hand stores. The daguerreotype (next to Sarah’s portrait) inspired the lead photo because I was struck by how much power and emotion it captured in spite of the fact that the viewer does not see the girl’s eyes. Similarly, the photograph of Sarah next to it explores the ridges and texture of her face without being distracted by the eyes.

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Sarah

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The Eyes are the Window to the Soul

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Sarah finally lifts her gaze and momentarily, invites me into her world. I see that what I first perceived as aloofness is actually depth. Her penetrating stare reveals someone who is deeply contemplative, and perhaps lonely and vulnerable. Sarah reveals that for the first time in her life, she feels “weak” within her relationship. Whereas she’s used to feeling like she wields the power, Sarah now feels like she might be more in love with her boyfriend than he is with her.

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Sarah

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Passion

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As she begins to expose herself, I notice subtle changes in Sarah’s gaze. She is still collected, composed, but she cannot mask her sadness. The intensity of her stare is emblematic of Sarah as a person: she is passionate about everything she does. Now though, when she feels that her passion is unrequited within her relationship, Sarah wonders whether she needs to lower her intensity level, and ponders how to go about changing herself.

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Sarah

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On her Turf

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“I need to have a discussion with my boyfriend,” Sarah states vehemently. “I need to tell him how I feel.” She wants this conversation to take place on “her turf” though, so that she can feel like she has control over the location, even if she doesn’t have a say in the relationship. We head over to her apartment to take photos in her own environment.

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Sarah

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Confidence

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It’s nice to see Sarah in her own environment. She radiates confidence in every pose, and it strikes me now, just how difficult it must be for her to feel as if her love is not reciprocated. But this photo proves that she has not lost her ego altogether; she is still well-aware of what a striking young woman she is.

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Sarah

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Laughter

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Albeit brief, Sarah finds herself smiling and laughing in front of the camera. She is so unaware of herself, and it is charming. I am grateful to have been able to capture this moment if for no other reason than to remind her of what it is like to not feel as though you’re posturing every moment, consciously acting in a certain way in the hopes of gaining another persons affection. Sarah’s naturalness is her greatest strength.

About the Author: Leah Apple is a junior enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2013

Smile: www.PhiladelphiasDentist.com

Editor’s Note: To contact Dr. Jeff for consultation: 215-592-4747.

Layla

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Prathima Mia Rodrigues

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Layla is a strong confident modern woman. She is Parisian and embodies the light, romance and the antiquity of that beautiful city. As a photographer, I was drawn to her beautiful eyes – I believe that they draw your gaze into the picture. They stir a sense of curiosity in you and you want to know her story.
The girl in my photographs finds it hard to come to terms with lost love. Past relationships that she has left behind to follow her own dreams, love that she has stifled, commitments that she has run away from – because of her fear of what this would do to her ambition and her career. She is in search of true love or maybe even what it means.

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Layla

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Layla to me represents contradictions. She is afraid of the commitment of a steady relationship and yet she craves permanence. She wants to find love and a person she can trust and love but yet she believes that attachment and dependence can only lead to disappointment.

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Layla

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My photographs capture two Laylas: a confident and solid Layla – she knows what she wants and how to get it and a lonely Layla who is confused about what love really means. Some of these photographs have a distant expression as Layla reminisces about France. She has recollections of her childhood – fleeting memories of objects and senses – the smell of freshly baked croissants, the arrival of spring in March, the sound of her father’s car pulling up in the driveway, the electronic music she danced to in high school. Her memories reflect in her expressions – happy with deep gashes of loneliness.

About The Author: Prathima Mia Rodrigues is enrolled in the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Self-Portrait: Neffie's Scar

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Nefertari Williams

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……….The red pin on my lapel, the determination in my eyes and the scar on my chest are just some of my badges of honor that I wear in my war against heart disease. Although I can remove my pin, and change the expression on my face, I can not remove my scar from my heart surgery. I wear my scar with pride. It is a very small reminder of the skill that a surgeon must possess to go into your heart and actually repair it. These doctors study for a good portion of their lives to be able to one day be there for us in case our heart needs to be fixed. They must enter into our body’s somehow – so they make an incision. This, I am sure – is the easiest part of what has to be one of the most complicated jobs in the world: repairing a damaged heart.

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Yet, some of us see this scar and feel the need to hide it or cover it up. We feel like someone might see it and judge us because we have had heart surgery. Quite the contrary; whether you have a vertical line all the way down the center of your rib cage or a diagonal line from a defibrillator implant – your scars represent strength. They are beautiful. Just like an artists signature on the bottom of a masterpiece. I wear my lifesaving artwork and signature with pride showing that I too have been saved by an artist and joined the fight against heart disease!

Editor’s Note: To learn more about Nefertari Williams and her fight against heart disease, go to the search bar at the top of the page: enter name and click green icon.