Tag: atlanta

Where Photography and Mental Health Intersect

Posted on by Allora Studios in Nature, photography, The U.S., Vlogs

It’s no secret that I have struggled with my mental health for most of my life. I have spent a lot of time suffering in silence. But a few years ago, something changed in me. And since that change, I have made it my life’s mission to make sure that everyone that can hear my voice hears this message.

There is absolutely no shame in talking about your mental health and wellbeing.

Whether it’s to a friend, a stranger, a professional, or even your pet, talk about how you feel.

This week, the theme is mental health and how I handle my bad days with photography.

Hi, youtube. It’s been a couple of months. Thanks for being patient with me while I work through some things. I love making videos and taking pictures. And I love sharing my experiences with y’all. But sometimes that isn’t enough. Sometimes I don’t have any motivation. Sometimes I feel so intensely numb that I can barely function. Fortunately the anxiety I have about finances mostly keep me working and running. But what keeps me going when I feel incapable of feeling good? What happens when photography isn’t enough? What do you do when your interests aren’t interesting enough for you. I explored this a lot in my couple months away. And ultimately I did the only thing that I know to do when my brain treats me this way is to find a way to keep trying. Even if I don’t shoot, I still go for a walk. I still take my camera. I still look for shots. Even if I don’t take them, they’re in my own mental gallery. It’s no secret that life has been hard for a lot of us the last 18 months. But as things begin to hopefully move in a more positive direction with the global pandemic, we can begin the true time of healing and self-discovery. So this week, my video to you is what I’ve done to keep going when I feel like I can’t.

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MLK Memorial Park with Just a 12mm Lens

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

This week, I had a little bit of spare time before meeting a client for a photoshoot in Atlanta. We were shooting near the Martin Luther King Jr. National Park. So naturally with time and being around one of my favorite places in all of Atlanta, I had to run around and get some shots. This time, as I’ve been doing a lot recently, I decided that one lens would be fun. So I took the Rokinon 12mm f/2.8, my old reliable, out for a spin.

I love using this lens mostly because of the ridiculous amount of stuff I can fit in the image. I love capturing these huge compositions. I like how vast it makes reality feel to me. Tell me what you think!

All of these photos are available for prints. Use this contact form so I can write up and create your order!

Hopping MARTA’s Blue Line with a 35mm Lens

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

This week, I decided to do some train hopping! Well… sort of. I rode the Blue line of the MARTA Train in Atlanta, hopping on and off at various stops along the way to take pictures!

This week, like last week, I wanted to challenge myself. So again, I set out with one lens, but this week? I used a 35mm f/1.8 This lens is an awesome lens that acts on my crop-sensor camera like you would expect a 50mm to act on a full-frame camera.

Along the way this week, I may have dropped a lesson or two. Thanks for watching. I can’t wait to share my pictures with you again next week!

All of these photos are available for prints!

Exploring the Zero Mile Post | The Remnants of the Mighty Train Industry of Atlanta

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, photography, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

Another video finally. Let’s get back on track, shall we? This week, I’m sharing a collection of photos I captured while exploring what’s left of Atlanta’s history as a major train depot! Check out the video for a narration of my exploration. I got a few around the downtown area after that!

All of these photos are available for prints!

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The End of 2020 Finale

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, photography, Savannah, GA, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

It’s New Year’s Eve. So today I thought we would wrap up this year with a video highlighting some of the dope shots and what I’ve had to do to get them over the last year. I hope that you enjoy this week’s video.

Check out my weekly galleries of pictures which are all available for prints!

Farewell to 2020 Atlanta!

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, photography, The U.S., Vlogs

This week, I decided to take one more walk around Atlanta for pictures! And… Well, let’s just say it was a perfect reflection of how 2020 has treated everyone.

Oh, yeah! And Merry Christmas!

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Aquarium Photography to Relieve Election Stress

Posted on by Allora Studios in Animals, Atlanta, GA, Nature, photography, The U.S., Vlogs

The stress of the election took its toll on me. So last week, I did my very first solo trip to the aquarium. Thanks to my wonderful mom, I have a pass to the Georgia Aquarium for the year 2020. Fortunately, I am starting to have time to use it now. So this week, I do what I do best. I hope that you enjoy my collection. The video above has a breakdown of my trip as well as some tips for shooting in the aquarium! All of this collection is available for prints! Check it out using this link!

Sharks

Rays

Gators

Tank the Sea Turtle

Whales

Jellyfish

Penguins

Others

Exploring Abandoned Morris Brown College

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, photography, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

So, I have had a growing curiosity for exploring abandoned places lately. I finally indulged that curiosity and made my way to the abandoned parts of the historic Morris Brown College. As I stated in the video, they recently regained accreditation, but I think the history of this place is a good topic to explore this week. There is a detailed timeline I found on AJC.com that was a real asset for me while gathering the information.

But first! These pictures are the pictures I took (featured in the exploration in the video above!) All of these are available for PRINTS! Shop sizes in the Store!

Now for some history!

Morris Brown College was founded in 1881 and was the first HBCU “founded by black people for black people”. By 1908, enrollment was over 1,000. It became a charter in 1912, faced bankruptcy in 1928, and turns it all around by 1932.

In 1940,1941, and 1951, Morris Brown College won the Black College Football National Championship. They were an athletic powerhouse during that time.

By 1999, they would be torn apart by scandal that included inflated enrollment numbers and millions in student aid funds misappropriated. The only thing that would keep the college afloat was the new $21 million 1996 Olympic stadium and a conversion to Division I Athletics.

In 2002, the Morris Brown Marching Wolverines were introduced to little Samuel one of my favorite films from childhood, “Drumline”! I loved this movie. It was one of the reasons I decided to be in the marching band. It really started my interest in percussion instruments in general. Little did I know that I would be exploring the abandoned stadium for pictures 18 years later.

In 2003, their accreditations were revoked because of the growing debt the college was creating. 2004 brings charges of fraud for administrators of the college. In 2006, OutKast released a song titled after the now infamous college “Morris Brown,” which featured the marching band.

2012 brings a conclusion to the millions of debt collected by the college through bankruptcy. In 2015, a fire destroys Gaines Hall, and it is recommended that the building be torn down. It hasn’t yet.

It did become an accredited institution again in 2019 and I believe now has students enrolled. But the buildings I walked by were definitely abandoned. The college has a very long history, especially for a set of buildings in Atlanta.

Remember all of these pictures are available for prints! Check out the entire store here!

Street Photography in Atlanta

Posted on by Allora Studios in Atlanta, GA, photography, Street Photography, The U.S., Vlogs

This week, I share a collection of street photography taken in Atlanta in August of 2020.

I try to make it down to the city at least once a month for a day of shooting. I love the buildings, graffiti, streets, and views that the city has to offer. The month of August was amazing.

COVID-19 did bring the entire world to a halt, but in August the city of Atlanta is still pretty busy. The streets are less crowded, which makes it easier for me to take pictures without pedestrians in my shots, but it also makes the city feel a little empty.

But that feeling doesn’t last for long. It felt like the more we walked and rode around, the more city seemed to come to life!

Maybe it was the wild amount of caffiene in my oversized coffee, but this trip, Brianna and I covered a ton of ground.

The goal for this trip was some cool shots of the capital and the church that’s close to Underground and The Masquerade. That of course did not happen, but we went just about everywhere else in the area!

To finish out the journey today, we rode by one of my favorite spots, the Jackson Street Bridge. I know, it’s a stereotype for instagrammers and tourists, but it’s a very beautiful view of the city. Rest assured though, I am on the lookout for the perfect view of Atlanta.