Chinese Christmas

all images © Ava Alamshah

www.avaalamshah.com

xx

website

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XX

Check it out here or simply click on the website tab above. 

your friend,

ava

this land is your land

this land is my land

all photos © Ava Alamshah 

xo

desert babies

all images © Ava Alamshah

Feeling Fall

I'm starting to feel that magical feeling I get every October, when the weather starts to cool down and I wake up to grey skies (that turn blue after 8am, but there you have it, Los Angeles).  The pit of my stomach gets all fluttery. This feeling that I'm about to open xmas presents or take a trip to an unknown destination. I just love this time of year. The air feels crisp and I go fix myself a cup of Turkish coffee - my aunt, Violet, just showed me how to make it and I'm still a bit rusty, though it looks beautiful doesn't it? 

The weather hasn't been the only thing to lift my spirits. I've been productive for the first time in a little while. I met some women recently, who do different things, and have inspired me plenty. One is a musician and life coach of sorts, the other is a tattoo artist. Another beauty is a fellow photographer…all these ladies have given me a boost of confidence. I have this new found creative energy. Here are some photos I took during a lovely afternoon picnic with my new friends. 

Ladies of the Lake

all images © Ava Alamshah 

This was one of the last days of summer and is embedded in my memory as one of the best times I've had this year. It's been a roller coaster, and will continue to be, but this time I'm going to go down with my arms raised all the way up. Stepping out a little bit at a time - out of that comfortable place I always put myself in.

Also, there's Halloween. My costume inspiration? 

xxx

your friend,

ava

coming soon...

Shop first edition zines - limited quantities 

along the coast  © Ava Alamshah / $15

for inquiries, email me at yourfriendava@gmail.com

Girls on Film

Thank you to Girls on Film for featuring my work. You can see more photos from this series by clicking here…

Far, yet not forgotten

  I have some friends who I don't see as often because they live in Portland, or San Francisco, or Seattle…

Though, every time I do see them, it's like time hasn't passed at all. My last trip to Portland was very precious to me. My initial reason for going was to see Al and his show at Blue Sky. Here is the link to that beautiful exhibit. He will live on through his work, and through the people who knew and loved him. He was such a personality that I won't forget. In class, he would get so frustrated with us. He was a master black and white printer and took his craft very seriously. We were all young, and irresponsible twenty somethings who wanted to do things our way and shelve out work as quick and easy as possible (speaking for myself, and maybe a handful of others). I'm glad he was hard on us. It means he actually cared. He cared about his students. He snapped at me once when I introduced him as my former teacher. He wanted to be introduced as my friend. That made my day.

© Ava Alamshah / all rights reserved 

The portraits of Josephine are up on with you, today! This time, I decided to shoot film for this project. 35mm. I stayed with her and Dave in downtown Portland. Here is a photo I shot of her last year, in September. It was so lovely seeing them again. I got to see another side of Portland that I didn't the first time. We walked a lot. Went to the Willamette river, ate great food (oyster omelets are a thing of dreams), ( uh oh…NSFW warning coming up) Mary's……oh, let me tell you about Mary's. The murals depicting merchant seamen are spectacular and remind me of Tom of Finland.

"Painted with paint that glows in blacklight, the murals depict scenes that Roy thought the regular crowd would enjoy. There's a tropical scene with sailors loading a ship with bananas while an island beauty watches, a Cleopatra-like figure lounging with the Pyramids in the distance, a ship docked in a Portland-like harbor with Merchant Seamen working in the foreground, an exotic Priestess performing a sacrifice with a volcano behind her, and this scene depicting the Orient."

I also got to see this handsome devil again.

© Ava Alamshah / all rights reserved

Cherish the time you have with others. Always hug your friends, and tell them you love them (even if it gets super awkward). Time is strange and bittersweet. 

your friend,

ava

Josephine

C O M I N G   S O O N 

www.withyoutoday.com

// film edition //

Fever Dreams

It's been a little while since I've been on here. I needed a little break from this bright, glowing screen. I had a lot of time to think - plenty of hours to day dream. It's always nice to take some time to yourself. That is when I come up with project ideas. I'll go for walks and wander around in my own head. What do I want to photograph? I definitely wanted to photograph Ema again. She had recently dyed her hair a bright pink and looked so magical. 

Later this week, I embark on another trip to Portland. I hope to tell some lovely stories when I get back to beautiful Los Angeles, with it's golden rays & pink skies. 

All images © Ava Alamshah / all rights reserved

Model: Ema & Igor

Wardrobe: Model's own

Makeup: Ema & Ava

Location: City of Angels