KCHUNG Girl Talk

screen grab from soyoung's tumblr x

This afternoon @ 3pm! The rad Ms. Soyoung Shin & yours truly will be having a bit of a chat. We'll be talking about L.A. Zine Fest. I'll be tabling as "your friend, ava" for the second time, so come see me! Soyoung will be there with me as well. It's going to be a beautiful day. 

Other subjects on our agenda : Boys Men & dating, favorite artists/photographers, film versus digital?, L.A. Art Book Fair finds, and so much more. We'll also be playing some music for you. Thanks for tuning in, friends! xx

Find us here or here

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

Girls on Film

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

Design Sponge (Kneeland Mercado)

Very happy to announce that my photographs have been featured on Design Sponge!  I had the pleasure of shooting Joanna Williams shop/studio, Kneeland Mercado. You may remember Joanna from my entry about her physical shop's opening night. I can't say enough positive things about Joanna. She is amazing at what she does and exudes creative confidence. I am inspired by her drive and her sense of style. She also has really great taste in music (The Cure / Echo & the Bunnymen played in the background, while I framed my shots -click click click). Also, she is the most generous & nicest of people. 

Thank you, Joanna!

To see more on Joanna's space & more of my photos click here

In the photo above, you may recognize the little black match box? It's from one of my favorite sites, A Collection Of. Created by Stef & Gilda -without them, I wouldn't have known Joanna. Here is an interview they did with Joanna a while back.

Also, notice the Clare Vivier book? Below was a Christmas gift from my mother. That cozy looking rug? From Kneeland Mercado. My favorite thing is to stand on it with my bare feet - so, so soft.

all images © Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

Sunday Mornings At The River

This was the last day of the "epic" rain storm in Los Angeles. I love grey days. x

Sunday Mornings was founded by the lovely Rebecca Rijsdijk and Sanne Poppeliers. They are a tiny publishing house in the Netherlands and focus on curating shows, creating beautiful photography zines, making awesome totes (look how stoked I am holding my brand new Sunday Mornings tote!!!), & they even make fun stickers! Rebecca & I are Facebook friends & even though we don't know each other in person, she has been the most gracious/inspiring human being. I absolutely love her work. Her photographs are very free - like a dream. They evoke a feeling of escape and longing for exploration. Dropping everything to see the beauty that surrounds us. I think it's time for a road trip!

I found out about Sunday Mornings while at Lili Cuzor's Kokedama workshop for Book Stand's pop up (almost a year ago today). It was at The Standard in Hollywood. Fun night, and my plant is still going strong & sprouting new leaves! Angie took some photos that evening. Check them out here.

xoxo

your friend,

ava

Portland

all images above © Ava Alamshah

  

{ taken with my yashica mat-124 g } 

Movable Magazine

Very happy that my work has been featured in this month's issue of Movable Magazine. It's the E S C A P E  issue! The word escape resonated with me at the time I was living at home, with family, and felt that my life had become so out of place. I had lost a sense of control, only to realize, I had let that happen on my own. It was a choice. To wallow in uncertainty, or to gain a sense of awareness, and to stop being so damned afraid of life. I still have a long way to go, but I embrace the learning process.

Ps: Friends! I've shown this work before. Remember?! 

Here....and here. 

All of this positivity motivates me to shoot more film. I'm crawling out of my funk, and slowly making the best of things, and soon there will be adventures. This month and next are full of exciting times x a trillion bagillion! Until then....

your friend,

ava

With You, Today / Brian

My portraits of Brian on With You, Today

©Ava Alamshah

withyoutoday.com

I'm very happy with how these turned out.  I particularly love the blue tint from Brian's 1904 (?) home. On top of that, the weather was really warm in Pasadena (almost like a summer day). I just wanted to relax in the tall grass and sip on some iced tea.  We had iced green tea with a hint of brown rice (indoors to avoid the sun).  I've written about Brian before, and you can see that here.

your friend,

ava

Brian

C O M I N G    S O O N

©Ava Alamshah 

www.withyoutoday.com

Foam Magazine

*** crossing my little fingers ***

Talent Magazine

©Ava Alamshah

My work has been featured on Talent Magazine, along with an interview!  Very happy and humbled. There are so many talented photographers who have exhibited for this online publication and it feels so inspiring to be a part of it. Check out my interview here. Lots of enthusiastic rambling/nerdy camera speak. Hope you enjoy, my friends, and thank you for the support! 

your friend,

ava

Tumblr

I apologize in advance for my mini rant, and for my short absence from blogging. I made some changes to my tumblr site, and let me tell you, it has been difficult.  I have been up for hours and hours trying to figure out html code, and tweaking here and there.  Lots of copying and pasting.  As far as layout, I am enjoying my page a whole lot more.  The images are not showing up as large as I would have hoped, but I love the fact that I can add text to them now.  I would love this little site to be the crazy uncle of With You, Today.

I hope to eventually make it a platform for subject interviews!  Also, to showcase the extra photos that I couldn't add to my main site for various reasons.  I was posting inspirational images, but I think I am going to stick to my own work this time.  Unless something truly mesmerizes me, simplicity is key.

My photographer's brain is getting the best of me.  Officially overwhelmed.  Feedback encouraged!

# # # # # # #

your friend,

ava

The Huntington Library

Earlier today, my mother and I spent some time wandering the Huntington gardens.  The last time we were there was for my belated birthday.  The Los Angeles heat got the best of us, so we didn't stay long.  Next time I'm there, I want to lay in the grass, underneath a shady willow tree. 

All images ©Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

With You, Today

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

Hi friends!  I apologize for my short absence.  I finally caught the bug that's been going around, and I am impressed with how long it has taken for my body to finally give out. Taking vitamin C every morning truly does help!  There is one good thing about this cold... that I've had lots of free time to work on my upcoming site, With You, Today. 

I am very proud of how it's coming together, and I cannot wait till it is ready to launch!  I will definitely make an announcement when that time comes. Until then, here is another work in progress that coincides with With You, Today. An extension of my future site, it will turn into a platform for subject interviews, favorite things, image outtakes, and inspirations. Feel free to follow me for updates on projects. xo

your friend,

ava

This Month

Y E A R  of  the  S N A K E

I am honored to be part of this rad group exhibition going on at Musee!  Before that, I will be in Chinatown in hopes to catch the parade and photograph all the colorful details!  It should be magical.

your friend,

ava

Ema Extras

These are some photographs of Ema that I have been meaning to show you all, dear readers and friends.  This was Ema's costume change for her portrait session that she took the time to select before I arrived at her cozy Echo Park apartment.  I love these images so much, but I felt that they didn't flow with the others.  I think they stand on their own, as their own series of images.  A narrative for that beautifully cloudy day. 

{click on the images for a larger view}

© Ava Alamshah  

your friend,


ava

Ari

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

© Ava Alamshah

Gina

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

© Ava Alamshah

Lolita

My favorite thing at the Kubrick exhibit (at LACMA until June!), were these sun kissed, Bert Stern images from Lolita.  I still haven't seen Lolita, and I've never read the novel, but I know that it is about a man's obsession and love for a young girl (controversy).  Kubrick is one of my all time favorite directors and a visual master.  Love that he started out as a photographer.  It makes so much sense now.  Bert Stern shot these photographs of young Sue Lyon for Look Magazine. The original slide film is so vibrant and rich with warm color.  These images I found online, so you will just have to pretend they are brighter.

As for Bert Stern, while searching online I found this.  I guess they made a documentary about him which I would be really interested in seeing.  His Last Sitting with Marilyn Monroe are some of my most favorite photographs of her, ever. 

your friend,

ava