rudyarias

[rudyarias]

We went to various locations downtown. I first tested Azaleah in Jacksonville in June 2019. What I miss living and shooting tests in Sarasota which to me is nothing more than a suburban feel like Tampa, Orlando, Miami areas. The gritty urban feel in Jacksonville like Chicago, NYC,London, Paris and Milano. Is an environment I feed off when shooting tests/campaigns. Which I’m very fortunate to continue shooting campaigns in those cities.

This series of images were shot within a corridor between a church and office building on Pineapple St.

Model: Azaleah Simone Worthen

Nikon D4, AF Nikkor 300MM f4 IF-ED

ISO: 400

[rudyarias]

Tuesday Dec 2, 2014, day 3 of a four day campaign. Which did not count four days in early Nov. My stylist Irina flying to NYC and Chicago with Saule selecting/picking up designs, accessories and shoes for this campaign.

Living in Naples Florida at the time. Did not entice my eye to select its suburban/vanilla locations for this campaign. If I had it in a perfect scenario, Santiago de Cuba would have been my choice. Unfortunately with visa restrictions and budget. I chose Ft Myers Downtown, its River District in Lee County and the Adventura Condominium just north of Marco Island in Collier County.

This series of images, most notably that I shoot three bursts to catch subtle differences. Was shot at the front of the Adventura Condominium’s main entrance area.

Model: Saule Kurpenova

Stylist: Irina Pchelino

MUA: Geanceala Sprella Asmad

Designer: Antonio Meneghetti

Designer: Giorgio Armani

Jewelry: Irena SSance

Nikon D2x, AF DC-Nikkor 105MM f2D

ISO: 100

[rudyarias]

This test was shot Aug 15, 2024, a hot sunny Thursday afternoon in downtown St Petersburg. This was Hannah’s fourth test with me. In essence a joy to shoot becoming my photographic muse in concept exercises. I was developing during discussions for future campaigns between my rep, stylist, fashion client and editors.

In this series of images, Hannah walked down the stairs of the church, playing with her hair. Becoming more herself in movement instead of trying to be a pretzel as the test progressed.

Model: Hannah Sivik

Stylist: John Henry Edington

Nikon D4, AF Micro-Nikkor 200MM f4D IF-ED

ISO: 400

[rudyarias]

Vanity Fair UAE

July 2024 issue

Thinking back to when I shot Daniel in the 15th Arrondissement in Paris. I had no idea that Wednesday afternoon. This shoot would be on a cover with an interview with Daniel in Vanity Fair.

We just returned from London the day before after two Live Couture performances there. Wednesday May 16, 2024 was a sunny but cool day. In discussions with Daniel, we ventured out exploring the neighborhood of his Airbnb. The intend was to use the neighborhood as a background in shooting Daniel during that day.

Few outside of his fashion house know that Daniel lived in Dubai. It’s where he launched his swim wear line. The cover image with others used in the feature on Daniel are from that afternoon shoot.

Designer: Daniel Alexander

Photography: Rudy Arias

Nikon D850, AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 24-70MM f2.8G ED @ 48MM

ISO: 100

[rudyarias]

Sept 6th, 2024 After parking my vehicle, I received a text from Emily Sifrit if I received the “garment bag” her assistant dropped off at the hotel.

Her assistant Violet Velazquez, as it turns out, is also a fashion designer and was able to provide a look when Emily and her realized other collections would be completely wrapped up in fashion week presentations.

Hence was a four hour adventure with calls/texts back and forth from Emily. The hotel manager looking in every possible nook and cranny then calling its sister hotels within the garment district. Ultimately I walked to the hotel it was dropped off at. Discovering it was not a garment bag but a small black pouch with my name written on it.

When I got back, received a text from Sir Kenn Gray telling me he was stuck in traffic then Erika Alarcon letting me know she arrived in Manhattan. Sir Kenn Gray finally arrived with Anna a wig maker for a quickie shoot we spoke about a week before. He was in town from Los Angeles, to be on the red carpet and attend the Richerette Launch at NYFW. He asked if he could use my hotel room as a dressing room. I said no problem thinking it would be a quick shoot before heading out to attend/shoot Emily Sifrit’s presentation that early evening.

We started the shoot with Erika Alarcon, Hannah Sivik, Anna and her mother watching. Which ended up with several wardrobe changes in addition to Anna wearing her wigs. I had to cut it short because of the need to drop off garment bags for the fittings and try not to be late for Emily’s presentation.

This series of images show being across the street using long prime lenses. Creates a situation when a passing car bombs the shoot. Can bring an unexpected result when reviewing the images.

Model: Sir Kenn Gray

Blouse Designer: Violet Velazquez

Nikon D850, AF Micro-Nikkor 200MM f4D IF ED

ISO: 1600

[rudyarias]

Sunday May 12th, 2024 was a beautiful warm day in contrast to what I was expecting to be a cold dreary day in London.

Pearl Doiphode who I’ve known when she lived in Florida. In becoming my photographic muse in building her book, eventually in two campaigns I shot for Heritage India Fashions. Knowing she was living in the UK, I let her know I would be in London for a few days. She told me she would come to London to watch Daniel Alexander’s performance and if possible a test that late afternoon.

After Daniel’s performance, I went to an ATM and paid Dabz. I walked back to the Cathedral where Pearl and her brother were waiting. We walked the grounds and shopping area adjacent to the Cathedral.

This series of images are from that late afternoon test.

Model: Pearl Doiphode

Nikon D850, AF Nikkor 80-200MM f2.8D ED @ 200MM

ISO: 640

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[rudyarias]

Day two of Daniel’s whirlwind tour in London.

Brought us to Trafalgar Square that Monday May 13th, 2024. Was not warm like Sunday at St Paul’s Cathedral but a typical cold cloudy London day.

Daniel selected Trafalgar Square from playing Monopoly as a child in Australia. Traflager Square being the third and most expensive, Red property.

In obtaining permission to perform under the statue of Lord Nelson. Daniel began as soon as the maintenance crew was finished. Daniel began his performance. A constable was not aware of it, not having a radio. After an exchange of words, we moved to the base of The National Gallery at the top of the stairs to the square.

These images are from that performance.

Model: Dabz

Designer: Daniel Alexander

[rudyarias]

As part of a whirlwind tour that took him to London for two shows. Dabz, a Brit model was booked at the last minute when the original model backed out.

Sunday May 12th, 2024 was a beautiful warm day in contrast to what we were expecting to be a cold dreary day. We spent a good part of that morning and early afternoon hunting down the plastic barrier material for his performance.

My good friend and fashion client Mihaela Panaitescu met us at the hotel. We got in a Black Taxi arriving at St Paul’s Cathedral around 3:30pm. Daniel being a huge Mary Poppins fan, chose it for the first location. While we waited on the model to arrive. I set up the video stands and began recording Daniel’s intro on the Cathedral stairs. Needless to say she was delayed by London’s notorious traffic and tube.

At the start of his performance. Daniel was interrupted by the Cathedral’s security telling them it would be a fashion show. They allowed him to proceed eventually watching in ah as he complete the design on Dabz using Orange Plastic Barrier material.

These images are from that performance.

Model: Dabz

Designer: Daniel Alexander

Nikon D850, AF Nikkor 80-200MM f2.8D ED @ 80MM

ISO: 400

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[rudyarias]

Sat Jun 29 2024 was a unique day. Hannah Sivik wrote a comment on a FB post of mine. Asking if I would be open to shoot her not expecting to hear from me. I sent her a message and we began talking about shooting a model’s test. She expressed the frustration of local photographers who expressed she was too old or short to be a model. Despite she modeled in the East Coast and LA before moving to St Petersburg.

I felt the strength of Hannah’s face with her well proportioned body despite her stature of 1.71m. Like super models Gia, Kate Moss, Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie Grainge and Devon Aoki made her the exception to the “height” rule in true fashion. We agreed to shoot the following Saturday.

This test was shot July 6, 2024 a hot sunny Saturday afternoon in St Petersburg. This was Hannah’s first test with me. In essence a joy to shoot, becoming one of my favorite since I moved to Sarasota. Eventually becoming my photographic muse on a concept exercise. I was developing during discussions for future campaigns between my rep, stylist, fashion client and editors.

In this image, Hannah played with her sun glasses leaning against a window in the shade. Becoming more herself in movement instead of trying to be a pretzel as the test progressed.

Model: Hannah Sivik

Stylist: John Henry Edington

Nikon D4, AF Micro-Nikkor 200MM f4D IF-ED

ISO: 200

[rudyarias]

About a month after the first SRQ Women’s Expo last January 2024. I tested Faith Lynn Dickinson who walked in one of the boutique’s presentations. It was a hot dry sunny Monday that February at Phillippi Estate Park in Sarasota when I met Faith and her mom Lorraine by the gazebos.

Lorraine a family/portrait photographer herself, was expecting I would make a spectacle of the test as other photographers who shot her daughter. I just smiled when asked where my strobes were. For me this would be a simple test not a full blown 4 day campaign with shoot staff.

Granted I use natural light without any artificial source for fill when shooting a campaign on location. I found when shooting a test in Florida, some faces expect artificial lighting for fill as if I were to shoot their portrait. I’m not a wedding/portrait or enthusiast photographer who shoots models on weekends/evenings. I shoot true fashion not models.

Faith reminds me of the same characteristics which Brooke Shields had at the start of her career. My goal was to see if Faith could be herself and not a pretzel thru my eye. Especially when I viewed her walking at the SRQ Women’s Expo, wearing a bikini/slit skirt combo whose cut was not flattering. She wore for the test what she felt comfortable in bringing out her androgynous beauty.

This set of images were shot as she was playing with her hair during a slight breeze when sitting under the Gazebo.

Model: Faith Lynn Dickinson

Nikon D4, AF Nikkor 180MM f2.8 IF ED

ISO: 100

#naturallight #naturallightportrait #editorialfashionphotography #fashiondesigner #fashionphotographer #rudyparias #rudyariasphotography #unedited #nikonnofilter #nikond4 #nikon #uneditedphoto #pursuitofportraits #makingportraits #fashioncampaign #supremeshutter #oodt #ootdfashion #photooftheday #photoofthedays #modeltest

[rudyarias]

Film Archives:

1995

Agfa APX 100

What I do appreciate shooting B&W Film. Is the ability to change its characteristics thru using different developing soups. In my case, I love using Kodak’s HC11, Dilution B. It brings out a contrast unlike developers like Kodak’s D-76 used by photography schools and most photographers at that time. The only difference is I’m now using Kodak TMax and Fomopan B&W film on campaigns requiring B&W. The monochrome codecs to this day, have yet to cut the mustard to my eye. Especially with this rush to mirrorless where that market is to satisfy the pixel peepers, who have no clue what texture, balanced (not necessarily sharp) makes a photograph.

This image is from an agency test. When I shared a studio space in Chicago at 666 N Milwaukee Ave. The Seal poster was on a wall across the street from the Blommer Chocolate Factory. Elite at the time was the premier agency in the US and Paris during the 90s. As Fashion Model Management was in Milano.

Model: Nicole

Agency: Elite Models

Nikon F3HP, Nikkor 135MM f2 AIS

Film: Agfa APX 100

#naturallight #naturallightportrait #editorialfashionphotography #fashiondesigner #fashionphotographer #rudyparias #rudyariasphotography #unedited #nikonnofilter #nikond850 #nikon #uneditedphoto #pursuitofportraits #makingportraits #fashioncampaign #supremeshutter #oodt #ootdfash #ootdfashion #photooftheday #photooftheday #streetstyle

[rudyarias]

This campaign was typical in its conceptual discussions in the group calls (designer, stylist, MUA, model, jewelry and shoe designer). Beginning with initial discussions with fashion designer Sheril P Hughes and shoe designer Tiffany Wingo about four months out to It’s final fittings two weeks before the shoot. Considering this was the last two day campaign I would should in Jacksonville (at the Phoenix Arts District and River Taxi dock on the Riverwalk), before moving to Sarasota.

This series of three images shot on the first of the two day campaign. At the Phoenix Art District Jacksonville, Sunday early afternoon in March 2023. One image was chosen by an editor to become the second cover from this campaign for Marisa. This cover and its editorial were not published. It came down to the cover coming across as an ad for the publisher’s cosmetic line. Which the publisher got upset when Sheril brought it to her attention. Hence a lesson learned by Sheril in submitting an editorial to an online “free” submission magazine.

Model: Marisa Norenberg

Wearing: Kewa

Designer: Sheril P Hughes Mba for Sheril Patrice

Jewelry: Dayra Cristela Testa for Aryela Love

Shoes: Tiffany Wingo

Stylist: John Henry Edington

MUA: Kelli Pospisil

Dresser: Tanya Norenberg

Nikon D850, AF-S Nikkor 300MM f2.8D IF-ED II

ISO: 400

[rudyarias]

This was the second shoot with Alexander Hernandez. The first was a model test in St Petersburg, Fl December 2023. This concept exercise was shot at Lime Lake Park in Sarasota, Fl. It was a comfortable sunny Tuesday afternoon Jan 2 2024.

Alex expressed he preferred my eye and method of shooting as an actor than a model. Than the local Tampa photographers his agency recommended. I thanked him. We went out and started shooting.

This image was shot on the fishing pier over the small lake in the park.

Model: Alexander Hernandez

Agency: Alexa Models and Talent

Designer: Richard Dayhoff

Nikon D4, AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200MM f2.8D ED @ 125MM

ISO: 100

[rudyarias]

I was as looking forward to shooting this test with Diana Otieno. She being born and raised in Africa had a very unique face. After a couple of phone conversations earlier that month. She agreed to drive in to Jacksonville that Saturday morning from Ocala.

She was the first of two model tests I shot in Downtown Jax that October 15th, 2022. Her enthusiasm, energy and discipline made it a joy to capture her essence.

This image is from shooting under the sky train rail bridge in Downtown Jacksonville.

Model Test

Model: Diana Otieno

Stylist: John Henry Edington

Nikon D4, AF Nikkor 300MM f4 IF-ED

ISO: 800

[rudyarias]

This was the second model test I shot since moving to Sarasota. Considering the extreme heat wave that began in June to subside at the beginning of September. It was a comfortable beautiful sunny day that Thursday afternoon September 2023.

We walked from the garage to the midway open area behind the Children’s Museum. We turned to the front of the Museum and started shooting.

This series of images were shot with her walking toward me. Next to a row of parked electric rental scooters in front of the Children’s Museum. Alivia quickly took my instructions in being herself. Shooting from a distance, farther than photographers she shot with before.

Model: Alivia Bienz

Nikon D4, AF Nikkor 180MM f2.8 IF-ED

ISO: 200

[rudyarias]

Daniel flew in late March for meetings with Kering (Balenciaga) to explore and scout locations for his Live Couture performances in Paris. I flew into De Gaulle Wednesday May 8th, 2024. The tour began that Friday the 10th with meeting with Francoise and my friend/her agent Michel Rosio. I shot an editorial in the morning, and by early afternoon we took an Uber for his first show in the pool at the Basilica of Sacre Cour de Montemarte in the 11th arrondissement.

Daniel, who stripped to his bare feet to drape the model in the pool, was completely unaware that the bottom of the pool was littered with fragments of broken glass smashed into the pool by overnight revellers.

The result was multiple slivers of broken glass embedded in his bare feet. The show went on with no signs of pain and the crowd blissfully unaware of his trauma.

These images are from that performance.

Model: Francoise Odette Ngoumou

Designer: Daniel Alexander

Jewelry: Dayra Cristela Testa

[rudyarias]

Daniel’s Live Couture Tour began Friday May 9th, 2024 in Paris. The second show was on the traffic island in front of the Moulin Rouge. When we arrived the spot which Daniel chose was filled with people sitting on the metal grid. Unbeknownst to Daniel, that metal grid was for the Subway exhaust vent which are non existent in Australia.

The moment the grid was cleared of bystanders and Daniel with Francoise climbed on the grid. The exhaust turned on. Resulting with Daniel scrambling to keep the design made out of plastic rubbish bags and duct tape on Francoise from being blown off her and into the air.

This series of three images are from that performance. Daniel and Francoise frolicking as if they were dancing on the metal grid.

Model: Francoise Odette Ngoumou

Designer: Daniel Alexander

Jewelry: Dayra Cristela Testa

Nikon D850, AF Nikkor 80-200MM f2.8D ED @ 86MM

ISO: 640O