Queen Lateefah

by Tamara Natalie Madden



I recently met Lateefah when she came to shoot with her sister. A creative soul, and natural beauty; I thought that she would be a perfect addition to the garden.







Here's what she had to say about herself and her natural journey:


"I'm from the Atlanta area and I graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2004 with a degree in Psychology and Biology. I have been working in pharmaceutical research Field for 9 years which has allowed me to see many great places.

I enjoy crocheting clothing and blankets for friends and family. I am currently working on hats and scarfs for the homeless shelter for the winter. I also have many baby projects in the works at the moment.

I also love to run, jump rope and any type of exercises that can be fun.

I started transitioning in the summer of 2007 and completed the big chop in January of 2008. It was a challenge at first but I have no regrets and will never go back to relaxer or pressing. I like to do my own hair most of the time."











Check out some of my paintings on my website and some more photography here.

-Tamara Natalie Madden

TwentyOne Questions with Beauty...

2.How would you describe your personality/outlook on life?

Very optimistic, I’m a go getta type of chick. I see what i want and I go for it. Also I’m a very outspoken down to earth female, honest, caring, lovable person unless u piss me off…..lmfao…

3.What color would you pick to describe your personality? Why?

I choose opal…one because it is my birthstone and it changes colors and u know it depends on what mood im in that the color might best fit me.

10. Complete this sentence. “As a woman, I believe it’s especially important to…”

“As a women, i believe it important to fight for what you believe in, you may not know how far it will take u unless you strive for it(greatness)..it is also important to have respect and courage as women it will better you as a person”

11. Complete this sentence. “Nothing is better than…”

“Nothing is better than, God”

but the next best thing to him is?me!!!!!!!!lol

17. Words to live by?

“knowledge is power” “love, live, life”

Read the rest of her Q&A and check out her set in the Garden.

Black Glamour!

I really enjoyed shooting this model. She hails from Ghana and I absolutely love her face. I took a lot of pictures of her so that I can use them for paintings.

When I was doing her makeup and styling her, I had glamour in mind. Hopefully, I achieved that!















Check out some of my paintings on my website and some more photography here.

-Tamara Natalie Madden

GOLDEN

Lina is one of my favorite models. She has wonderful features and I enjoy shooting images that enhance them.






When I paint, most of my images are of women wearing abstract crowns. I have an affinity for black royalty and I think that all black women are queens in their own right. In these images, I have interpreted that literally.








You can find some of my paintings on my website and some more photography here.
-Tamara Natalie Madden

The Ambient Beauty...

Out of darkness comes the light...










You can find some of my paintings on my website and some more photography here.

-Tamara Natalie Madden

Beauty's Moment in the Sun

This is just the beginning...

Check out the full 54 image set coming tomorrow on PangeasGarden.com

the eyes have it...

sensual beauty with an attitude

coming VERY soon at www.PangeasGarden.com

Beauty in sensuous blue...

A pictorial moment of the images Beauty and I sought to capture on that overcast day. I wish we could have done more but I think these final few works portray the feel I wanted to portray.

a pictorial moment from God...

If you recall, I did a post a while back about Rainy Days where I talked a little about the idea I had for a picture set for the portal that I didn't get to take because it was a cloudy, rainy day.


But there was this moment...like...from God, where the sun poked through the clouds. It wasn't for long; 20 maybe 30 minutes. But it was a blessing. It was moment. And we captured it. There will be a full set on the portal.


Thank you.

Tai...a new muse for the Garden...

Meeting her by chance was truly a treasure. Tai will be one of the models for the new web portal we are building which will launch in midJuly. We are still working on concepts for her images. Any ideas?

capturing a creativesoul...

me..., originally uploaded by creativesoulphoto.

A new photographer looking to do some creative shoots. Caught in a moment, here, by a fellow photographer who happened to be testing his brand new light.

Beautiful.

You can find her work here.

bianca...courtesy of Rock.Solid.One

An afternoon on the beach between artist and model. Photographer/Creative Rock.Solid.One and Model/Singer Bianca share time creating poignant captures. You can see more of Rock.Solid.One's works HERE.

Natural Curves...

I can't empower anyone, but myself.


As a traditional artist, I did a show at the Apache Cafe & Lounge with another photographer a couple of years ago. I titled my series of pastel works "Real Beauty Has Curves" and it was a companion set with the photographers images. On the night of the opening show, curvaceous models, representing the aesthetic of the show posed for the artists and photographers that attended and during the course of the evening we hosted an Artist's Talk about the works and it was quite provocative.


During the course of the discussion, the photographer made the statement that one of the reasons he produced his work was to empower the women whom he had focused his work on. And the question I had was 'who are we to empower anyone BUT ourselves?'


I didn't confront him on this. He did the work he did with the motivations that moved him and a confrontation doesn't change that. My motivations for my works were, in part, an act of homage; paying respect for alternative images of beauty. I wanted to create images that were based on what had inspired me, seduced me, taught me, shared with me and lived with me. And I continue to create works as an homage to this aesthetic, today.


But I believe empowerment comes from within. You can't give it to me and vice versa. Here in the Garden, I think we should know that. But I can...we can... pay homage; cultivate a space where the innate beauty of the Earth Sista, empowered, can be artfully, sensuously, romantically displayed and this alternative choice of beauty can be appreciated.

Are you empowered? Do you empower you?