the ModelTEE

I've never met her but from what I know of Tee's, it seems she keeps it real.

Tee is Model/Actress born and raised in San Diego CA. As a naptually beautiful woman, she likes the idea of transforming and working with other creative individuals. Tee says she always looks forward to working with great artist and becoming a better artist myself. The wide variety of her captures reflect a wholeness that is rarely envisioned most models today.

Discovering her passion has definetly been a journey, which is what inspired her quote "Do what you love and love what you do. If you don't know what that is, love the journey in finding out"...Rather than being focused on the destination, she is choosing to enjoy the ride and follow the path that God has chosen for her!

To see more of Tee, check out her website.

-Vincent

a pictorial moment with Nerissa...

the words of the Imperial Goddess...

"My main goal is to live life to my best ability, just to be happy, and feel happy about what I become in the future."

"I let Got take my life in his hands... Whatever he has in store for me, thats what I will become. I don't set goals, because you live your life trying to fulfill those goals and by doing that you let so many opportunities pass you by."

"Don't be afraid to change coarse, do it passionately and you'll find your way."

"I display my natural crown for all to see."

Nerissa images are ubiquitous. Her lovely LONG locs and beautiful almond eyes have graced the pages of Playboy and she has landed small acting roles. For more images and insight into the Imperial Goddess check out her MySpace Page. It is a work of art.

Afro Glam!

stefanie's features are lovely; she has great cheek bones and big bodacious eyes! it was fun making her over!:)

this was stefanie's first time modeling, but she caught on quickly--she looked like an old pro! i need to send her on to tyra.;)














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

-Tamara Natalie Madden

Naana and Jason Thomas of the HalfShow.com

Jason Thomas is the male half of TheHalfShow.com - a variety entertainment internet radio show.

But by night, by weekend, he is an actor, moviemaker, and podcaster. And while he is an avid photographer, Jason continues to focus on advancing his acting career and completing his first full-length feature film. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

His model for these excellent Afrocentric images is the beautiful plus size model, Naana Hayford.
For more info and links on his Jason various activities as well as more info on his model, Naana, go here.

DTrundle The Artist ...

A brief pictorial of fashion and glamour as seen thru the eyes of Deontae Trundle (DTrundle). These are editorial fashion captures with a naptual beauty twist. His work, here, is but a small representation of the young talent with broad vision; a vision that he believes transcends the label of Photographer, making him "The Artist".

His words:

"To me the definition of an artist is the ability to walk through everyday life, see the creativity in it and then transform that vision into some form of art that we can see, hear, touch or feel.

As “The Artist” I feel that I do just that and being able to see, hear and feel the art in life is truly a gift. There is a story to be told in everything and everyone you just have to be willing and open to listen to it. "

I look forward to see what's next with "The Artist" his talent and expertise are extraordinary. Look for the launch of his website www.DTrundle.com coming VERY soon (like next week or something). I hope he comes back to the Garden with some visual stories to tell.

Bintou courtesy of Dallas J. Logan

These are captures of Bintou, a model of Senegalese descent from Brooklyn. Dallas J. Logan was the photography of the striking images. He's worked with a DSLR for about 2 1/2 years and in that short time he's done magazine editorials, two clothing line campaigns, two skin care campaigns and an underwear line... He "now teach others the little bit I know."

In those two years I guess he has learned the technical aspects of photography but the creative artistry portrayed in his works belies that relatively short period of study. And his vision is clear in both his works and his words. We are fortunate to share some of his works in the Garden.

Get to know the works and words of Dallas here and here.

Sheree Swann's Lens of Life

Sheree Swann loves capturing the unique beautiful in all people. Finding photography liberating, she uses it to create opportunities to elevate her mind and spirit. Her images are, fascinating explorations and sensuously artistic. They are funky and they are fierce, appealing to that edgy quality in us all.

Life, the way Sheree see it, "is bold, colorful and full of contrast", which is reflected in her work.

"I love to show people how I see them, in the light of being beautiful, even if they don’t see that beauty in themselves. With that, I will continue to create art through the reflection of my lens." Sheree, says.

Sheree created Lens of Life, her photography and videography company, in 2004. To see more of breathtaking images, check out her website here.

B Breezy and the Studio Concept...

The words are hers. I couldn't embellish them any better if I tried. I was thoroughly impressed by their edgy and in-you-face approach to fashion & glamour photography. And the afrocentric natural element in the aesthetic is almost incidental, yet pivotal to success of these captures. But I say too much; the words and images of B Breezy...

B. Bold, B. Beautiful. B. Breezy

I'm the spokesmodel and photographer for The Studio Concept in Atlanta, GA. I'm also a model coach and makeup artist. The fashion industry is my heart beat. I hope others see the passion that goes into everything I do and that I may inspire my viewers to do what I do daily... push myself beyond my limits.

I tend to shy away from a lot of attention. It's extremely flattering but I like my privacy. The girl you see in my pictures is not me in real life. My pictures are not only promotional tools as the spokesmodel of the photography studio but also an avenue for me to express myself creatively. Every time I get in front of the camera, I always aim to outdo what I did before. I realize there are thousands are girls who want to be models but my reality is I am my only competition. As long as I push myself, I will continue to grow professionally as well as emotionally and spiritually.

B Breezy's MySpace is here. B Breezy's Blog is here.

sugar cane

History takes me back to the basement of our culture

I can’t hide myself anymore

Beneath this so-called of civilized men

The sands of time is what I’ve been made with

The hand of the past may help to lay back relax

If we check it now.

And what you’ve got to do is just take care of

That inner black beauty that shines through

Your melanine tone

And take care of everything you got visible or invisible.

For not so long ago they didn’t love none of us –

At all.

I’d like to tell you something

It’s all about my own thing

Now I know what is sweet

I know what is sweet as sugar cane

And the promises they made at these times

Of struggle and fight must provide change in your mind.

For life is for lore

All praises are for the Lords.

So the souls descending from the

Tribe of Atkaptah will have to

Reminisce and unified on strong.

So don’t go dreamin’ on the edge of their land

Oh no ! No ! You’ll go flyin’ high, you’ll go too high

And now for the rest, let’s remind the pledge :

Each time you’ll taste the fruit of the cane

Don’t forget the whip, the field, their sweat.

(So this heritage will be as sweet as sugar cane…)

I’d like to tell you something

It’s all about my own thing

Now I know what is sweet

I know what is sweet as sugar cane

Les NubiansIISugar Cane

Jacky Gotin aka Kija...

Born in 1980, Jacky Gotin entered the world of photography immortalizing pieces of lives that staged friends and members of his family. This pastime progressively turned into a passion and became a reality during a journey in Paris, in the course of which he met photographers that were fascinated, just like he was, by the Parisian soul scene and its representatives of the moment. Influenced by his afro-caribbean origins, his photographies are doors opened on the world and the beauties that emanate from it under its most varied forms.

You can see more of his work here and here.

Charlisha...a pictorial moment

Charlisha is a model that I've recently spoken to online about joining us in the Garden. A Fashion Merchandising student, Charlisha wants to focus on art and fashion photography as both a model and photographer. Being a lover of art, she wants to use captures to provoke visual stimulations to the mind. She has also ventured into acting. Her beauty has been captured by the likes of Patrick Covington , Kever Conyers III , the KS Collection and B L O P H O T O. You can check out her modeling portfolio here and her photography portfolio here. I look forward to seeing what she chooses to do next.

Lerniece...a model for the movement....

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Racism exists inside the black race. Light skinned versus dark skin, long ‘good’ hair versus kinky hair, and now African versus African-American. It is not the models themselves doing this. It is the industry that has decided what black beauty has to look like.

-Mwabi Kaira-Murdock

Stand up for change, Dare to be Different
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Everything written above is straight from her modeling portfolio. This young model sports a vision that, not only breaks the mold, it picks it up, redefines it and broadens the perspective. She comes across as a pragmatist with a vision. Her beauty is evident as I am sure you will agree. You can check out the rest of her model portfolio here.