Jasper Johal posts
Posts: 304
Files: 1284
Thank You
For reasons I’d rather not discuss publicly I was unable to post for a while. I wish to sincerely thank those of you who stuck by me. Supporting an artist pay his or her bills when they are unable to work is the very definition of being an art patron. Thank you!I love sharing my work and I will do my best to catch up with posts in the coming weeks. I also have a pile of messages to get through. Thank you for your concern and good wishes. I’ll be answering each one personally in the coming da...
Dancing in the Rain
Sometimes I meet a model who is so creative and so good with the camera I give her carte blanche. I let her know she can show up whenever she wants and I will come up with something fun for us to shoot.Karina was one of those. She was a college student when I met her and she had time on her hands. She enjoyed creating and ended up driving to my studio after her classes several times. We did a bunch of shoots before she moved out of town after her semester ended.One day we did a dance shoot which...
Tearing the veil
In the clear dawn, before the east was red,Before the rose had torn her veil in two,A nightingale through Hafiz’ garden flew,Stayed but to fill its song with tears, and fled.– words from a sweet Hafiz poem, translated by the remarkable adventurer, Gertrude Bell in 1897_Many of us have heard of Lawrence of Arabia. But Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), a Victorian woman, did even more to try and create an Independent Arabian state. Remarkably for a woman in the late 1800s, she never married or had ...
Grace
My life is not dated by years--There are moments which act as plough;And there is not a furrow appearsBut is deep in my soul as my brow.Let the young and the brilliant aspireTo sing what I gaze on in vain;For sorrow has torn from my lyreThe string which was worthy the strain.– Lord Byron (1788–1824)_PHOTO: Cirque artist Jacqui displaying her graceful flexibility, from a shoot we did ages ago.
Companion to myself
When the sky overhead is blue,Balmy, scented winds will afterUs, adown the valley blowHaunting echoes of our laughter.So we’ll walk the Way-of-Life,You and I, Love, both together,Storm or sunshine, happy weIf be foul or fair the weather.– from a poem by Carrie Williams Clifford (1862–1934)I feel the most important relationship we have in life is the one we have with our own self. Once we learn to enjoy our own company, life’s storms don’t seem to erode us as much._PHOTO: My dear friend...
Shine bright
Never forget who you areLittle starShining brighter than all the stars in the skyNever forget how to dreamButterflyNever forget where you come fromFrom love– Lyrics by Madonna and Rick Nowels, 1998_PHOTO: The reach of social media has turned the whole world into a small village. It used to surprise me when people from overseas would contact me saying they love my work and wanted to come shoot with me. Now I am getting used to it.Karina lives in Iceland, and contacted me for a shoot. She is a h...
Dance
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.”―Martha Graham_PHOTO: My life has been blessed by the many amazing dancers and yogis who have come to my studio, allowing my camera to capture their grace and form.These photos are from my first session with one of my favorite dancers, Angelica, who travels the world performing in various circuses.
Dancing into a new year
The new years come, the old years go,We know we dream, we dream we know.We rise up laughing with the light,We lie down weeping with the night.We hug the world until it stings,We curse it then and sigh for wings.We live, we love, we woo, we wed,We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,And that's the turning of the year.– from a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919)
Phantom of Delight
Shewas a Phantom of delightWhen first she gleam'd upon my sight;Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;A dancing shape, an image gay,To haunt, to startle, and waylay.And yet a Spirit still, and brightWith something of an angel light.– from a poem by William Wordsworth(1770–1850)_PHOTOS: Sharing another bunch of aerial photos of my dear friend Crystal, who has been battling cancer. Her bravery is such an inspiration!Instagram: @mustbecrystal
Spirit of thee
In the desert a fountain is springing,In the wide waste there still is a tree,And a bird in the solitude singing,Which speaks to my spirit ofthee.–– Lord Byron (1788–1824)_PHOTO: Julina is a delightful traveling model who visited my studio whenever she swung through California. We created these photos when she decided to take up yoga.Instagram: @julinabliss
Meeting
It was supposed to be a business meeting about a publishing project. But when Stacey walked in with hunched shoulders and a glum look, I said, “Tough day?” She nodded as she slumped onto my fuzzy sofa.Stacey wasn’t a model. We had met only once before at a talk given by her boss at a photography event. We had chatted afterwards and decided to meet to discuss publishing something, as that was her area of expertise.After chilling in silence for a few minutes she looked up and asked, “Any w...
Dreamer
Bring me all of your dreams,You dreamer,Bring me all yourHeart melodiesThat I may wrap themIn a blue cloud-clothAway from the too-rough fingersOf the world.–– “The Dream Keeper” by Langston Hughes (1932)_PHOTO: Even a bit of mesh can turn into a luminous prop for a person who knows how to move. Hallie dancing in my studio, wrapped in, believe it or not, a piece of mosquito netting.
Mingle
The fountains mingle with the riverAnd the rivers with the oceanThe winds of heaven mix for everWith a sweet emotion;Nothing in the world is singleAll things by a law divineIn one another’s being mingleWhy not I with thine?–– from “Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 – 1822)_PHOTO: Janet and I met at an after party for a theatre show. Her boy friend had seen my work and encouraged her to come shoot some dance nudes. About a week later he dropped her off at my studio. H...
Brighten as the sun at noon
When the first star with brilliance bright,Gleams lonely o’er the arch of night;When the bright moon dispels the gloom,And various are the stars that bloom,And brighten as the sun at noon,Forget me not.– from a poem by Ann Plato (c. 1824 – unknown)_PHOTO: Sending adoration and hugs to Cristal, who is celebrating her 40th. Love her lyrical moves and athleticism!Cristal is a wonderful, warm hearted yoga teacher from the east coast who shares her yoga through workshops, private instruction, m...
A Fountain and a Shrine
Thou wast that all to me loveFor which my soul did pineA green isle in the sea loveA fountain and a shrineAnd all my days are trancesAnd all my nightly dreamsAre where thy grey eye glancesAnd where thy footstep gleams– from a poem by Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)_PHOTO: Liz Ashley visited my studio in Venice. At first we did some yoga photos, and then she continued with free form dancing.Instagram: @thelizashley
Perfect being
Hung with the sunset’s fringe of gold;Now strangely clear thine image grows,And olden memoriesAre startled from their long reposeLike shadows on the silent snowsWhen suddenly the night-wind blowsWhere quiet moonlight ties.Like music heard in dreams,Like strains of harps unknown,Of birds forever flownAudible as the voice of streamsI hear thy gentlest tone,And Silence cometh with her spellLike that which on my tongue doth dwell,When tremulous in dreams I tellMy love to thee alone!– from a poem...
Enchantress
Last eve in dreams, I saw thee stand,Like queenly nymphs from Fairy-land—Enchantress of the flowery wand,Most beauteous Isadore!Thy classic brow, like lilies whiteAnd pale as the Imperial NightUpon her throne, with stars bedight,Enthralled my soul to thee!– from a poem by Edgar Allan Poe_PHOTO: One of many yogis that wandered into my Venice Beach studio to do yoga, sans clothes. My friends had an informal name for my studio; they called it the “Zen Shack”. They said it had a calming affe...
Radiant as the moon
You, Venus-like faceradiant as the moonRoses lean inbegging for your lovely color,what need do you have of rose wine?In your depths is the ocean infinite,what will you do with some drops of dew?You who are existence entire,why do you seek oblivion?– Rumi (Mathnavi V: 3563-3590)_PHOTO: One day my beautiful friend Aria arrived at my studio with a gentle snake named Egypt. The snake belonged to one of the musicians that hang out at Venice Beach on the weekends. Aria was able to borrow it for the ...
Shoulders of Love
The longer I live and the more I seeOf the struggle of souls towards the heights above,The stronger this truth comes home to meThat the Universe rests on the shoulders of love,– from a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919)_PHOTO: Caley and Kate were roommates in Venice Beach. They had an irrepressible sense of humor and fun. Every time they came to my photo studio they brightened my place with their shenanigans and laughter. Great memories!
Star
And when the spotlight comes your wayas it will eventuallyrise up to the occasionrise up and shineyou are perfect as you areyou were born a star– Pardesi Pyara_PHOTO: Alice is a superb dancer from NY. These images are from a shoot we did some years ago when she was visiting California.
Flow
Flow like waterwith humility and softnessWhen you have the strengthto carve mountains into canyonsthere is no need to proclaim your mightThe world knows–– Pardesi Pyara
Circled by your arms
When over my life’s way there falls the blightOf sunless days, and nights of starless skies;Enough for me, the calm and steadfast lightThat softly shines within your loving eyes.The world, for me, and all the world can holdIs circled by your arms; for me there lies,Within the lights and shadows of your eyes,The only beauty that is never old.– from a poem by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)
Rising from the fire
It is a day for being thankful and I am deeply grateful that my dear friend Crystal is still here with us.Still in her twenties, she was diagnosed with aggressive stage three breast cancer earlier this year. Like a Phoenix rising out of the fire, after months of chemo and a double mastectomy she is finally cancer free. There is still radiation and more surgeries ahead, but she fights on.True to her creative and brave spirit, she is turning her health battles into art, and doing a small fundraise...
Curves Ahead - Photo Essay
The ideals of beauty have changed over time, with the pendulum swinging from skinny to curvy and back.The US first became obsessed with waiflike thinness a hundred years ago during the 1920s. The “flapper” was a slender woman with a boy like straight figure.Some women even went so far as to tightly bandage their breasts so they could appear more flat chested. That was also the first time it became acceptable for women to start cutting their hair short to mimic the boys. Corsets went out of s...
Poetry Unsung
There is a vale which none hath seen,Where foot of man has never been,There love is warm, and youth is young,And poetry is yet unsung.And ever, if you hearken well,You still may hear its vesper bell,And tread of high-souled women go by,Their thoughts conversing with the sky.– from a poem by Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)_PHOTO: Mia dancing in my studio.
Two Are One
And a kindred nature,Proclaim us to be mates,Exposed to equal fatesEternally;And each may other help, and service do,Drawing Love's bands more tight,Service she ne'er shall rueWhile one and one make two,And two are one;In such case only doth woman fully proveFully as woman can do,What power there is in LoveHer inmost soul to moveResistlessly.– from a poem by Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)_PHOTO: Friends Simona and Aria seeing who can stay inverted longer. So much fun shooting with t...
TWIST
In yoga a Wide-Legged Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana) is an easy beginner pose, which helps to increase flexibility. Adding a twist to each side makes it a more intense stretch._PHOTO: Nelli was traveling by van and made a stop in LA. We had met earlier at an art show where my nudes we hanging, and she wanted to be part of the next show I did. I was thrilled to include her in my Body as Temple series.
Strength
Good timber does not grow with ease,The stronger wind, the stronger trees,The further sky, the greater length,The more the storm, the more the strength.By sun and cold, by rain and snow,In trees and women good timbers grow.Where thickest lies the forest growthWe find the matriarchs of both.Whose broken branches show the scarsOf many winds and much of strife.This is the common law of life.– from a poem by Douglas Malloch (1877-1938)_PHOTO: I first photographed Heidi just after she had come back...
Perish with desire
See how the roses burn!Bring wine to quench the fire!Alas! the flames come up with us,—We perish with desire.–– Hafez (Persian poet, 1315 - 1390)_PHOTO: Amanda Lyn visited me in Los Angeles some years ago. Between sightseeing we managed to get a couple of shoots in. I loved show expressive and passionate she was in front of the camera.
Self Reflection
When I find myself pulledtowards bitter recriminationsturn to the light of self reflectionto soften my judgementWhen trying times overwhelmLook for the light of compassionto illuminate my dark foldsWhen the path forward has become murkyturn towards the light of empathyto find my footing again–– Pardesi Pyara_PHOTO: Aria is a strong, beautiful, aerialist and dancer with an intuitive understanding of what looks good to the camera. She is a brilliant artist herself.@aria.vesper.love
