Jasper Johal posts
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Colors
Gigi came to my studio and said, “I know you shoot mostly yogis and dancers. I have never taken a yoga class or danced professionally. But I am in love with the photos you shot of two of my friends. Could you please create some beautiful photos for me too?”I said sure. She had a sizable bag of clothes so I figured we’d do some traditional portraits of her. I showed her where the bathroom was so she could change. After a few minutes she emerged and this was the outfit she had on. I never go...
Rabbit pose
This interesting form is created when yogis do a pose called the rabbit pose. I have been mystified as to why it is called that. Searching for an answer I eventually found this explanation from Yoga International magazine:“Rabbit pose—alternately called hare pose, hare headstand, and sasangasana (sometimes written shashankasana)—is an asana that evokes nostalgia for childhood playfulness, a deep connection to nature, and the calm gentleness of bunnies.In Sanskrit the moon is called sasanga...
HANGING OUT
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.–– W. Wordsworth_PHOTO: Jenni was teaching trapeze at Santa Monica Beach when I met her. I had just purchased a lyra (metal hoop) and she offered to come create some photos with it.
Expecting
Mothers-to-be seem to carry this soft cloud of love enveloping them wherever they go. None more so than my dear friend Jen. I met her at my local Equinox gym, where she was in charge of the exercise classes. As her belly grew we decided to create some beautiful memories of this special time.
Strength
“It’s in the arch of my back,The sun of my smile,The ride of my breasts,The grace of my style.I’m a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That’s me.“– Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman”_PHOTO: A strong, muscled back is a one of my favorite things to photograph.
Temple
Some consider it sinfulfrom the day it was bornOthers pile austerities on itdamaging its formBut embrace this bodyFor it is the only templeour divine soul resides intill it’s gone––Pardesi Pyara
WHEEL POSE
Sally is a dancer friend who became a yoga teacher. Each time we got together to shoot marketing photos for her, we would end up doing some art nudes too.Her back is so flexible, she can wrap herself into a circle.
LEAP
Dance me to your beauty with a burning violinDance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely inLift me like an olive branch and be my homeward doveDance me to the end of love– Leonard Cohen (1934–2016)_PHOTO: These are pictures from an old dance shoot I did many years ago. Often I stay in touch with my subjects over many years, but other times people drift away. In this case I have no idea where this dancer is anymore.Though taken many years ago, both dance and nudes are so timel...
Named after a Ghost Ship (Photo Essay)
For Halloween I am sharing photos of a model, Mary Celeste, named after the most famous ghost ship in history.Mary Celeste was a trade ship that left New York harbor century and half ago, and headed across the Atlantic to Genoa, Italy. On board was an experienced captain, a crew of seven, and the captain’s family, his wife and child.Eight days later a British ship named Dei Gratia came across the Mary Celeste drifting in the middle of the ocean, some 400 miles east of the Azores Islands. There...
Dreams of thee
I arise from dreams of theeIn the first sweet sleep of night,When the winds are breathing low,And the stars are shining bright– from a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)Shelly wrote these lines for a guest of his, Sophia Stacey, who visited him in Italy in November of 1819. Sophia liked to sing while strumming a harp, and this poem, along with two others Shelley penned, were presumably songs she could use.The title of this poem is “Indian Serenade”. Shelley had never been to India,...
Heart Songs
We tremble at the half-forgotten sound.The world is full of rude awakeningsAnd heaven-born castles shattered to the ground,Yet still our human longing vainly clingsTo a belief in beauty through all wrongs.O stay your hand, and leave my heart its songs!– a poem by Amy Lowell (1874–1925)_PHOTO: Cirque artist Jacqui displaying her graceful flexibility, from a shoot we did ages ago.
Speak to my spirit
From the wreck of the past, which hath perish’d,Thus much I at least may recall,It hath taught me that what I most cherish’dDeserved to be dearest of all: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 of thee.–– from a poem by Lord Byron (1788–1824)
Heart Opener
The yoga pose called “Wheel”, or “Upward Bow” (Urdhva Dhanurasana) is an energetic way to warm up our body in the mornings. We soon feel a fire in our arms, legs, abdomen, and spine. It is also a great heart opener.
Love costs all we are
We are weaned from our timidityIn the flush of love’s lightwe dare be braveAnd suddenly we seethat love costs all we areand will ever be.Yet it is only lovewhich sets us free.– from a poem by Maya Angelou
Dark Angel
Dark Angel, with thine aching lustTo rid the world of penitence:Malicious Angel, who still dostMy soul such subtile violence! When music sounds, then changest thouIts silvery to a sultry fire:Nor will thine envious heart allowDelight untortured by desire. Through thee, the gracious Muses turn,To Furies, O mine Enemy!And all the things of beauty burnWith flames of evil ecstasy.– from a poem by Lionel P Johnson (1987–1902)
Lift me Up
Lift me upwhen I am downSee the best in methat’s your gift I sorely missGive wings to my imaginationInspire my soulthat’s your gift I missTo understandand be understoodthat’s your gift I miss the most– from a poem by Pardesi Pyara_PHOTO: A while back Simona and Aria came to my photo studio in Venice Beach and decided to have fun creating cool shapes.
Mother
It is trueI was created in you.It is also trueThat you were created for me.I owned your voice.It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.Your arms were moldedInto a cradle to hold me, to rock me.The scent of your body was the airPerfumed for me to breathe.– from a poem about motherhood by Maya Angelou (1928–2014)PHOTO: Pregnancy is when women who have never done nudes before will often decide they want to shoot nudes. Their body is undergoing such immense transformations, it is natural to want to ...
FRIENDSHIP
Two sturdy oaks I mean, which side by side,Withstand the winter's storm,And spite of wind and tide,Grow up the meadow's pride,For both are strongAbove they barely touch, but underminedDown to their deepest source,Admiring you shall findTheir roots are intertwinedInsep'rably.– from a poem by Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)PHOTO: I never tire of dancer friends coming and shooting together. They feed off of each other’s energy and come up with great ideas. I had shot several times...
HAVEN
When buffeted and beaten by life’s storms,When by the bitter cares of life oppressed,I want no surer haven than your arms,I want no sweeter heaven than your breast.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.– from a poem by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)
DREAMING OF YOU
Come to me in the silence of the night;Come in the speaking silence of a dream;Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as brightAs sunlight on a stream;Come back in tears,O memory, hope, love of finished years.– from a poem by Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)
CIRCLE
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)
In the moon’s dying light
Thine eyes glow’d in the glareOf the moon’s dying light;As a fen-fire’s beamOn a sluggish streamGleams dimly—so the moon shone there,And it yellow’d the strings of thy tangled hair,That shook in the wind of night.– from a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)PHOTO: Like the photo of Mosh I shared some time ago, the color palette for this image was inspired by the pinup paintings of Vargas.
Rise
You may shoot me with your words,You may cut me with your eyes,You may kill me with your hatefulness,But still, like air, I’ll rise.Just like moons and like suns,With the certainty of tides,Just like hopes springing high,Still I’ll rise.– from a poem by Maya Angelou(1928-2014)
Remember Me
Remember me when I am gone away,Gone far away into the silent land;When you can no more hold me by the hand,Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.Remember me when no more day by dayYou tell me of our future that you planned:Only remember me; you understandIt will be late to counsel then or pray.Yet if you should forget me for a whileAnd afterwards remember, do not grieve:For if the darkness and corruption leaveA vestige of the thoughts that once I had,Better by far you should forget and smileTh...
Entwined
Your soul and mine have gone the way of life:—The dusty road where toiled the elfin strife—Your hand entwined this hand of mine in love,Your heart induced to scorn the clouds above—And all the world was like a rose crowned song.– from a poem by Fenton Johnson (1888-1958)
Inebriate of Air am I
I taste a liquor never brewed --From Tankards scooped in Pearl --Not all the Vats upon the RhineYield such an Alcohol!Inebriate of Air -- am I --And Debauchee of Dew --Reeling -- thro endless summer days --From inns of Molten Blue --When "Landlords" turn the drunken BeeOut of the Foxglove's door --When Butterflies -- renounce their "drams" --I shall but drink the more!Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats --And Saints -- to windows run --To see the little TipplerLeaning against...
Poised in air
Tell me,Was Venus more beautifulThan you are,When she toppedThe crinkled waves,Drifting shorewardOn her plaited shell?For me,You stand poisedIn the blue and buoyant air,Cinctured by bright winds,Treading the sunlight.And the waves which precede youRipple and stirThe sands at my feet.– from a poem by Amy LowellPHOTO: My friends like hanging around my studio. Crystal does it with such style.Instagram: @mustbecrystal
Serenely Sweet
She walks in beauty, like the nightOf cloudless climes and starry skies;And all that’s best of dark and brightMeet in her aspect and her eyes;Thus mellowed to that tender lightWhich heaven to gaudy day denies.One shade the more, one ray the less,Had half impaired the nameless graceWhich waves in every raven tress,Or softly lightens o’er her face;Where thoughts serenely sweet express,How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.– from a poem by George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824)
Friends
Friendship is a silken cordBeautiful and strong,Guarding, by each kindly word,Loving hearts from wrong.Friendship is a beacon-lightOn life’s rocky shore,Brightest in our darkest nightWhen the breakers roar.– from a poem by John Imrie (1846-1902)
Frozen
The cold earth slept below;Above the cold sky shone;And all around,With a chilling sound,From caves of ice and fields of snowThe breath of night like death did flowBeneath the sinking moon.The moon made thy lips pale, beloved;The wind made thy bosom chill;The night did shedOn thy dear headIts frozen dew, and thou didst lieWhere the bitter breath of the naked skyMight visit thee at will.– from a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822)PHOTO: Sometimes my models and I just engage in play. Kate...
