Tezos

Reaching Beyond

Creator

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Description

When I photograph a yogi, I approach the photoshoot with the intention of capturing their individual practice. Each one is unique in its own way. Jason and I went to the beach at sunset on a gloomy June evening. The beach is always bustling with people and tonight was no different. I asked Jason to roll out his mat on the boardwalk and to just begin his practice. I advised him to pretend he was alone and just do whatever sequence he felt like doing. He looked nervous and a bit apprehensive as he took in all the people walking and hanging around. With little conversation we both went to work. I chose a long lens which meant that I needed to be about 20-30 away to get his 6’7’ body completely in the frame. I positioned myself flat on my stomach on the sandy boardwalk while Jason began his practice. His practice was breathtaking and as I clicked frame after frame I got chills. When he was finished he looked completely different. Calm and radiating this confidence that I hadn’t seen in him before we started shooting. After a few minutes, Jason confided that he was really nervous and self conscious when we started the shoot. He chose to push past the fear and doubt, focus on his breath, and soon everyone around him fell away. He admitted that it was a challenge for him to get past his comfort zone but when he did it was incredible and liberating. He was absolutely vibrating! This portrait is from a larger body of work called "Inside the Warrior - the Masculine Side of Yoga." I spent over 8 years on this project of photographing and interviewing men who practice yoga to find out what brought them to yoga, why they continue to practice, and how it changed them. The series was published into a Limited Edition book in November 2021. Edition of 30 Digital Capture File Size: 4777px X 3378px Amy Goalen is a California-born photographer, digital artist, and author with a soulful artistic style that takes the viewer on a journey to the heart of her images. With a passion for yoga, dance, and the limitless potential of the physical body she captures her subjects using light and shadows as her paintbrush to create breathtaking artwork for collectors around the world. Her work has been published in a variety of magazines, books, and websites. Extended Editorial License: Can be used to display privately, or in commercial and non-commercial settings, or in groups with an unlimited number of participants. The License includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.