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Between Two Worlds

Conceptual Portraiture - Maine Photographer - Karen Olson

Wildheart

We Are A Part Of This

Cosmos_Karen Olson Photography

Empathy

karenolson.photography

Today’s #tbt is a street scene photo shoot with

Today’s #tbt is a street scene photo shoot with Kayla. Kayla and I have worked together for quite a few years now. She is always game for whatever crazy thing I throw at her. She has modeled jewelry, waded neck deep in murky lily ponds, and worked on conceptual studio shoots. This time I tried out a lens that is normally used for landscape photography. It slices the light in weird ways giving an out of focus slant to a portion of the scene. I thought the combination of the lens and reflections through store windows would be really cool.
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Trying to direct the lens and the model while dodging passers by was challenging for sure. Most of the shoot was unsuccessful, (due to my not anticipating just how many reflections there would be ) although there were some super interesting images that came out of it. Two made it into the final cut in my upcoming series. Pictured here are a few out takes.

Another #tbt this time with Corie De Maria. I have

Another #tbt this time with Corie De Maria. I have to say Corie is is one of the most important models I have worked with. Together we created two unique series of images that helped me define myself as the artist I am today, ‘Hidden’ and ‘Storms Inside Us.’ These three before and after shots are from the fall of 2019 Storms series. They depict the storms we feel raging inside us in a literal way, very similar to the storms that come upon us here on the Maine coast.
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Interestingly enough, the last image, ‘Storm Tide,’ is the closest thing I have to a self portrait. Closely connected to rock and ocean, my head is always in the clouds with a child-like perspective.
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#karenolsonphotography #conceptualphotography #photoseries #maineartist
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If ever there was a Wildheart it is Rachel. A wom

If ever there was a Wildheart it is Rachel. A woman so connected to the land, she is a treehugger in the truest sense. On our first shoot together on the trails of Merry Spring Park, she took off her sandals and traipsed barefoot through untamed woods and streams without missing a step. I am so grateful that she reached out to me, for our connection and collaboration.
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This first image entitled “Reaching,” Is currently included in LA Photo Curator and NY Photo Curator’s top 40 images for 2020.
https://www.laphotocurator.com/2020-top-40-images/1
Thank you @lauriefreitagphotography for including my work in the online exhibition, I am honored!
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The remainder of the images are behind the scenes, out of camera shots (except for the crop).
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#nyphotocurator #laphotocurator @laphotocurator #karenolsonphotography #mainephotographer #bts #isolationchronicles
#thebotanicalseries #naturehasit

Dynamic and expressive, dancer Emma Wilton figured

Dynamic and expressive, dancer Emma Wilton figured prominently in my work in 2020. At this photo shoot at the Art Loft (now Knox County Arts Society), I turned on the music and said “Go!” So many deeply emotional images came from this shoot. One of my favorites, the last image, is entitled “No Words.”
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It is interesting to note that the drop cloth in the background was used in many expressive painting classes at the Art Loft. I remember fondly a class with Erika Manning @erikamanningartist and also one called “Painting Big” with Kimberly Nicoll. There is certainly something to be said for expressive painting in a very big way.
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#maineart #mainephotographer #newenglandphotographer #digitalart #karenolsonphotography #betweentwoworldsphotoseries #artdocmagazine
#floatcurated

Over the moon and so excited! I have a show on the

Over the moon and so excited! I have a show on the virtual gallery on theGriffin Museum of Photography website. The show will be up until February 14th.
Thank you so very much @griffinmuseum I am thrilled and honored!!
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https://griffinmuseum.org/show/between-two-worlds/
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#karenolsonphotography #griffinmuseum #photographyshow

Another #tbt - November 2019 Photo shoots with Dev

Another #tbt - November 2019
Photo shoots with Devi are always a highly creatively explosive play date! I have been working with her for about 6 years now. She lit a spark in me, a love of portraiture and drama, for seeing things from the inside out.
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#karenolsonphotography #maineart #mainephotographer @beansinmoderation
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If you are craving conversation, like we used to h

If you are craving conversation, like we used to have over coffee, Fehmida Chipty of Zamana Art @zamana_art is hosting “Art in Conversation: Nurturing Our Creativity,” this evening at 7 Pm. A delightful way to spend an hour. You don’t have to be an artist to participate, head over to their home page to sign up!
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#artincoversation #creativity #creativeprocess

Throw back Thursday #tbt on a Monday. August 2019

Throw back Thursday #tbt on a Monday. August 2019
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Sometimes I struggle with a shoot. I can usually adapt to any light conditions or location in an outdoor shoot but the thing that really trips me up sometimes is a costume failure. I search and search and sometimes even try and pull together something of my own creation for a costume, it’s the most challenging aspect of a styled portrait session. This was one such shoot. We were having issues with each of the three costumes. Even so, it produced one of my favorite images of all time, pictured here first. 3 more unedited images from the shoot follow.
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Thank you Kristy for your patience and willingness to work with me, a not so skilled costume designer.
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#karenolsonphotography #mainephotographer

Throw back Thursday. September 2019. . I am organ

Throw back Thursday. September 2019.
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I am organizing thousands of images taken over the last year and a half and realizing how fortunate I have been to collaborate with many amazing women. They trusted me and allowed their true self to be revealed as I click, click, clicked the camera. I am so appreciative. As I work through the images, I will show some behind the scenes and unedited shots.
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Thank you, Callyn, for this, a most memorable day. Your images continue to inspire me.
@smallcharger995

More exciting news! . My book, ‘Between Two Worl

More exciting news!
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My book, ‘Between Two Worlds,’ was accepted into the Davis Orton Gallery 11th Annual Photobook Show. The online exhibition can be accessed at
http://davisortongallery.com/11thphotobookonlinecatalog
Be sure to check it out. So many wonderful artists featured!
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At a future winter date the show will also be featured at the Griffin Museum of Photography.
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In other news, The Torpedo Factory show, ‘In My Head, In My Body,’ was reviewed by the Washington Post. The show includes a piece from my Between Two Worlds series, ‘Fire No Flame.’ So cool!
DM me if you would like the link, too long to post here.
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@griffinmuseum @davisortongallery @washingtonpost
#photobook #grief #karenolsonphotography

Did you see this? A 3-day Cyber Special offer from

Did you see this? A 3-day Cyber Special offer from Sybylla Smith. Take advantage of this if you can. Sybylla is the most passionate photography mentor I have ever worked with, so grateful for her help and expertise.
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Here is the link to the offer
https://www.jsybyllasmith.com/new-products/gift-card
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Thanks so much for the feature! @jsybylla

Demo day was a huge success and construction offic

Demo day was a huge success and construction officially begins for what has affectionately been called Mom’s artist retreat. This garage conversion will be 700 square feet of living/work space. I spent the last 6 months carefully designing every detail of the space. Much is being asked if it, room for two printers and two monitors in an office area, a place for cutting and planning paper art and graphic design projects, storage for paper, photography equipment, and props. And then there’s cooking and entertaining to consider, the daily necessities of life.
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I am very much hands on with this project, scheduling of trades, ordering materials, and some of the physical labor.
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Top items on my wish list are warmth and light!
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Here we go...
I am a carpenters daughter and sure love building things!!
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Thanks to all the hands that helped with #demoday

Very excited to be a part of the show opening toni

Very excited to be a part of the show opening tonight at Target Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Va. ‘In My Head, In My Body’ was curated by Shanti Norris, chief curator for the Integrated Arts and Healing program a the Inova Schar Cancer Institute and director of Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.
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This show is truly the reason I make the work I do. Join the virtual reception at 7pm at Facebook.com/targetgallery
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@torpedofactory @targetgallery

‘Wildheart’ . The first image created for the

‘Wildheart’
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The first image created for the series. And the last to be posted.
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#wildheartphotoseries #karenolsonphotography #naturelovers #tree_lovers

Printing day. I began printing the Wildheart serie

Printing day. I began printing the Wildheart series last week in preparation for an online exhibition at Gallery Sitka. You can enjoy the ‘Glimmer’ exhibition by visiting https://gallerysitka.com/glimmer/
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Two images from this series are available to purchase through the gallery - ‘In This Together’ and ‘Anticipation.’
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Thank you so much @gallerysitka and Melissa Richard. I am honored to be a part of this show!
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Paper choice for the ‘Wildheart’ series is Hahnemuehle Photo Rag Ultra Smooth. I love this paper! The images appear as if they are backlit, the details are sharp and clear but not too much for work that requires subtlety.
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#wildheartphotoseries #karenolsonphotography #hahnemuehle @hahnemuehle_global

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All words and images copyright Karen Olson Photography