Photographic influences.

Photography kinda snuck up on me. I started as a drawer and painter and photography soon became another medium to express myself. but even before I did photos I was heavily influence by photography. Commercial and fashion photography were always sources of inspiration for me. I never really knew names of photographer then and did not think of me as ever doing photography even though my drawings tended to have commercial/editorial feels to them. Well much later as I started to figured out that photography is something I was going to be doing for the rest of my life I started studying some of those photographs that I enjoyed so much from magazines and the photographers that took them. Soon I realized that many of the images I so admired belonged to pretty much the same two photographers, Richard Avedon and Annie Leibovitz. I found that a lot of the images I was doing had similarities to these two, I am not at all comparing my work to them, just simply pointing out that clearly they had an influence on my way of seeing things. I would like to think that all great photographers share a common link in the way they look at the world. From the beginning of my photography career I strive to be different and approach photography in my own unique way and vision, but I cannot deny that I was influence by some of the great photographers of our lifetime. One day I saw a video about Richard Avedon and it changed my attitude towards my work. it re affirmed what I am doing and why I do it. This video gave me an inside look at Avedons approach and thought process behind each photograph, it also showed how even the photos that we view as amazing he still looks at and thinks it could have been better. The process on which he gets his subjects to give him what he needs for his vision is a lot of how I do mine.
There are many Great legendary photographers out there and they will all influence someone in different ways. for me it was Avedon and Leibovitz. I hope that one day I can do for someone what they have done to me.
If there are any aspiring commercial and portrait photographers out there I recommend you view the video "American Masters - Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light (1996)" and "Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens (2008)".
I recommend these only as an inspiration for one to become their own artist, not to imitate. The rebirth of new ways of seeing the world is what makes life interesting. These are just two photographers that have influenced and helped me continue being who I am as an artist, but there are many and will be many more that will continue to influence me in my life as I hope to move people in their lives.

American Masters - Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light
^link^

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
^link^

Not to mention the bunch of books you can find on these two also.

Inspiration source.

This is my friend Cat, ( http://365daysofinspirationbycatkozuch.blogspot.com )

Her's is a great story.

Photographing people that represent the strength of the human spirit is something I will always be thankful that I am able to do.

Scottsdale 01-28-11

My first Street Style photo. Hope to find more stylish people out there.

Music

My friend DJ Brazilia in on e of my music series photos.

Music only exist because of passion. It is created and appreciated by pure human emotion. 

Sheer Beauty

The power of light.

Takes guts to have your own style!

  

I think it takes a lot of courage to be bold and be unique in creating your style and not look like everyone else.

It also takes courage to put yourself out there and do what you love for everyone to see and know that you will be appreciated by most just for doing so.

Ireland, green everywhere.

It is amazing whether it is moss, ivy or just grass there is green everywhere. I really need to go back.

Thanks for allowing me to view such natural awesomeness.

Drumcliffe, Ireland 01-15-11

He Wishes for the Clothes of Heaven

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,

Enwrought with golden and silver light,

The blue and the dim and the dark cloths

of night and light and half -light,

I would spread the the cloths under your feet:

But I, being poor, have only my dreams;

I have spread my dreams under your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

                    W.B. Yeats

Family, Friendship, a path, the future...

01-2011

A little about me. No that is not me in the photo above, but it is a photo taken by me.  So here it goes.

I am Armando Kiyama or Mondo, a photographer who currently lives in Tempe, AZ. I have decided to start a photo blog where I would share my work and thoughts.

People are an amazing subject for me, weather it be a top fashion model to the average person on the street they all have a story to tell. The story can be as simple as telling us what is in fashion at this point in time in our society to just having the marking or the traces of life lived in a human society.

I hope that with every photo I post I can engage a thought process in the readers, from anything about the human condition to fashion trends.

I am looking forward to hearing others opinions and hope that I am able to if anything entertain you with my collections of vision.

Photo: Part of my music series.