IG: @MissElizaJane

IG: @Ari_Ammons

Q TRAIN SERIES: CALEB

IG: @Caleb_Scooter_Smith

It's been some time since I last used this blog, but a lot has changed - in the world, in social media, in how I want to present my work. I've been hemming and hawing for ages on how to do this, and I figured that I might as well just... start.

So, this is the start!

I grew up on the Q train. It's not just my favorite line because of that, but that doesn't hurt, either. I think anyone who's lived in this town has their favorite line and their least favorite line (WHICH IS THE G TRAIN. OR THE C. OR BOTH) and when I heard they were swapping out the colorful train cars that have been around for decades to the new, modern cars that I just don't like... I had to commemorate in some way.

Here it is. I've done a few of these shoots, hope to do a few more. Without anymore fanfare, here's one with the amazing Caleb:

(Other than a little bit of tweaking of the overall picture in Lightroom, Tatyana has not been Photoshopped in any way.)

The original draft of this was a novella-sized post, pretty words full of sentimentality and saccharine sweetness.

Tatyana's the Red Storm, and that simply won't due. Her work and her passion require honesty, not sentiment. So, I won't say much more than this:

The Red Storm is one of the toughest, loveliest and most awesome people I know. She's an actress, and a model, a sister, a lover, and a friend. A provider of delicious baked goods. And, a cancer survivor.

Please, take a gander at the Daily News' piece on her after her double-masectomy - and, how she was back on stage, rehearsing, ten days afterwards.

True story, bro.

This is also about the wonderful, amazing work of Cathi Locati, a fantastic artist with a mission that I'd never realized was absolutely important and vital: she's a professional Fine Artist and an Areola Architect. Her work helps that part of the process that we very rarely get to hear about: what happens after the survivor survives breast cancer and must now come to terms with her body.

I can't do justice to her work. I won't try, beyond honoring what she's done for one of my dearest friends with my camera:

Find out more about Cathi Locati's work at: Areola Architect

Find out more about Tatyana's Process after the Double Masectomy: Mata Hari's Lead Actress Tatyana Kot/Double Masectomy Story

Cheers,

Theik