Instant Chaos Nakedly Obvious – Marriage Equality

The following was originally posted on Unsinn Image’s Instant Chaos blog on Tumblr and is reprinted with his permission.  I very, very, very rarely post other people’s writing on my blog; in fact, this may be a first.  But it’s an important subject, and one I felt he summed up much better than I could have.  Please check out the rest of his blog!

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This image was created for my social justice passion project “Nakedly Obvious.”  The model is the incomparable Playboy model Stephy C.

The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments for and against gay marriage.

One of the Court’s considerations is whether we should upset a heterosexual tradition of marriage which has persisted for thousands of years.

But, how has that tradition been perpetuated?  Through religion.

Religion…which has no place in a secular debate about civil rights.

Remove the illogical, archaic, religious doctrine from the debate and there is absolutely no justification to deny adults of sound mind the right to be legally bound by their love.

Define a group in any other way, then try and make the argument they shouldn’t marry.  You would sound ridiculous.

BANK TELLERS shouldn’t be allowed to marry.

FARMERS shouldn’t be allowed to marry.

LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE shouldn’t be allowed to marry.

CHRISTIANS shouldn’t be allowed to marry.

Would anyone in their right mind go all the way to the Supreme Court to defend the position that Christians shouldn’t be allowed to marry?  You’d be laughed out the front door.  And that is exactly what should happen to those who oppose gay marriage.

This question is, and has always been, a matter of equal protection and civil rights.  And when history reflects on this era in our social evolution — as it has over past judicial missteps involving segregation and slavery — it will judge us most harshly if we fail to insure equal protection and civil rights to all of our citizens.

And rightfully so.

Two people in love committing to each other is not harmful to marriage.  That is what marriage IS…or at least, what it should be.  Defending the right of one person to marry and denying the same right to a similarly-situated person is unlawful discrimination.  Period.  And if the Justices can keep clear eyes and heads and not be blinded by religious fervor, defending the rights of EVERYONE to marry who they love will be an inevitable outcome.

A New York Times article on the deliberations can be read here.

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Furbaby Portraits

***Spring Special for pet portraits going on now!!  Read on for details!***

The Lady’s Doing © Sarah Allegra – featuring my darling Calantha with me

I’m sure you’ve noticed how often I incorporate animals, both pets and wild animals, into my photography.  I do it because I love animals and because their presence in my work gives an extra sense of depth and wonder to my images.

The Court Of The Dryad Queen © Sarah Allegra

A surprising and unexpected offshoot of that has been that people started asking me to photograph their pets.  They want to immortalize their furbabies with the same sense of beauty and grandeur I infuse into my fine art photography.  They wanted me to capture their animals like I capture my pets.  It wasn’t something I thought of on my own, but my audience asked for it… and I have really enjoyed it, so I want to extend this idea to everyone!

Where Dreams And Shadows Lie © Sarah Allegra

Having pet parents entrust me with capturing their animal’s own natural beauty is an opportunity I take seriously and treasure.  As someone with two cats and a dog of her own, who are all like my children, I know how deep the animal-human bond can be.

Carried Away By The Wind © Sarah Allegra

I also just plain love animals; all animals!  Getting to spend time with them behind my lens is my idea of a good day 🙂

Daisy’s Hill © Sarah Allegra

I’m happy to announce that I am holding a Spring Special on my pet portrait services!  This special will give you a discount on my usual rate starting at $2500, now starting at only $2000!  This investment gives you completely unique, original art of your furbaby and two museum-quality prints which will last a lifetime and more.

Jake © Sarah Allegra

Completely custom art staring your pet and two prints??  It’s an incredible value!

Of Milk And Honey © Sarah Allegra

Would you like a portrait of your darling?  Or do you want to see your baby featured in my DreamWorld series or another collection?  I’m more than happy to discuss details and concepts (and I offer reduced pricing for animals included in a series)!

Where She Learned About Joy © Sarah Allegra

Interested in setting up a session?  Email me at sarah@sarahallegra.com!  We can discuss all the different options available!

Where The Brave Shall Live Forever © Sarah Allegra

 

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Travis In Black And White

Wall 1- © Sarah Allegra

Though I’m very happy calling myself a fine art, conceptual photographer, it’s fun now and then to stretch outside of your comfort zone.  I would never consider myself a fashion or editorial photographer, but when I started working with Travis Weinand, he had a looked that just screamed “FASHION/EDITORIAL” to me, so I decided to give it a go.

Wall 2- © Sarah Allegra

And you know what?  It was fun!  It was nice to do something different, and something which didn’t require 20+ hours of editing for each image.  As I made my editing selections, I just had a gut feeling that they should be black and white.

Wall 3 – © Sarah Allegra

I very, very rarely shoot anything that’s black and white, but, as with most of my art, I listened to my instincts.  And I love how they look!

Wall 4- © Sarah Allegra

Travis is so easy to work with and friendly, despite how he can look quite intimidating at 6′ 5″, very muscular, an American Ninja Warrior alumni, and beautifully adorned with tattoos.

Wall 5- © Sarah Allegra

He does moody and deeply thoughtful looks well, but I was also pleased to have captured several shots with him being a bit more natural; an easy grin and laughing.

Wall 6- © Sarah Allegra

It turns out that we have a shared love of Norse mythology and I’m a little jealous that Travis actually has some Norse ancestry.

Wall 7- © Sarah Allegra

I gave the images just a tiny touch of viking by braiding Travis’s hair; nothing terribly complicated, but he wore it well!

Wall 8- © Sarah Allegra

Thanks, Travis, for being such a good sport and easy to work with!  Not a lot of guys would say “sure!” when I asked if I could braid their hair 😉

Wall 9- © Sarah Allegra

I’d be interested in hearing which images are your favorites!  Feel free to let me know in a comment 🙂

Wall 10- © Sarah Allegra

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Achievement Unlocked!

I have VERY BIG, GOOD NEWS.  I’ve felt like bursting from holding it in!

Where Earth Meets The Sky, model Katie Johnson. © Sarah Allegra

My work has been accepted into A Gallery!  A Gallery is a fantastic online gallery who represents some truly stellar other artists in whose company I am proud to be.  You might know of Christy Lee Rogers or Tyler Shields, who are both extraordinary and whose work I knew before I was to be shown alongside them.  One of the most giddy, fan-girl moments though was discovery A Gallery also represents Chris Parks whose work you will know if you’ve seen one of my very favorite movies ever; The Fountain.  That magical, swirly, organic background used in so many shots (especially in clouds of stars and gas in space) are his creation.

Chris Park’s dreamy, swirly, organic creations in The Fountain

Chris Park’s dreamy, swirly, organic creations in The Fountain

*Squealing, fan-girl hopping*

Ahem.  I am VERY happy to have found such a wonderful home for my art!  I’m thrilled to be working with A Gallery’s owner, Fraser Scott; it’s going to be a really great, long-lasting relationship for everyone involved!  I can’t wait to see what this brings!!  This feels like a really big accomplishment to have checked off my life’s to-do list… and yes, there was champagne when I checked it off 🙂

Vanity’s Murder, a self portrait – © Sarah Allegra

**Please do take a look at my work on their site!  If you like something, buy it!  You deserve it 🙂  And you’ll be supporting an independent artist and a fantastic gallery at the same time!**

The Shepherdess, model Lucea Shipler, my grandmother! – © Sarah Allegra

When you purchase a print, you will receive one of my gorgeous, luscious, limited-edition, signed and numbered museum-quality prints, printed on the thickest, most delicious fine art paper.  I am going to be printing all my images on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Pearl Paper.  It’s almost like a watercolor paper and it picks up every tiny detail for your viewing pleasure!  As a wonderful bonus, the paper itself is ever-so-slightly shimmery, which truly adds a whole other depth to the images and enhances their magical, mythical feel.  It’s been a long time searching for exactly the right paper which would give me the lifetime of quality I want along with the subtle, fae-like touch of pearl, and this paper is it.  You really have to see it to understand how gorgeous it is

Fae Light, model Dedeker Winston – © Sarah Allegra

I have sung the praises of my printers, POV Evolving, before and I’ll say it once more.  They are not close to me.  Their location is somewhere between a hassle and a nightmare to get to, I can never go without getting a little lost coming or going, and it’s a big mental and physical drain to make the trip down.  I don’t care.  Their work is so fantastic, I do not care where they are, how long it takes, how snarly the traffic is; it’s completely worth it!  Lauren, who does my printing, is also a truly lovely person who makes the trip extra worthwhile by being so pleasant when you get there.  Pleasantness aside, POV just does astonishing work which will last a lifetime and more.  I have been told by clients who have my work hung in their homes, that when people come over and see my prints for the first time, there are often gasps.  I feel immodest saying that, but that really is the level of beauty you’ll be getting!

End Of Line, model Aly Darling – © Sarah Allegra

It feels truly wonderful to have found a home gallery run by such a great person who has a commitment to my work, an emphasis on working ethically with everyone, and being in the company of such immensely talented other artists!

A Drop Of Blood, model Katie Johnson © Sarah Allegra

I’ve scattered some of Fraser’s image choices through this post, but please take a look at which images he has selected for his prestigious gallery!  And if something strikes your fancy, feel free to purchase a print for yourself or a loved one!   🙂

Hope Of Heaven When Their Lives Ain’t Lived, model Veronica Ricci – © Sarah Allegra

I will still be selling prints through my Etsy shop; either way you will be receiving the same, incredibly high-quality item!

Again Throughout Eternity, model Sandy Moore – © Sarah Allegra

I should have some more good new to share soon, but in the mean time, feel free to join me in having a celebratory drink of your choosing!  Cheers!

3 Good Days, a self portrait – © Sarah Allegra

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