its cold, but we'll pretend otherwise
We took these photos early in the morning. It was the first day the temperature dipped below freezing. It was cold, but we pretended otherwise. Thankfully, Rachel likes a bit of adventure.
yogis having fun
I had a marathon photoshoot yesterday at Back Bay Yoga, shooting nearly all 22 teachers in 6.5 hours. I packed my suitcase the night before; the Canon, the Sony, extra batteries, memory cards, a few lenses, a banana and some yogurt, ginger yogi teabags and a thermos, laptop, and my iPod. I also packed some yoga clothes for my own yoga practice beforehand at 6AM. Chris dropped me and my gear off at Back Bay at 5:45 in the morning, I did some yoga, cleaned up, set up in the 4th floor studio, ate half of my packed oatmeal, and then it was off to the races! Normally when I do a yoga shoot, we ease into it, chat a little, warm up and then just play. Because I had a brief session with each teacher we really had to get down to business, so for me it was all about being receptive; to the individual and the quality of their personality and practice, to the light in the space as it changed throughout the day, to the shape and depth of the studio itself. I challenged myself to stay present and observant throughout the day as these yogis shared something very personal: the taking of a photograph. Their openness and skill at what they do means I have a beautiful catalog of yogi photos waiting to be sorted. More work ahead of me on this project, but I wanted to share some of my favorite outtakes from the day.
And my favorite... the Ashtangi High-Five.
something bigger than ourselves x 108
North End Yoga was host to Boston's contingent of the worldwide Yoga Stops Traffick benefit to raise money in support of victims of human trafficking in India. We rolled out our mats in their beautiful, sunlit studio and together this group of supporters practiced 108 sun salutations. I joined for the first sixty or so before strapping on my camera and snapping these photos. I have to say, I know we all do yoga for different reasons, but today it was so satisfactory to come together and really direct our effort towards a cause. And while I do attempt to be tasteful when I photograph yoga events by not getting right in people's sweaty faces, don't be fooled. 108 salutations is a big effort!
she's expecting / a prenatal yoga shoot
I met up with Sandra R. last week to shoot some photos to promote her prenatal yoga classes. She had just returned from Mexico and was absolutely glowing, and earlier that morning I had watched her practice a glorious Ashtanga Primary Series, modified for her pregnancy now in its 2nd trimester. Sandra told me she wanted lots of natural light, so I brought her to the beautiful treehouse-inspired Karma Yoga studio in Boston's South End.
sources of light
I caught up with the globe-trotting, inversion spreading goodness of yoga teacher Kate Greer for a promo shoot for Tonic Lifestyle Apparel. We had a golden, sun-draped afternoon in the Sun Studio at Back Bay Yoga. As I look at these photos now, the word "radiance" sticks in my mind (and I'm not just talking about our source of light.)
the details
Many thanks to Yin Yoga instructor and acupuncturist Josh for the great ideas, props and overall enthusiasm he brought to our photo session last week at North End Yoga. Josh was looking for some new photos to use on his website and to promote his workshops and other teaching. He was keen on detail shots to use in his marketing, and his yin and meditation practices certainly gave me all the space and time I needed to take a deep breath and focus on the details.
Being in photographer mode means consciously bringing awareness to the details unfolding in the scene around you. In daily life, our brains filter out much of the sensory information we are surrounded with. We practice selectivity out of necessity; there's often just too much to be observed at any given moment. After taking a photograph, I can take my time to study all of the details in the frame, but in the flow of life (or a photoshoot) I really have to drive my attention to the visual field (people, objects, space, light), while also building a relationship with my subject.
Josh was patient as I explored different angles and possibilities with my lens. Looking back at these images now, I can see all of that space, time and stillness which surrounded us, while we were focussing on the details.
To view more photos from this shoot, and others like it, click here.
vanilla sky
Vintage cream tones on an ocean palette, featuring yoga teacher Kara S. (Getting creative on a rainy Wednesday morning.)
juxtaposition
You know the fable of the town mouse and the country mouse? That's what I felt like during this shoot with Peter Crowley. We started off at City Hall with epic full sun, blue sky, big light and shadows and shapes (Peter was an architect before becoming a yoga teacher). We finished the session in the soft light of late afternoon, filtered through trees in the woods behind Peter's home in Concord. I love the juxtaposition within this series of photographs. Enjoy!
sublime yoga, light & shadow
I photographed yoga practitioner and teacher Catherine Allen of Houston, TX, on a visit to Boston with Ana Forrest. We camped out in the 4th floor studio at Back Bay Yoga, as the light shifted throughout the morning. We worked through a list of asana Catherine wished to have photographed, and I snuck in a few detail shots along the way. She took her time, so did I. Sublime and subtle, light and shadow, stillness and moving, and a photograph for the moments in between.
at home
For Kathy's session, our goal was to create visual content for the website she is creating for her work as a cranio sacral therapist and yoga instructor. She offers therapy treatments out of her home studio in Mission Hill, so I met up with her there for our photo session. Building a website can be daunting, it takes a lot of time to write the content, and often the visual imagery is an afterthought. Personalized imagery, as opposed to generic photos culled from the internet, can help your client get to know you. At home, at work, or that place where the two come together.
put a bunny on it
I photographed the lovely ladies of Sweat and Soul Yoga last week. These were teacher portraits for the studio's new website, but just to spice things up a bit I asked each yoga instructor to bring a prop or accessory to add to one shot. Hats, flowers, some bling and one very nervous bunny, these moments made my day!
looking back / looking forward
I reviewed a years' worth of photography from my archive and many translations of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali while designing this 2012 yoga calendar. I recently posted it for sale on Etsy and was so excited to have it out there in the world that I could hardly sleep at night. Not only is it a culmination of a year spent photographing these and many other yoga practitioners, its a step towards attending the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in India this coming February, with all proceeds going towards that journey. No wonder I can't sleep at night! Here's the preview I've been sharing of the calendar, and a special treat for my blog readers; a full view of February and December.
To purchase visit the one and only ashtanga4life Etsy Shop by clicking here. I'll soon be posting more yoga related goodies here with fellow creator-of-awesome-things and ashtangi Cyndi Laird.
first yoga photo shoot of the new year
A lovely morning, one of the first of 2012, shooting yoga portraits with Lisa S. on the pretty wooden planks of Om Warrior Yoga Studio in Boston. Our soundtrack was Adele, Lisa brought some props into the shoot, and I loved her fun, colorful pants! These were all shot with 100% natural light (always my preference, so flattering!) from the studio's three huge northeast facing windows.
congrats yoga teacher trainees!
I stopped by Back Bay Yoga Studio in Boston today to shoot some photos of the trainees on their last weekend of yoga teacher training. Everyone was in high spirits after a morning session on restorative yoga, and no doubt excited as they neared the end of all of this learning. Much congrats to each of them, the program at Back Bay is an excellent one, and now the gates are wide open for so much more learning, exploring, and sharing all of this with other students. And tomorrow I set off for some more learning myself. I've one more mysore class to teach at BBY tomorrow morning, then I'll board a plane and I'm off to the real Mysore, in India! I'll be practicing and studying ashtanga yoga while there. Expect more photos of the coming days popping up on my Facebook page as well as over at my yoga blog, www.ashtanga4life.com. Until then yogis, friends, everyone, adieu, adieu!
Boston Yoga Instructor Portraits
More photos of Boston yoga teachers, taken at Sweat and Soul Yoga and Back Bay Yoga Studio. Such a pleasure to photograph such kind and knowledgeable people. Look out for Erica's effortless chin stand, Jessica's sweet tiara, Shuli's fearless pincha mayurasana, Rachael's smiling side angle variations, Lori balanced in brilliant blue and Michael in his element. Work is bliss. Truly.
Cara Brostrom is a yoga photographer based in Boston, Massachusetts. She's never done tree pose while wearing a tiara, but once she practiced the primary series of Ashtanga yoga with a happy birthday party hat on her head. It was a good morning.
Like her work on facebook and follow what she's dreaming up next on twitter.
a healthy lifestyle photo shoot
Eating, sleeping, yoga! That was the theme of my healthy lifestyle photo shoot with Christie Rosen Wellness. I visited health coach and Boston yoga instructor Christie at her home in Brookline for our "whole living" inspired photo session. She had some gorgeous fresh produce for us to work with, we took a walk, took a nap, did a little work, had some tea, and took photos. It was a nice, calm and creative afternoon together. And the result, a range of photos Christie can use to promote her services on the web, social media, brochures, anywhere!
Cara Brostrom is a strawberry-picking yogi photographer who should probably nap more often than she does. She is based in beautiful Boston, Massachusetts.
Like her work on facebook and follow what she’s dreaming up next on twitter.
Yoga Photography with Chicago Yogi Rachel
Yoga photography in beautiful Boston with Rachel, from Chicago. In her words: Breathe fully. Smile fully. Yes she did, and does. Check out her humble, gem-filled blog Alive in the Fire.
Cara Brostrom is a yoga photographer based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Like her work on facebook and follow what she’s dreaming up next on twitter.
Yoga Photography in the Park, with Tatyana +1
Some stunning shots from my yoga photography shoot with Tatyana at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Her wee little son joined us for a few shots as well. Yoga body. Nature. Mother. Bliss.
Cara Brostrom is a Boston-based yoga photographer.
Like her work on facebook and follow what she’s dreaming up next on twitter.
Top 12 Yoga Photos of 2012
With thanks to the yogis (from top to bottom) Catherine Allen, Cyndi Laird, Lori O'Doherty, Sarah Pearl Kearns & Samantha Barth, Lakota Sandoe, Jenn Pici Falk, Krista Basis, Daniel Steel, Rachel Stroud, Kate Krumsiek, Tatayana Souza, and Bristol Maryott.
yoga photography with Cat Allen
Catherine Allen is an Houston based Forrest yoga teacher. She was in Boston for a teaching weekend, and I was more than happy to squeeze in a last minute photo session while she was in my area. This is the second time we've worked together, and you can view shots from our first shoot here. Catherine's yoga practice has a very deep and quiet quality to it, and I loved once again just observing her practice. From time to time we shifted around in response to the airy, natural light and excellent shakti to be found at JP Centre Yoga. You can learn more about Cat on her yoga website, Yoga Sublime.
mysore ashtanga yoga practice in boston
A fresh series of photos taken in the yoga room where I practice Mysore style Ashtanga yoga in Boston. Learn more about classes at ashtanga4life.com.
