Through the Photographers Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week’s post I thought I would talk about “Choosing the Right Management”. As an artist it is important to have the right management in your corner. Not “Yes Men on Payroll”. In this article I will outline some of the qualities and qualifications that are common in all artist managers that you as the artist should be looking for and aware of. I believe in order to truly understand something you must first get to know it and all its parts. So, with that in mind let us look at the word manager and its definition:

Definitions of manager (n)

man·ag·er [ mánnijər ]

1. organizer of business: somebody who is responsible for directing and controlling the work and staff of a business, or of a department within it

2. organizer of somebody's business affairs: somebody who organizes and controls the business affairs of somebody such as a professional entertainer

3. organizer of affairs of athlete: somebody who organizes and controls the training of an athlete or a sports team

As a photo- journalist, fashion photographer and writer, even my business affairs require the services of a good manager. I have been through several managers in my career for an array or reasons. Cheating with the books, suspect business practices and my personal biggest pet peeve, lack of vision are all grounds for termination. It needs to be understood that your manager is YOUR employee and not the other way around. At the same time it is also important to understand that your manager is not your personal assistant. Just as your job as an artist is to create art, your manager’s job is to manage and leverage the resources on the path to your success.

Vision: In dealing with a manager, the vision for your career has to be made perfectly clear. I have very specific goals when it comes to my career and the direction I want it to go in and it is a path that I have thought long and hard about. It is important to be able to communicate your goals to your manager and in turn they must be able to understand why these are important to you. This makes for a very important first conversation with a potential manager. If they do not share your vision then how can they properly manage you? In a previous article I wrote about the “Business of Art” and the ability to separate business from art. This principal is very important because as an artist if you can’t focus on your craft because you have to worry about which clients have paid you and which have not then your art will reflect your lack of focus pushing your goals further out of reach. A good manager should first be familiar with your form of art and have the access and resources in that genre to make the path to your end goal that much more travelable.

Trust: This is a really simple but hard to find requirement for a good manager. You have to be able to trust them with your life’s work. Your craft, money and reputation are in the hands of someone that you have to trust will represent you properly to the world you are trying to make an impression in. They should be professional at all times and look the part. They should be completely transparent in all their business dealings where your project is concerned. Receipts and conference calls, blind CC’s on every email and follow up notes are important because at the end of the day this is your business you are asking them to run for you and you must be able to ask for proof of results and get them. Remember this person will also be responsible for moneys coming in and going out of your accounts and you have to be clear on where YOUR money is at all times.

Resources: Resources are important! Once you have had the goals and dreams conversation the first thing your manager needs to do in proving themselves worthy of your business is the ability to take your dreams and create a path of achievement and put together the resources to get you there. Whether it is training, materials, rehearsals, documents, people and opportunities, a good manager will be able to make these resources available to you to help you achieve your goals. As an artist you need to make the resources you already have available to you, readily available to your manager ONCE YOU TRUST THEM. There’s nothing worse than giving someone a business contact of yours to find out that this person has been soliciting business or making side deals on your name. Remember, everyone you bring to the table is a direct reflection of you and your business.

Ethics: Your reputation is second only to the quality of your art! If you expect to go far in any business you have to run a clean, ethically tight ship. Your management staff, in most cases, is the first to be seen by those you will be doing business with, therefore it is important that they not only look the part but carry themselves as knowledgeable professionals on your behalf. Your management team is for all intents and purposes an extension of you the artist. Make sure that they are trust worthy, and share your same sense of moral value and are able to clearly communicate that on your behalf. Clean, clear dealings are the only way to build longevity.

Fearlessness: I recently did a photo shoot for a new artist and their manager was present for the shoot. As always, I sat and interviewed the artist to find out what the concept of the shoot was and what story they wanted me to tell the world in their photos. The manager became incensed to the point of yelling, which was funny enough to me. It seemed the manager had an idea of what they wanted the photo shoot to look like,but was not shared by the artist. In hearing the artist revealing their thoughts to a total stranger and getting all sorts of positive feedback I guess the manager became embarrassed that they had not had this conversation with their artist and their visions were not the same. The artist wanted to be seen in a certain type of light and the manager wanted to go with, well, let’s just call it the “Lil Wayne” package. The artist in no uncertain terms told the manager that he was not “Lil Wayne” and didn’t want the world to equate them to him or any other artist. Clearly someone who had read my “Cookie Cutter Rapper” article of a few months ago.

The lesson here is your management cannot be afraid to promote you as who you are or let you be the artist you want to be. If they fear not being able to market you to the world for who you are, then you need to re-read this article and see which of these criteria your manager is lacking and changes need to be made.

At the end of the day, you have to be mindful of who you let into your camp because you will be judged by the least of them. If you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression then make sure that the first impression your management makes it a positive and long lasting one.

It’s your career, Make the most of it!

What are your thoughts?

Rahim Baskett

Photographer

MindSoulVision Photography

URL: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/

Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through the Photographers Lens

(Every leader must be lead. In order to guide you must have direction)

(Unknown!)

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week’s post I thought I would focus on Father's day and fathers. I can easily say that after losing my father at the age of 12 I have been blessed to have had men in my life that have stepped up and stood in the gap. Those that have taught me life lessons and shared information with me that in turn helped shape and mold me into the person that I am today. It’s true what they when they say “Father is not always who made you but who stepped up to help raise you. My own natural father passed away when I was but a young pup, but in the time we did have together it was great and no one can or will ever step into his shoes. (Miss you dad!)

One such person that stood in that gap is long time friend and mentor Abraham Viera of Abe V. Systems Inc. (www.abevsystems.com) Abe, as we called him around the shop was more than just a boss but a friend and mentor to everyone who ever worked with him. He took the time to listen to what you had to say and give good sound spiritually based advice and at the same time taught many of us most if not all of what we know about business and business relationships. In fact I can say that many of the lessons that I share with those that I mentor and teach I learned from Abe. I recently had the privilege of sitting down and talking to Abraham and Abe Jr. to catch up and with old friends and what is going on with them these days.

Abe Senior has worked in production for more than 27 years, working with just about every artist you can think of both locally and internationally. Abe senior has also work in many ways with community groups and leaders to help make change in the community and even going as far as giving training, work and thereby hope to many, many now successful, engineers and technicians in the live production industry today. It is even safe to say that there are not many people in the live production game in the U.S. that don’t know of Abe V. Systems ad Abraham and the work they have and are still doing around the country and around the world.

Taking up the mantle, Abraham Jr. is now Vice President of the company and producing events for artists like Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony as well as designing and producing massive events like a 40th birthday event for Jay-Z in Santo Domingo. With a goal of taking the company into more markets, Abe Jr. spends his days running the day to day operations of the company as well as new business and market development.

[As Told to WhyBlueMatters]

How long have you been in business?

I’ve been in business for about 28 years producing events and providing staging, lighting and sound.

Congratulations, you’ve been in business longer than many of the people reading this article have been alive.

I’ve known you for a long time now, Abe and I can say that I have learned a lot from you about myself and about the business, how do you balance being a father and an entrepreneur?

It’s really hard because I am still learning, I make mistakes and they tolerate it. Only time will tell how well I did. I hope the legacy I leave behind is to inspire people to believe in themselves and to go forward.

This is a question for you, Abe Jr, what is the goal going forward? What’s next for Abe V. Systems? Are you going to take over the company?

Obviously it is to continue to expand market share which can be tricky in this economy, but we are working from the philosophy of working smarter rather than harder. So if that means saying no to some shows in order to take on shows that are more complex, then we acquire the tools and expertise to do the more complex shows to foster company growth.

I know at one point you help the title of one of the largest Latin owned production companies, is that still the case?

Abe Jr.: There are a couple others out there that as the Latin market has grown they’ve been able grow as well, but in New York, yes we are by far.

Abe Sr.: The other thing is this as the market place changes and as artists move to different states and make a way for other artists to come forward, it makes a way for other companies to grow as well. So, the sun shines in other states for others as well. However, I must say that here in the states, that though we may not be the largest now we are still among the largest, especially in the Hispanic market. I can say is that I have been the first to get into many markets and venues that have not traditionally been open to minority owned companies. For instance I was the first minority owned company to work Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall and the American Airlines Arena. A lot of the major arenas I was the first, so if there are other companies that have more work or more clients and equipment that’s great but I can say that I paved the way for a lot of the minority companies.

This is one of the most unstable economic periods in history, and I know your business over head must be incredible. How do you manage to stay afloat in this harsh economic time?

Like anybody else you have to cut back. That’s one to the great things about having a family and staff that understands and is willing to cut back with you to make it all work. And deal with the situation as it is. It gets rough, but we stick it out together and that makes it a little easier to get through.

I have seen where you have done a lot in the community and telling some organizations to just make sure that your team is taken care of and you would be glad to work with them. What types of community works and projects are you involved in these days?

I am still a Christian so we do a lot with the churches. Now a days you have to be careful with who you work with because not every organization is made of straight shooters. You develop and intuition for who is real and who is not but we still try to go with what makes us feel good. So we try to help as many people and community’s and even work with some of our competitors to help out where we can. We have in the past worked together with our competitors because we agreed that it was a good cause and we should just do it.

I know that over the years you have also done a lot to help the individual. If it’s putting someone to work or getting someone training or certification for a specific area. What are you doing these days to continue to help the individual to help themselves?

People have a lot of talent and vision. So if you can get into people’s heads and help them to understand that there is a lot of strength within themselves and that they can do it and make them feel positive, I think just by doing that you motivate people. Sharing where you’ve been and what you’ve been through, motivates people. People really like for others to be very honest with them. Like I said before you use your discretion with whom you help because people know when you’re being real and when you are being phony with them. Even with my sons, I thank God for them because with everything they do there is a passion in them for what they do. They do it, not because of the money, although there is a cost and a charge for everything, but because they love what they do. So, if you can motivate someone to go with their hearts and go with what is going to make them happy and not just for money then they can be successful!

Individually, and Abe Sr. I want to start with you, what advice would you give someone trying to get into the production industry?

A lot of people want to get into this field or any field and don’t know their own capabilities. Some people want to do sound, but they are not good sound people but they are good coordinators or have a good vision. What I would say is get into it if you want to get into it if that’s what you want to do. Find out what area is your strength and you really enjoy doing and do the best that you can with it. And obviously keep God first in what you are doing. You never want to take God out of the equation at any point. God knows the desires of your heart and he knows that if what you desire is not going to get you into trouble down the road, I'm sure God will meet your needs.

Exactly! Abe Jr. I want to ask you the same question? What advice do you have for those people who aspire to get themselves in to the VP slot?

It’s a lot of hard work and there’s a lot of soreness before you get the glory. There’s a lot of work that people never see, they just see the end product and it’s just something you have to be ready for. Just like anything else, it requires a lot of hard work, a lot of extra time on your part, it does interfere with your personal life and you have to make a place for that. So if you’re willing to count the costs then it’s worth it, but it’s something you are going to have to be passionate about for it to really work or it can be very, very frustrating on the business end.

What’s Fathers Day going to be like? What is Fathers day going to be like for AVS and the Viera Home?

Abe Jr.: We are going to be filming. MTV direct is doing a deal with us where they are going to be filming my wedding. I'm getting married on August 22^nd. So they are going to come on and film the family as one of the pre screening processes for one of their shows to see they cast me and my family and the wedding.

Abe Sr., what are you going to be doing?

I am going to go along with the program. That’s what I do now days. The rules have changed. You know how they say the first shall be last and the last shall be first, will I used to be the parent now I get to be the child. I just go with the flow. I am happy to be healthy, to still have my parents alive, to have my children and to have a woman who still loves me. And I thank God for all those things.

Any last comments from either or both of you?

Abe Sr.: I want to wish all the fathers a Great Fathers Day and to the children always love your parents!

Happy Fathers Day from Why Blue Matters!!!

Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Choosing The Right Project

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week’s post I thought I would talk about choosing the right projects. As many will know there are a plethora of resources available to the up and coming artist no matter what your field(s) of talent are and once you’ve built your networking engine opportunities will come knocking at your door (nearly literally). But how do you know which projects to choose. Which projects are going to further your career most effectively and which are just a waste of time? Here are a few tips to help you figure out which projects are right for you and which to steer clear of.

Prepare your self! As I have mentioned in previous articles it is more than important to be prepared to go to any audition, go-see or interview. Resumes, pictures, press kits, performance materials and equipment are essential to the success of any project you get involved with. As a photographer it is important to also know the environment I will be working in as well. What kind natural and artificial light is already present? What elements in the environment change, when and how they change and what means will I need to have available to me to control that change. In order to control the outcome of any situation you have to know its elements and what they are capable of and why. This also applies to the entertainment field in all of its facets. The more you know the better you can prepare yourself for anything that can happen.

The best way to prepare your self for any environment is to investigate it. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! Take the time to get to know and understand as much as you can about the environment you are introducing yourself to and all of its aspects from the greatest to the smallest. This information will help you in more ways that you can imagine until you find your self needing an answer to a particular problem that crops up once you are on location. Another really cool lesson I learned is as you are preparing yourself to go out to a gig look at everything you are taking versus everything you are not taking that you could need. If you look at a piece of equipment or material you think you might need, chances are YOU WILL! Take it with you. You’d rather have it with you and not need it than to need it and not have it. Also, your sense of preparation and professionalism will be noticed.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Find out who is in charge and who they answer to as well as who answers to them. Knowing the chain of command around you helps to better guide you in asking the right questions to the right people. Some executives while on hand may not necessarily have the time to answer all of your questions but a well placed associate or even a well-informed intern can provide you with information that can give you a good competitive edge. After all that is why you are there. Subtly ask how the project is compensated. I have also addressed this issue in previous articles (see Surviving the Casting Call at WhyBlueMatters.com). While it can be a touchy conversation to have and many just jump right in with both feet, in many cases it ill raise a red flag wit your executives. NEVER ASK “Am I getting paid for this?” Whether the job is paid or not the answer will almost always be “No, Good Day!” A better way to address the question of compensation is “What are the benefits for those chosen to work on this project beyond the exposure of working with your company?” remember the interview process is a conversational one. You are not being interrogated! You have the right to ask questions as well. In some cases, exposure is more than enough compensation, especially if the executives you are working with are willing to allow you to network and pass out your business card. Just remember that anyone you hand your business card to will probably use it. Be careful! Other cool forms of compensation are guaranteed repeat work for good performance, vouchers for union work and my personal favorite, referrals.

Now that you have done your homework, and you have meditated on the validity of the project and you know what is expected of you and what you can expect, ask your self the question, “ Is this project conducive to what I am trying to do with my career?” One of the worst things you can do to your career is to take a project that will follow you for the rest of your days like bad credit!!! Remember, there may come a time when you will want to run for public office, get a corporate job, become a parent or at least show your face in public again so it is important to make sure you make teach decision wisely! Your future is at stake.

Don’t be bullied by anyone into anything by anyone for any reason. There are a lot of strong personalities out there and they can be intimidating especially to the newbie’s to the industry. Also, know that not all bullying comes in the form of “strong arm” intimidation. Often times what you are going to run into is people that will make you an offer that you will either have to take or leave and by leave I do mean gather your belongings and get out. Understand that you are not obligated to do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, puts you in harms way or compromises your integrity. Not even contractually!!!

It’s your career. It’s your future. You are in control!

What are your thoughts?

Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through the Photographers Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week’s post I thought I would talk about knowing ones limits. There comes a time in everyone’s life where they come to an understanding of life, purpose, talents and limits for and about themselves. I remember as a child growing up in the church, a very kindly, sweet choir director, whom I still hold in the highest regard to this day, had to bite her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing at a young lady who had butchered “Amazing Grace” with such veracity and self adulation that we thought she was joking. Me, being Mr. Maturity at the time, fell out of the pew laughing. In a display of absolute grace, poise respect for her craft the choir director just looked at the young lady and said in a very calm and stalwart voice, “Dear Heart, that is not your gift!”

We are all blessed with all sorts of gifts and are obligated to build and cultivate these gifts into talents and touch peoples’ lives for good with them. A very simple premise that gets overlooked time and time again by far too many people on far too many occasions. I was recently asked to photograph a casting call for an upcoming television show and found myself thinking back to that dear sweet choir director. Everything from rappers, singers, thespians and models all auditioned and certainly gave it what they called their best. In being professional, I can’t mention names nor can I let loose the comedy express in the middle of a shoot. Believe me, they worked hard to get their tickets though!

We auditioned an absolutely beautiful young lady with perfect skin and form who was a gangster rapper, a young male rapper with an interesting look and “swagger” about him who could really sing and a woman (I know you’re not going to believe this) in a cow hide print, fur covered swim suit and inflatable guitar complete with cowgirl hat, who sang the complete Stephanie Mills catalog as a medley while dancing. Did I mention the cow hide print, fur covered bathing suit? These were just a few of the folk that graced the stage that day. Sadly, this is happening all over the world in auditions and showcases everywhere. Meanwhile, there is someone in a karaoke bar right now singing their heart out and bringing tears to the eyes of all in attendance with their rendition of Roberta Flacks “Killing me softly”.

What makes these auditions so funny are the attitudes of the untalented. It almost seems like they are so untalented that their real talent is convincing people, sight-unseen, that they have talent and that the industry is at fault because they have not been picked up yet. I think one of my favorite untalented remarks is “How much are you going to pay me when I finish dazzling with this?” We let her sign and swing her lace front wig, with the lace front still showing, around for what turned out to be ten minutes. She danced and even performed a rather odd cartwheel toward the end, and when the music finished (yes she had ten minutes of nonstop music, we were amazed) a hush fell over the room like Granny walked out of the washroom with her shirt neatly tucked inter her pantyhose and wet feet. No one knew what to say or do and the cherry on the icing of the cake of her audition was when she bellowed “CHEAH!” into the microphone (yes that’s how it is spelled) and dropped it.

Folks, it’s time that those of us who understand what talent is and what it takes to make it in the entertainment industry to stand up and in one loud resounding voice let the untalented know, “THAT IS NOT YOUR GIFT!!!”

What are your thoughts?

Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through The Photographer's Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week’s post I thought I share a rather concerning experience that seems to be occurring more and more these days. “Plumbers Crack!!!”

I was walking toward my office in the city when I saw three young men walking like their lower backs were in great pain or they were holding in a very old and much unwanted turd only to realize that they were wearing their pants well below the Glutinous - Maximums (ass)! I was appalled to see young men walking down the street in public with their underwear showing and struggling to walk. Now I know that this is not a new phenomenon but it is getting a little out of hand. I understand the need to be different as well as the urge to keep up with the latest fashion trends, but when fashion take priority over health and safety then I have to step up and say something.

I want to first explore the medical repercussions of wearing your pants that low. First you are cutting off blood circulation to your lower body thus making your heart bead harder and faster to maintain proper pressure to your lower extremities. Then there is “The Walk”. The walk to hold your pants up is quite funny to see but if those who walked like this 1) could see themselves and 2) realized that in order to walk like that you have to twist your hips and pelvic bone into an awkward position in order to turn your knees and thighs out far enough to keep your pants from falling down around your ankles. The amount of joint and bone damage is enormous and as time goes on becomes lower back pain, poor circulation and weakened knees and hip all from something you saw made popular in music videos.

Before I begin throwing stones, let me be the first to admit I have been guilty of showing a little crack from time to time but I make a conscious effort to make sure that it is not often. Being that I “Lack in the Back” there is not much to hold up my pants in the rear. To combat that I wear a belt. My Grand Father, many years ago taught me that a respectable man wears a belt, keep a clean handkerchief in his pocket and at least enough money to get home from where he is. Now when I was given this mental jewel, I was about 6 or 7 years old. Clearly at that point it was “Truth out of Season”. Now that I am considerably older than I was then I can say that this particular truth is so prevalent. Stevie Wonder wrote, “I believe the children are the future, TECH THEM WELL AND LET THEM LEAD THE WAY.” Stevie, I am so with you!!! But what have we taught out children when we allow them to leave the house looking like they just got their belt back from central booking and I most certainly don’t want to see your fruit of the loom undies with the ripped waist band as I am walking down the New York City Streets.

If this is how we have taught our children to respect themselves and how to gain respect from others then I am truly concerned for their future because like it or not these children are the future. I am holding all Parents and God-Parents responsible making a change before these children have to go and get a real job and don’t realize that saggy $300 jeans and a ball cap will only get you a job working in the mail room or the loading dock. I have worked both in my early years and they still expected slacks and a collared shirt.

What’s was more disturbing than that, is as I went to meet a new potential model at my office that same day, I got to my office and she was there a little early, (always a good thing) and she stood up to greet me as I walked through the door and she turned around to put her purse down and there it was… Plumbers Crack!!! Something told me when low rise jeans became popular that this day was coming and now it was standing in my office. Now the immature goof ball in me wanted to burst out laughing and try to throw M&M’s in it from a distance, but the professional in me asked her politely and quietly to please pull her pants up so as not to dazzle the crowds!!! She got the message and spent the rest of our meeting pulling her pants up.

Maybe on some level I am turning into my grandfather, he was a very well liked and respected and respectable man who had a lot to share with us all. So, I share this advice with all of you from both he and I, “PULL YOUR PANTS UP!!!”, no one who will respect you can appreciate that!!!

What are your thoughts?

Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through The Photographers Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographers Lens,

In this week's post I wanted to share with you all a question that came
across my mind while riding the subway in NYC this past week. As you may
know by now, as a photographer it is really important that I be able to
see subtle details at a glance. This particular day I happened to notice
two young ladies talking about getting their hair done and it brought me
back to a time where when I was young, the women in my family would go and
get their hair done for special events and the like weddings or special
church events. Otherwise they would spend time either early in the morning
or as a Saturday Girls Day Out doing each others hair and sharing the
stories they've collected since the last hair day. All of the children
would gather in the back yard or in the play room and play for hours with
our favorite cousins and neighbors.

The memories all reminded me that they took the time to make themselves
look as good as can be with the resources they had available and the
people around them often times appreciated the fact that they took that
time to put the effort into their beauty regiment. In listening to these
two particular young ladies on the train, however, I over heard one of
them say “I am going to get my new wig and have someone put it in for me
cause I just don't have time to do it and I can't be bothered.” The
statement got me thinking, what have we become as a society when we don't
take our own self grooming seriously enough to put in more effort than
making an appointment. I also heard one person say “I get my hair washed
every few days cause I don't know how and I just don't have the time.”
Needless to say that brings to mind the question “Well what time are you
saving when you make an appointment to have your hair done which never
starts on time and you have to get it scheduled around your stylist's
availability?”

One thing I always share with the new models I deal with is, in order to
be good at this you have to “commit to your crazy”, and by that I mean you
have to put in the effort to be exactly, if not more than, what you want
people to recognize you as. So if you are going to be a Diva then you need
to be a Diva that people will never forget by being a complete Diva. Total
commitment to your personage and persona yield the self image you want to
project to the world. I also thought about one of my aunts telling her
then teenage daughters that “You ARE beautiful women, so BE beautiful
women,” meaning that in order to be recognized as something you have to
present yourself as such.

So, now I began to think, well if you are perceived as what you present
then how should a person who puts no personal effort into grooming
perceived. How should a person of quality view a person that puts no
effort into themselves, and why should either of them expect anything else
but a superficial interaction built on image instead of quality or truth.
The Question then becomes if you can't put the effort into yourself, then
why should someone else be held to a different standard?

Let me know what you think,

Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through the Photographer’s Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographer's Lens.

In this week's post I thought I would talk about something I observed while leaving a business meeting. I was leaving a rather promising meeting with a very well known producer and waiting to get on the elevator. When the doors opened I noticed that there was a nice looking young lady dressed in a cat suit and opened over coat. Now, because I was able to record the entire image and outfit in one mental shot, I noticed that above one of her breasts, through her outfit I could make out a small rectangle which seemed to have a thin rubber band around it. I thought back to when my grandmother and great grandmother used to keep large sums of cash stuffed into their bras. Naturally I found this to be funny and began to smile publically and laugh out loud internally. Not so much because this seemingly young lady was stashing enough money to require a rubber band into her bra, but at the fact that she chose to do so while wearing a cat suit. Did she not think that it would be seen by people as they walked by in the streets? The intellectual in me said well maybe she is conducting a social experiment to see how many people would notice the large wad of cash waving hello to the oncoming masses from the top of her chest and compare the number to how many people would notice she was wearing a cat suit and open over coat in 14 degree New York weather. Whatever the case I hope she only got the responses she was looking for.

I realize that for many fashion and/or the need for attention can drive your fashion choices, but do you believe that what we wear in public determines what people think of us? What do you think?



Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com

Through the Photographer’s Lens

Welcome to Through the Photographer's Lens.

As a photographer of fashion and a photojournalist, I have to rely on my ability to see the smallest details at a glimpse. An eye for detail often means the difference between getting a good shot and telling a great story in one frame. Here we will explore some of the things photographers see every day, but professional conduct keeps them from responding to. In these articles I will not only explore these observations, but also ask some really simple questions that will hopefully provoke some really interesting, and more importantly, much needed dialog.



Rahim Baskett
Photographer
MindSoulVision Photography
Url: http://www.mindsoulvision.com/
Email: Rahimb@mindsoulvision.com