"My love and curiosity for the story behind the person and the place led me to a career in photojournalism.  In a time when images are becoming contrived and computer generated, I continue to capture life as it unfolds."
-Shauna Intelisano  

I am thrilled to introduce Shauna Intelisano a photographer that I met working in downtown Denver.  She has a way of just capturing beauty within the moments that would have normally been overlooked.   An artist that Portland, OR is lucky to have access to.  One of my most memorable experiences with Shauna as a photographer is when she photographed my wedding.  Shauna captured beautiful photos and helped preserve memories that will stay with me throughout my life.

Let's talk about love and your self-published book.

In 2008 I traveled to Cuba with a writer and we worked on a story about the change in leadership (after 50 years of Fidel). There I met my now husband and so I traveled back and forth for 3 years. I tried to work in Cuba but I was mainly there for love.   To raise money for my husbands transition to the U.S. I self-published a book of my work in Cuba titled "Dulce Tormento". It was a real labor of love. There are a few stories in there I wrote. I spent over 100 hours editing text and layout.  It can be viewed at this link to Dulce Tormento.

What kind of subjects do you shoot and what inspires you as a photographer?

People. Everyday people.  Not models or celebrities.  Just everyday unsung heroes.   Natural light, emotion, telling stories with images, capturing the beauty in the world .  Peoples vulnerability and strength.

Who is your biggest inspiration? 

So many it is hard to say. Inspirations are always changing as well. Todd Heisler (former Rocky Mountain News and now NYTimes), April Saul (Philadelphia Inquirer), Gabriela Herman (freelance), Nicolle Clemetson (Freelance), Rezza (Nat Geo), Mary Ellen Mark (freelance), David Walter Banks (freelance & represented)

"It is not the destination, it's the journey." -Shauna Intelisano

Christopher Earle has been shooting photos since he was 10 which means he has been shooting photos for 37 years. 

The photo titled "Woman Crucified" in the slideshow above was photographed in a 1908 Taiwan Beer Brewery.  The security guard let us in, and I convinced Caroline to climb an iron ladder to a catwalk above Jae Mann (model).   There was no light, completely dark until I hit the flash's "model mode" so she could see where she was.  Somehow it worked.  

Who is a photographer(s) that inspire you?

I think my main inspiration has always been Edward Weston, but really like a lot of what Alfred Stieglitz did.  Imogen Cunningham is also a big influence. Many, many Japanese photographers, including Nobuyoshi Araki, Daidō Moriyama, Miyako Ishiuchi, Yuichi Hibi.  As far as modern, I really like a lot of what WaYangFotos does . Oddly, although they are influences, I don’t see a LOT of them in my own work. Another that just popped to mind is Nan Goldin. LOVE her work, but it is far, far different from my own, but her attraction to the fringe folks isn’t too far from what I prefer to photograph.

What makes Christopher's photography unique is that his work is beautiful yet there is that technical aspect that works perfectly. Christopher describes his ability to view color really stood out to me because his nude photographs also represent the feeling of slippery and elusive.   It depends on how comfortable you are with yourself nude to be able to view another nude.   Sometimes the photographers that aren't as well known are creating pieces that will change photography and art as we know it. 

Each artist that I introduce I would like to inspire just one person.