Eve in Joshua Tree

May 22, 2018 by kwakualston

  Behind the Scenes: I photographed Eve for the first time in the 90s for Rolling Stone when she first hit the scene, again for People, and now for CBS Watch! Magazine in Joshua Tree.  From 125th St. in Harlem to the magical desert, Eve is as radiant as ever.  The natural and exotic environment combined with June Ambrose’s world-renowned styling was a dream come true.  The desert is as harsh as it is beautiful, and once the sun sets, […]

Categories: Behind the Scenes, Editorial, Uncategorized • Tags: cbs watch, editorial, eve, fashion

Welcome to Wakanda

March 9, 2018 by kwakualston

  This project is one of my proudest collaborations.  The opportunity to photograph these incredible actors and capture their spirits channeling Black Panther is an experience that I will always remember. Two weeks before we flew to Atlanta to photograph the Black Panther cast, I visited Disney for the first time to show my portfolio.  After the meeting, Disney’s Jason Dunne and Laurence Schroeder hired me for the project.  The shoot was in conjunction with Entertainment Weekly’s cover under the […]

Categories: Editorial, Uncategorized • Tags: black panther, disney

Michelle & Barack Obama for Essence Magazine

October 6, 2016 by kwakualston

Categories: Editorial, Uncategorized • Tags: barack obama, Michelle Obama, obama

Behind the Scenes Black Hollywood with Essence Magazine

February 17, 2014 by kwakualston

Behind the scenes lighting setup and breakdown        Oprah’s glam team           2013 ended with one of the most exciting jobs of the year: photographing the much anticipated Essence Hollywood Issue featuring Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Michael B Jordan.  Essence’s editors and these legendary thespians met me in Los Angeles, where we constructed a beautiful set to capture the energy and excitement of an epic year at the movies.  Enjoy these special behind the scenes moments.  Thank you […]

Categories: Behind the Scenes, Editorial • Tags: behind the scenes, black hollywood, Celebrity, celebrity photography, editorial, essence, essence hollywood, essence hollywood issue, Essence magazine, forest whitaker, hollywood, michael b jordan, michael jordan, oprah, oprah winfrey, time lapse

Trent Reznor for Fader – #filmisnotdead

September 29, 2013 by kwakualston

Trent Reznor for Fader September 10th, 10:53 AM. Upload images to FTP for proofing cover. September 9th – 3:37 PM. Confirm correct negative for scanning. September 9th – 3:33 PM. Landed at The Icon with negatives. September 9th – 2:55 PM. Lost down memory lane. September 9th – 2:50 PM. Secured the box. September 9th – 2:45 PM. Locate the box. September 9th – 2:43 PM. Rushing to find negatives. There comes a time in your photographic career when you […]

Categories: Behind the Scenes, Editorial, Uncategorized • Tags: 1346 abbot kinney, 4x5, 4x5 film, 90s, archive, art of studio, behind the scenes, Fader, film, film archiv, film archive, film photography, kwaku alston, kwaku alston photography, music, music photography, nine inch nails, photography, reznir, Trent Reznor

Queen Latifah for USA Weekend

September 13, 2013 by kwakualston

Great catching up with makeup artist Sam Fine, and Tim Snell, who i worked with in NYC at the very beginning of my career in NYC. Guest DJ! Recently I had the pleasure of photographing hip-hop’s first lady, the radiant Queen Latifah, for USA Weekend with photo director, David Baratz.  Queen was an absolute joy to be around and infected everyone with her energy, from jamming out with the DJ to singing some soul as we worked outside. I felt […]

Categories: Behind the Scenes, Editorial • Tags: art of studio, behind the scenes, David Baratz, editorial, kwaku alston, latifah, Los Angeles, Photo Shoot, photography, queen latifah, USA Weekend

Janelle Monae Film

August 22, 2013 by kwakualston

  This is a film I created while on set with Essence Magazine for the Janelle Monae cover story, and am excited to announce it is finally live on my website!

Categories: Editorial • Tags: art of studio, behind the scenes, Essence magazine, fashion, fashion sotry, film story, janelle monae, janelle monae film, kwaku alston, photography

Oprah & Tyler Perry for Essence – 30 Minutes & 36 Hours

May 21, 2013 by kwakualston

   Behind the Scenes…. Ready to light! Thanks to Morel Rental House for helping everything run smoothly! Sunset from the plane. My LA Photo crew hustling to get home in the airport. No Mondays are mundane when you’re in the creative industry–and on New York time.  On a particularly chilly March morning, Essence magazine’s photo director Rebecca Karamehmedovic called me with an exciting assignment–photographing two media moguls who hold the reins to Hollywood and the entertainment industry: Oprah and Tyler […]

Categories: Behind the Scenes, Editorial • Tags: art of studio, behind the scenes, editorial, Essence magazine, kwaku alston, oprah, oprah and tyler perry, photography, travel, tyler perry

Jason Collins for Sports Illustrated

May 14, 2013 by kwakualston

Late one Wednesday evening, after presenting work at a MOPLA event, I received an email from Sports Illustrated’s Photography Director, Brad Smith, about a job to be completed the following day–with a top secret subject to be disclosed the day of the shoot.  This would be my first Sports Illustrated cover, and one of my most exciting jobs yet–so needless to say, I said yes immediately.  Sports Illustrated has always been a staple for great sports imagery, and their veteran […]

Categories: Editorial • Tags: art of studio, behind the scenes, editorial, jason collins, kwaku alston, National Basketball Association, NBA, photography, sports illustrated, Walter Iooss, Washington Wizards