Taraji P Henson + Essence Magazine

March 13, 2020 by kwakualston

  We wrapped 2019 with photographing Taraji in Downtown LA.  Her energy was uplifting, positive, and game for anything.  Thank you for making this shoot such a success. March/April 2020 Issue Chief Content & Creative Officer: MoAna Luu – @Moanaluu Cover Star: Taraji P. Henson – @tarajiphenson Written By: Charli Penn – @charlipenn & Cori Murray – @corimurray Photographer: Kwaku Alston – @kwakualston Fashion Director: Marielle Bobo – @mariellebobo Beauty Director: Julee Wilson – : @missjulee Wearing: Sergio Hudson – […]

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The Hollywood Reporter: Actress Roundtable

November 18, 2019 by kwakualston

BTS with the 8×10: Testing with set designer Theresa Rivera: Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Renée Zellweger, Laura Dern, and Awkwafina for The Hollywood Reporter’s Actress Roundtable. Hollywood Reporter Roundtable shoots move like the wind, shifting quickly as each subject enters the studio with their entourage.  Two sets, 3 cameras (Nikon, Leica, and an analog 8×10 Deardorff), and only 5-10 minutes with each individual talent, we moved back and forth from opposite sides of the studio to capture each subject on different […]

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Alone Premiere at Virginia Film Festival

October 9, 2019 by kwakualston

‘The survival of our species can only be set free through knowledge and understanding of who we really are: kindred spirits locked in time and space.” -Maya Angelou   Alone premieres at The Virginia Film Festival on October 25, 2019, at 3 PM: https://virginiafilmfestival.org/films/alone/ After the film showing, join me and actor Rodney Charles for a special discussion delving into the process of creating “Alone” and the series of events that brought this concept to life. I was inspired to create […]

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Serena Williams x Essence

October 9, 2019 by kwakualston

It’s rare I have the opportunity to collaborate with another artist on an editorial shoot.  For Essence’s redesigned new September issue, Brooklyn-based fine Nigerian artist Laolu Senbanjo and I were invited to create together.  It was incredible watching him work painting the set walls and pillars on-site, painting clothes, and he even took requests to paint our water bottles, camera, and phone cases… constantly creating. Thank you to all of the creatives at Essence who made this shoot a reality.  Read […]

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Arri x ASMP Hands-On Lighting Workshop

September 6, 2019 by kwakualston

Join me with your camera at a hands-on lecture to learn about how to use ARRI‘s incredible SkyPanels on September 24th. More info: https://www.asmp.org/losangeles/event/cinematic-photography-hands-on-with-arri-skypanels/  

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The Cast of POWER

August 26, 2019 by kwakualston

See the motion and stills campaign work here.   Creator @CourtneyAKempf @50cent Creative direction @kirkfennel Set Design @TheresaRiveraDesign Production @portfolioone Represented by @foureleven_agency Creative Agency @The_LA_Agency   Photo Team: @bradenmoran @austindaniells @krystallynne @lordlawrence DIT: @maegangindi

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Beyoncé’s Spirit + Lion King Premiere

July 26, 2019 by kwakualston

  Beyoncé with Nala for Disney’s The Lion King. Check out this post to see behind the scenes crafting CGI characters in still images. Photos from The Lion King premiere in Los Angeles: My son…. …walking with animals.

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The Lion King

July 24, 2019 by kwakualston

I am extremely proud to have worked on the international Lion King publicity campaign for Disney.  From NYC to LA, with the help of some incredible VFX digital gurus at MPC_Film, we executed Disney creative head lion, Alex Kang’s concept to create portraits of the voice actors facing their characters. This project was a great opportunity to see how CGI and VFX are created. To achieve this next level realism, we had to shoot a large lens grid with each lens used and a chrome reflective […]

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Starz: POWER

July 24, 2019 by kwakualston

      Recent stills and motion work for STARZ! for the final season of POWER.

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