Tara Minshull Cinematic Worlds Photography

Back to my Roots The inspiration for this...

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:43:00 -0400

Back to my Roots

The inspiration for this ‘cinegraph’ has been stirring within me for some years now. Throughout my life I have considered myself to be purely British. Having been born, raised and educated in England that was very much who I felt I was. That was until I moved to Los Angeles with my mother and brother where we became reunited with our Armenian roots. Since then I have slowly begun to recognize the values, culture, foods, passions and history of what it is to be Armenian.

The pomegranate is the national symbol of the Armenian people. Used in poetry, art and food it represents the life and nourishment that kept the people alive during the genocide, eating one seed a day during exile.

I use the pomegranate in my ‘cinegraph’ to tell my story. Re-growing back to my roots that begin to fruit the Armenian symbol, while I collect each one to treasure and represent who I am today.

- Photograph taken by Josh Gallo

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without..."

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:23:00 -0400

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree...

Death by Kino This ‘Cinegraph’ is self-referential...

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 20:38:00 -0400

Death by Kino

This ‘Cinegraph’ is self-referential and personal to me. For many years now I have felt rather violated by having my photograph taken. The knowledge that someone had captured my image in a way I have never seen myself before, while being unable to attain it, was unnerving. With each shutter closure I was being turned into a commodity and becoming, somehow, symbolically possessed.

In this composition, I myself am being photographed by friend and photographer Josh Gallo. It was a nerve-racking, soul invasive experience for me. As the all seeing Kino flashed his eye at my body he consumed my every move. This ‘cinegraph’ shows my soul being vacumed into the camera’s lens, leaving my body empty and lifeless. The glow of light is usurped by flying moths, who decay the glamour of being gazed at by the camera.

Regardless of my own persoal difficulties being photographed, it was a priviledge to collaborate with Josh and to develop my composition through someone else’s eyes.

"All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or..."

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 20:19:44 -0400

“All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s...

Looking Down the Rabbit Hole This composition was inspired by...

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:55:00 -0400

Looking Down the Rabbit Hole

This composition was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland but more specifically, by a personal loss.

The separation of two people can be difficult, and oftentimes out of our control. The loss I refer to is the metaphysical kind. A disconnect. When one loses oneself in the dark. Falls down a rabbit hole, while their loved ones watch from above.

Sometimes the dark seems rather magical, intriguing and spiritual. And oftentimes it can be. The intrigue for us all is constant and challenging.

This Cinegraph tells the story of the girl who looks hypnotically into the glowing depths of the Rabbit Hole, unsure whether or not to fall in…what would you do?

"The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so..."

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:12:00 -0400

“The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down,...

Earth Born I’ve been wanting to create this Cinegraph for...

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 19:04:00 -0400

Earth Born

I’ve been wanting to create this Cinegraph for a long time now and I finally squeezed in the hours to make it happen. I’ve been closely drawn to the image of humans and nature being intertwined or joined.

I’ve been thinking about the relationship between man and nature recently, and in reality I see a battle rather than a romance. But in my ‘Cinematic Worlds’ I want to create new realities, and displace ourselves from what we know to be real.

‘Earth Born’ is a world that romanticizes the relationship between Mother Earth and ourselves. Where the wind melts into our skin and we grow out of the ground by our roots.

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair"

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:52:09 -0400

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with...

Let Nature Catch You For a long time now I have been a firm...

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:40:00 -0400

Let Nature Catch You

For a long time now I have been a firm believer in Nature. Mother nature has been my savior whenever I’ve been lost, confused or doubtful. Just stepping outside into the garden or going for a hike in the woods, where I can immerse myself in the peace and quiet, clears my mental pollution.

This photograph is a literal composition of the concept that Nature can often catch us when we feel as though we are falling. The fantasy of being carried away by a flock of birds into the clouds, is one I feel we all have shared at one point. So I hope that you feel inspired to take that walk or book that camping trip and let Mother Nature take you under her wing.

"You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and trees will..."

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:27:28 -0400

“You will find something far greater in the woods than you will find in books. Stones and...

Suffocation Ironically, this composition took hold of me far too...

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:11:00 -0400

Suffocation

Ironically, this composition took hold of me far too strongly for comfort. I recently found out I had a rather tight time constriction in which to compose more cinegraphs and found myself rushing to shoot, edit and complete this piece.

When we feel the iron weight of time and pressure against us, it feels as though the air we breathe is thicker, toxic even. That our bodies are tied up in the projects we aren’t able to tear ourselves away from.

This dark, deathly image is a representation of the suffocating feeling we all too often suffer from. I hope it encourages you, as it has me, to give yourself a break and breathe again.

"Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply it’s..."

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:55:32 -0400

“Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply it’s...

Shock to the System This composition was quickly and haphazardly...

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:10:00 -0400

Shock to the System

This composition was quickly and haphazardly put together. It was only after working on the details of how I wanted it to develop, did I realize what the photograph was about.

This piece invites you to break out of your normal hum drum life and shock your system to life. All too often have we taken a step back to look at our week, month or year and realized that we haven’t really lived life.

Being safe isn’t worth the numbness. Take a risk, reach out and shock your system to life.

"Those who are easily shocked, should be shocked more often."

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:55 -0400

“Those who are easily shocked, should be shocked more often.” - Mae West

Gone with the Wind Have you ever had a thought, an idea that was...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:04:00 -0400

Gone with the Wind

Have you ever had a thought, an idea that was so wonderful that you went to write it down and suddenly…gone. This composition is dedicated to the artistic souls who have stood frozen in an aura of despair while they watch the wind carry their ideas off to another thinker.

This is my third cinegraphic composition which retains the romantic world of possibilities, but explores the idea that we can become frozen in the whirlwind of the world and lose pages of our artistic thought.

"Most Ideas are born and lost in Isolation"

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:49:33 -0400

“Most Ideas are born and lost in Isolation” - Scott Belsky

Strolling through Darkness I began creating this composition...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:34:00 -0400

Strolling through Darkness

I began creating this composition with one idea in mind, romantic darkness. Mostly we view darkness as a physical terror and a mental hole. But I have found that there can often be something wonderful that comes out of being submerged into the depths of panic, fear and loneliness. Strength and determination.

If we can find ways to stroll through the darkness slowly and confidently it becomes a romantic journey in itself and one that has often fueled many poets, artists and thinkers.

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success."

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:18:04 -0400

“We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our...

Close your eyes…and believe it happen Many times we ask...

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:58:00 -0400

Close your eyes…and believe it happen

Many times we ask ourselves, ‘how am I going to do this?’ or ‘I can’t imagine how this is ever going to happen’. In a world that is becoming continuously accessible, we still feel overwhelmed by pressures and expectations and begin to doubt our ability to do things. It becomes hard to believe in ourselves and the power we have to make things happen.

As my first ‘cinegraphic’ composition, I wanted to explore this very theme through a world where anything is possible. Where apples can fall from the sky by the power of our imagination.

"You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus"

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:56:00 -0400

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” - Mark Twain