Stand Tall Be Better In Everything You Do

As I listened to her acceptance speech I said to myself if us women stood more together instead of envying each other  and back stabbing each other we would be stronger.
Men tend to fight at a board room. Then go and have beer at a bar as buddies.
Us women we fight and hold grudges towards each other for the rest of our life.
This is where we fail as women.
And to people who hoped that I do not exist  and continue on my path of an artist. The best way I fought back is by becoming stronger. Better in everything I do.
Like Madonna mentioned. If they try to put you down and burry you alive .  Rise up high from the ashes towards the sky and they can't  reach you. Because you will be up with the Stars.  Bullies will be left in the mud below you.

Madonna's Acceptance Speech at-billboard-women-in-music-2016

Montreal Photographer Hera Bell's Upcoming Photography Exhibit H2O CANADA in November 2016

H₂O CANADA   

 A Photographic Collection of Canadian Waterscapes by Hera Bell

 It is still.  It rages.  It ebbs and flows.  It trickles gently; it roars.  It meanders, yet with purposeful objective.  It quenches, cleanses, and refreshes.  It is an essential life force within us and around us.  Water.

  Welcome to Hera Bell's H₂O Canada, a photographic journey of our country's water sources in various forms, captured through the lens of a photographer critically acclaimed for her edgy, erotic imagery.

 In her third exhibit at the Centaur Theatre's Ted T. Katz Family Trust Gallery, Bell conveys the majesty of our waters with breathtaking splendour.  In signature Hera Bell style, the images in this display are luscious and sensual, seductive, as if they depict a luxury not essential to life, the farthest notion from the truth.

  It is no secret that our waters are dissipating through pollution and climate change, being coveted and stolen through corporate greed. With an increasing human population, it is a commodity that we must turn our respectful attention towards.  Simply stated, our survival depends on it.

Vegan Stuffed Peppers by Montreal photographer Hera Bell

What makes a dish vegan,  when you use only plant products in your dish. Nothing from an animal.

Stuffed vegan peppers.

I cooked first the inside. Grape seed oil, ognions  fresh shredded  summer garlic, fresh basil, one can of navy beans, 200cc basmati rice, low sodium  tomato coulis. Pinch of salt an one small red hot pepper.  Cook it as if you are cooking your rice. By adding 400cc diluted tomato coulis into the mix.  Then when the stuffing is ready, add the bottom of the other cooking pan grape seed oil, diluted tomato coulis garlic and ognion powder. stuff your peppers add a bit of more tomato juice over your pepper. Close the lid cook in low heat. Once in a while by basting over your peppers with  the tomato juice from the bottom of your pan. The aroma is amazing so is the taste. If you like serve it with plain garlic yogourt over it. Yumm. Entire dish under $ 10.00
Bonne appetit.

Summer Drink & Writing Calligraphy With Your Fingers by Montreal portrait photographer Hera Bell

I sometimes take a break from consuming alchool. I love wine and beer. Especially European beers. Today it will be my day 6 without a drop of alcohol. I buy this no additives grapefruit soda water from Loblaws. It is so fabulously refreshing.

On to another note. My cell phone Samsung Galaxy recently had a firmware update.  It's photo editing software has drawing mode now. I love it. Various pencils and pens. This one is my favorite.  Written with my fingers.
Have a wonderful Thursday night cyber world.

Getting Copied And Inspiring Others by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

They say getting copied is the biggest flattery. Throughout centuries artists dealt with this issue. Mona Lisa has been painted millions of times. We have so many examples.

During the digital era  this has become even more common.

When other artists use my photographic work without asking is it a compliment? I just found this out. I am not freaking out. This has happened to me before.

My original shot.

I never supplied it as a shock photo shot. But if you use google +  or Deviantart to share your photos, it stores your images on picassa and for some reason people think it is free for all stock image  grabs.
Go check the link. I guess I am happy to have inspired her. However a tiny credit to me would have been appriciated.

The link to see the artist's page... just click on it.

Getting Creative Results With Children After Your Cell phone Snap. By Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

The cell phone cameras  are so advance that we no longer have any excuses to photograph our daily life and exhibit it at the social media. Instad of tones of 4"×6" bad prints from.our vacations we are now ending  up with tones of image files. I actually had some clients asking help from me to download their cell phone images on their computers, because they started lacking storage space  on their cell phones.

Yesyerday I could not help photographing these two kids at a waiting room. Brother and sister. Alison & Anthony. Shot  with my cell phone as a snap shot and edited in Photoshop. Alison is 5 months old.

Voilà.  As shot and final photo. The poses were all natural.

Food For Soul The India I Miss by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

This Saturday night in Montreal I sit down with a feeling of loss for humanity. I seek answers to too many questions of why are are experiencing such divisions, terror and sadness for lost lives.

Having spent several years in India due to my previous carrer in the fashion industry for 12 years brings me warm memories of an era where we could travel without terror interact freely with different cultures.

In India I learnt about sharing. Tasted every kind of spice. And I had developed deep friendships. 

Tonight I seek comfort cooking an Indian coconut masala vegan dish.

It has potatoes  veggies lentils basmati rice and flavours  that reminds me a better world.

Good night world. May we see peace  and harmony amongst humans.

Shot with cell phone.

Sexiness Is All About An Attitude by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

You can keep all your cloths on, yet look and feel uber sexy. Sexiness is an entire attitude that first lives within. We all have the potential to feel and look sexy. It is how we exhibit it that makes it a desirable physical manifest to be admired upon.

My long time friend Victor (dance critic) and his beautiful partner Iva.
By the way... They are tango dancers. Can you tell?

Have a wonderful Friday.

Importance of Styling Your Photography by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

Styling is everything in the first step towards the mood of your glamour portrait photos.
This one is coming along quite wonderfully.

Custom made masks from Venice and Spain. The multi layer white tulle made by a seamstress. The top is the only piece bought on line from a shop.

I am getting prepared for un upcoming session. I will have permission to show you the results.
Then the pieces will become another look to use during my other client sessions.

Photo created entirely with my cell phone.
Have a wonderful Thursday.

No Time For Myself & Time Flies by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

My life has been  so crazy busy I can't  even find a 20 minutes to schedule my hair cut.  Trust me. Because after the hair cut I need another hour or so to do my own hair dye. No bloody time. Time flies. Hopefully next week sometimes friday I can achieve scheduling my cut.

Today I saw a client from years ago. She is now 32 with a 2 year old boy. Last time  I had photographed her she was 16 and I did her high-school  grad  shots. During the film era. Wow. I am old. Some of the photographers  operating today were just coming out of their diapers  when I was shooting.

Sadly or perhaps nicely  don't  feel my age.   I am a Duracell battery bunny. By the way such a great ad campaign that is.

The other day a client decided to fly his drone over my session. Voila. Naked truth captured.

Confessions Of A Decoration Addict by Montrealer GirlBoss Hera Bell

If you are a decoration addict like me, only you would understand.

Since the installation of our new dining room lights I was  itching to do smething to our kitchen lights over the kitchen table.

 I purchased on line the same crystals. They have arrived today. It is now done now. Voila.

Cell phone snaps.

Visually yours, happy Tuesday night,

The Difference Between Capturing And Creating An Image by Montrealer Girl Boss Hera Bell

Now of days we all have a digital camera. At least everyone owns a cellphone camera. The amount of photography happening between our daily selfies and snap shots of our moments is immense.

Camera gear is very affordable now of days. Even if you have no idea what lighting means, Photoshop and some cell phone apps easily can rectify your lighting problems. Thus for we have that many more people launching their photography businesses. I am quite thankful that when

I started my photography carrier in 1997 it was during the film era. I learnt everything  I know of today all by myself. By reading  and experimenting. Taking workshops back then were much less in vogue and much less affordable. Especially when it came to the art of studio portraiture. Today almost every photographer tries to supplement their income by trying to teach the trade.

I embraced digital imagery way before digital cameras were out there to capture anything in great quality to offer poster size prints. So I scanned my negatives with a high end Nikon scanner and started playing with collages. Back then, I was bashed as a fake photographer by photographers refusing to enter the digital manipulations era. I have never hidden the fact that I used the collage techniques to create realistic imagery. I am not a photo journalist. I am a glamour portrait specialist.

Today, I owe the success of my portrait business to being different then the rest of the flock. I offer  more then a simple capture. Seeking perfection in every single detail. Recently I had a "mini me" mother and daughter/ smash the cake session.

 My photography starts always by styling every shots myself. From the clothing choices to the mood of the shots, the make-up etc. This is a collaboration between me and  my clients. I take great pride working solo, without the aid of any assistants.

I will show you what I mean. When you photograph a one year old baby girl, you learn fast that you can' direct them. You can get their attention if you are lucky and skillful enough. Often parents are preoccupied to contain the kid in the shot. You first direct the parents. Then click that shutter when the kid is in perfect position. In these two samples you can see what's going on. To me none of these two images are perfect.

And what I have done to make it a perfect shot. Voila.

Ansel Adams said: "You don't take a photograph, you create it." He was a master from the negative and darkroom era. But he knew what he was talking. A negative was just a start for him as for me a digital capture. Nothing has changed when it comes to the art of photography.

The Gift Of Being Different by Montrealer Girl Boss Hera Bell

I would like to welcome you all to my new blog which will depict my meli melo visual and culinary adventures. A bit of this a bit of that.

Some of you already know who I am.

An Armenian girl born in Istanbul, living in Montreal since 1978 and traveling the world. I have always been attracted since childhood to extravagant things. When you meet me, you will either love me or hate me. I have been a  achiever in almost everything I did  in my life. At the age of 56, I am now in peace with who I am, I learnt to keep my close friends closer, and I am getting used to the idea of ignoring the negative people around me. I no longer seek approval from others. Since my both carreers in life have been involved heavily in a creative world, I have been surrounded by the envy of other creative people. This had thought me one single thing in life. Be strong, continue with your chosen passion, thrive to be among the best, ignore the competition. Because while the rest will hate you, dislike you and envy you, you will  be busy working hard and geting closer to your dreams.

In a world of conformity, would you dare to be different? Would you be boring to become just a follower, instead of being a top trend setter?

From my kitchen table to yours with love. My garden snail Willy and I had a bit of fun... He is now set free back to the garden basking in the sun.

As for the new terminology of "Girl Boss" which has become a chewing gum in every free lancer girl's mouth who has been making a living by being her own boss, I have been a girl boss as a fashion designer for 12 years prior to my photography business which has been in operation since 1997. Yes, I guess  I am a girl boss.

Have a wonderful Sunday.