Blog Archives

Jul 25 2014

Interview with Katya Zvantseva

Katya Zvantseva is a 24-year old model residing in Washington, D.C.

How would you introduce yourself to our readers?

I was born and raised in Russia. I left the country in 2008 and since then lived in 3 different countries on 3 continents: Senegal, Kazakhstan and the USA. It was exciting! Traveling is my biggest passion.
My other passion is crafts. I do knit, sew, weave, etc. I also love gardening and since I live in an apartment building and don’t have even the smallest garden I created a garden outside of my window on the 6th floor – I am growing cucumbers upside down in water containers! Not something you would expect from a model right. I also love foraging (I pick wild edibles and eat them), hiking, camping and adventures.

When, how and why did you first get involved in the modeling industry?

When my daughter was 7 months old (now she is 6) I desperately needed a part-time job to get out of the house and for extra income. I wasn’t willing to give up my child for a full time job and career. The lack of well-paid part-time jobs made me look into modeling. I am happy I did consider modeling back then. It has been absolutely satisfying to be a model.

What are your personal and professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

My only goal or should I say principle is to always, no matter what, do what I enjoy doing. I don’t care about being on the covers of top magazines or becoming a zillionaire – all this is completely unimportant if you are not happy doing what you do every day. We live once. It is not worth it to waste your time on anything else other than being happy. And yes, I’m willing to trade stability, wealth and recognition for that.

How often are you modeling and what does it usually consist of?

I do a few photoshoots a week. When I travel I do many more, up to three daily. I mostly shoot art. It is my favorite genre. I also shoot fashion, editorial and commercial which I really enjoy as well.

Please tell us about the best and/or worst experiences you’ve had so far in modeling.

I think growing up in Russia has prepared me for navigating in the dangerous world of freelance modeling. Believe it or not, I haven’t had any bad experiences. I can’t put my finger on the best experience either, mainly because each job I do is so different from everything else.

Is there anything you would change about the modeling industry if you could?

I have no complaints. It is what it is.

Do you practice any sports and what do you typically eat? Please elaborate on the importance of nutrition and exercise in your life.

A lot of my modeling gigs are physically challenging and require jumping, stretching, bending, hanging or holding weird poses. Almost every shoot is quite a workout. Other than that I love walking (I don’t have a car so I actually do walk a lot), hiking, biking, swimming and I also practice yoga. Staying active is very important.

I have been vegetarian for more than 5 years although I do eat fish occasionally. I eat very limited amount of dairy and eggs, so my diet is mostly raw and vegan. I can admit that going meat-free (along with rejecting all medication unless for life-saving purposes) was the best decision I have ever made regarding my health and well-being. Nope, not even aspirin. Now, at the age of 30 I am healthier than i have ever been.

Would you change anything about yourself (physical or otherwise) if you could?

If I could be less lazy and more patient that would be awesome. But I am too lazy and impatient to change that.

How do you think you are most likely to die?

I will likely be around age 150 and die on a camping trip.

Feb 02 2014

B-Boy at the Edgewood Murals

This stunning high definition shows break dancing in ultra slow motion. It was shot with a Phantom HD and a set of Superspeed Zeiss Primes. And the images displayed are truly stunning. B-boy moves that seem to defy gravity at full speed are even more amazing in slow motion, and as you watch you half-expect the dancer to drop to the floor at any moment. The video was shot before a beautiful mural at Edgewood Murals in Washington DC in the United States. The dancer is local b-boy and instructor Geoff Chang, also known as Toys Are Us. The great sound track to the video is provided by DJ Shadow and the song is “Building Steam with a Grain of Salt.”

+ Who: Geoff Chang, or Toyz Are Us, is a b-boy and instructor. He works at Words Beats and Life Academy in Washington, DC. The academy was founded with a mission to transform lives and communities through the presentation and teaching of hip-hop culture. They offer free classes to young people in the elements of hip-hop: DJing, beat production, b-boying, emceeing, and graffiti. Plus they also teach photography, street art, spoken word and chess. Toyz Are Us is one of the most known and respected b-boys in the Untied States. He has been b-boying since 2000 and represents the Lionz of Zion crew. He uses old school techniques with a new school twist. He has won numerous competitions, including Hip Hop Addict 2011 and Break The Floor 2012.
+ Where: In the summer of 2009, five artists (Decoy, Pose 2, Joshua Mays, Quest Skinner and Chor Boogie) combined efforts on the largest mural in Washington DC. Called “From Edgewood to the Edge of the World,” it began as a wall 280 feet long and 15 feet high. It doubled in size with a project called The Edgewood Mural Jam, as over 65 artists combined to pain the adjacent wall. The mural is located in the parking lot of the Rhode Island Avenue Shopping Center.
+ What: oyz Are Us enters with a couple of flips in front of a stunning section of the Edgewood Mural. At around (0:30) the shot shifts to the b-boy dancing on top of a piece of paper before the same section of mural. The video continues with his dance routine, with some hand work at (0:50), and an overhead shot at (1:00) all in slow-motion. At (1:40) there is a closeup of his pivot hand on the ground and then at (2:00) a closeup of his face straining with the effort of the moves. (2:25) is an overhead shot of some spins. (2:45) a more close in shot of some back spins, showing the strain on Toyz’s face. We move back at (3:10) briefly, and then back in for a long sequence shoulder spins. He pops up at (4:20) and at (4:35) he poses in front of the mural. Then, credits (4:56).