Jeremy Joseph Ives Photography
@jive.shot
Royal Exposure
What you’re looking at right now is a bit deceiving. If you flip through it too quickly you might just mistake it for a photo-book / photography website. To be honest, that’s what we thought it was at first. After nearly six months of studio sessions, photography classes, community-based photoshoots, and curriculum development meetings, we cobbled together a handful of the images that best communicated the collective brilliance of our Queens, Kings, and community members. More than a creative exercise, this book forced us to reflect on what it has meant to show up with young people in the midst of a pandemic and attempt to capture a new narrative together. But after weeks of editing, we realized it was missing something essential: the actual voices of our Queens & Kings.
Illumination of the Masses….
THE DOJO STUDIOS, THE CREATIVE SCHOOL AND STAYDRMN HAVE A COMMON GOAL, ENRICH AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY BY CONNECTING THOSE WITHIN IT. THE DOJO'S DECADES OF COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE IN VISUALSTORYTELL- ING AND STAYDRMN'S NETWORK BUILDING EXPERTISE MEAN THAT ROYAL EXPOSURE HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO SCALE.
THE DOJO STUDIOS' MISSION OF PROVIDING A CREATIVE SANCTUARY IS SUSTAINED THROUGH AN INTENSE DEDICATION TO CRAFT. BUT THIS HUNGER FOR CREATIVE EXPANSION IS ONLY POSSIBLE IN THE CONTEXT OF A HEALTHY AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY THE DOJO STUDIOS' IS COMMITTED TO ROYAL EXPOSURE.
BY IMMERSING QUEENS AND KINGS IN THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF CREATIVI-
TY AND VISUAL STORYTELLING, WE HELP THEM BECOME THEIR COMMUNITIES' GRIOTS. OUR QUEENS AND KINGS PARTICIPATE IN AN EIGHT WEEK PHOTOG- RAPHY COURSE THAT GROUNDS THEM IN FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS OF THE CRAFT: MANIPULATING LIGHT, INTERACTING WITH A SUBJECT, COLLABORATING WITH CREATIVE PARTNERS, AND PRESENTING WORK IN A GALLERY / BOOK CONTEXT.
STAYDRMN IS THE ENGINE THAT WILL BRING THIS TO THE MASSES. THE WORK BEING DONE IN WASHINGTON DC WILL BE BROUGHT TO ALABAMA AND BEYOND. THE GOAL IS TO WATCH MAGIC HAPPEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Peace and Love