B W Banks Photography

Los Angeles based photographer and musician. http://bwbanks.wix.com/photography

[bwbanksphotography]

I now create from inspiration, where once I worked from desperation. This is being liberated and black.

Muse: Tijahnni

Styled, directed, shot and edited by me.

Medium format film.

[bwbanksphotography]

Novi Brown; Head in the Clouds

[bwbanksphotography]

Ava Monet in vintage striped sweater.

[bwbanksphotography]

Muses come in all shapes and sizes. This one happens to be 4 months as of a couple days ago 😍🤎. Watching your baby grow and develop and recognize your face and smile when they see you from a distance and understand their body and a plethora of other events, is one helluva battery in the back. Plus my baby @jessicaannetteprice is my favorite set designer! Thank you @shehasfancypants for that unbelievably cute Kenyan bracelet straight from home. And since Xo is teething now we love our @nubyusa Nananubs for his gummies! #4monthsold #blackbabies #blackisbeautiful (at Downtown Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_YaJNKABen/?igshid=1fhy4a13iihjr

[bwbanksphotography]

Our Little Green Man 💚 @jessicaannetteprice Thank you Auntie Red (@strwbrybanana ) for this cute ass Toy Story outfit! #blackbabies #toystory #babyphoto (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_OS3HzggZs/?igshid=g6w2ikt63j4g

[bwbanksphotography]

Any who knows me very likely will call me an old man. I skew towards the vintage, I drool over the nostalgic and I even shot this whole series both medium format and 35mm film. @itsthewrightinsta is quite possibly my longest standing male best friend. I've loved and protected him like the brother I've seen him as since we were young impressionable kids in HS. Him at Washington, me at Westchester, him ditching routinely to come to my school to freestyle battle rap with anybody willing. His name was different then but his being is consistent. We both gawked at Roc-a-fella Record's prestige and invulnerability. They had the GOAT (at that time), the best captains and lieutenants, the best hustle, the best look, the best chain. They were also unrepentant misogynists and homophobes. To a degree, so were we. It took years of exposure and learned compassion to compartmentalize the talent and manicured image of Tha Roc from the short-comings of their message. We needed to become our own musicians. With our own message. Our own men. I love you brother. I can't wait to swap musty old stories with you in front of my son. #nontoxic #toxicmasculinity #brothers #blackmen #filmisnotdead (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_GA19tAg95/?igshid=l59qs74id6zn

[bwbanksphotography]

One of the most pleasurable sights is black man smiling. The intensity of our emotional suppression echoes with the songs of slavery. Of Jim Crow. Of 3 Strikes. It is an act of rebellion for black people to smile without prompt or request. With joy on their lips. The decaying ooze of masculinity eerily sounds like White Colonialism. In many ways that is its petri dish. I spent many years practicing my toughest appearance. My hardest inflections. My walk tough enough to be respected but not so much to draw threat. Now I smile to rebel even against myself. This is my brother @chunkylosangeles He laughs, chuckles, chortles and breys while contemplating and empathizing. His smile is love. Thank you for being present for this bro. #blackmen #nontoxic #toxicmasculinity #smilemore (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BOGiDg82F/?igshid=l2aaejpqsfbj

[bwbanksphotography]

So what is toxic masculinity? What are the symptoms and repercussions? While often associated with men/males, is that true or fair? Obviously any of these questions are self-defining. I've seen toxic masculinity as the most limiting ideology in any community. It stifles raw, normal, naked human emotional connection. Men often have shame around any nakedness. Maybe because, by definition, "naked" does not mean nude it means unprotected. Unprotected means VULNERABLE. There's that word again. Here is my brother @spacemonkultra From the moment he entered my life he's been an unknowing guide to me abolishing the elements of toxic masculinity from my childhood. We hug. Often and without dap. For black men that is massive. I love you brother. #toxicmasculinity #nontoxic #blackmen (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B--c1J_g1vV/?igshid=tizw6561ny09

[bwbanksphotography]

This is Non-Toxic 3 years back I reached out to five friends of mine who identify as black, men and born male to assist me with a project I wanted to speak life to. These men were brothers & brothas and I felt confident they'd offer a unique insight on the topic of Toxic Masculinity. I'd hoped through film, color, fashion and environment to show, above all, vulnerability. Masculinity is most commonly associated with bravery. There is no bravery without vulnerability. Here is my brotha @vincethealien I've known him since high school and have always been in awe of his bravery and kindness. Over the course of the week I'll release to entire image set. I hope the images produce queries and dialogue. #toxicmasculinity #nontoxic (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8Fv6ugXKl/?igshid=rmacutofu41v

[bwbanksphotography]

Revisiting old friends....the quarantine way 💃🏾@domtoney 💄@mye_bellebeauty #creativeportraits #blackwomen (at Griffith Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-0fC0IACDg/?igshid=8npfv9ba49h

[bwbanksphotography]

Since the suns out ☀️ (still at home tho lol) Model: @mmmmylipshurt (my forever muse 💃🏾) Creative direction: @bebeautifulla (my forever creative and pettiness bestie👩🏾‍🎨) #blackisbeautiful #stayhome (at Point Dume) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-vSYgGAM4r/?igshid=ev09atxvlbib

[bwbanksphotography]

Spring has sprung and I'm so in love 🌸🌼🌻🤎🤎🤎 Might be the proudest of any work I've ever been. Xo is @jessicaannetteprice and my source of optimism in these uncertain times. What's yours? #3monthold #babyphoto (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-dFJ4Wg1rL/?igshid=1wdi2btb61rqx

[bwbanksphotography]

Safe at home. Muse @asmakamara #stayhome #blackisbeautiful (at King Harbor Yacht Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-X-b1TAobq/?igshid=1ideen9kodlqa

[bwbanksphotography]

Soon as the beach is back! Model: @asmakamara #filmisnotdead #blackwomen #swimwear (at King Harbor Yacht Club) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QNP9mgsYB/?igshid=1jaidp8u61qvj

[bwbanksphotography]

Taking time to reset. Servers are stretched thin anyway. Inspired by talks with a sister. Here are some old film photos taken when I lived in l.a. #filmphotography (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-N2qBbAa2J/?igshid=1qyxmsi065140

[bwbanksphotography]

Buttoned up. 🔴⚪🟠 When engagement is low and the prospect of new clients is work is bleak, how do you stay motivated? 🤔 Either way, I appreciate the unexpected amount of 🤎💛💜 and feedback on starting photo tutorials. Doing this photography specific IG thing is tough. Leave alone being in this quarantine, server flooding climate we're in now. Sure now is the perfect time to put out tutorials and the like, bc everyone's home (or should be 👀 or should be shamed). But also... everyone is home and thinking the same thing lol. Idk Muse: @tylermnichols #creativeportraits (at Long Beach, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-I3mPFgksA/?igshid=1rt2l7510d7wy

[bwbanksphotography]

Been thinking a lot about creating photo tutorials. I imagine all of us, considering the welfare of ourselves, our families and our neighbors are in the same boat... wtf do I fill my time with at home! @jessicaannetteprice and I are actively planning our weekly vlog documenting our lives with Xo. But I'd also like to do #tutorials on basic photography and photo editing. Not so much what to do but more so what it is and how it works. For example: I shot this photo of the incredible @tylermnichols with a full frame #nikond600 camera and an 85mm #portrait lens on a simple white muslin backdrop. I'd like to break down what I saw, what I used and how I edited. What do you all think? (at Home) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-F9NgpgzNV/?igshid=1pxbbfaprrvmn