#portslike

[rafaelavcioglu]

My boyfriend is better than your boyfriend. _________ Subjects: @rafael.avcioglu x @prezpipe _________ 📸 @gigilxs _________ - - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikon (at Chicago, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzjUxuEhMmP/?igshid=4udxpnm6gsqc

[rafaelavcioglu]

Today I tend to notice the little things much more. For a long time I feel like I had a filter over my eyes and I was just moving in directions without hesitation or thought behind my actions. My eyes are not as glassy and hazy and I find that I able to hyper focus on colors and natural light bouncing off surfaces. I am able to look at something with a such detail and rawness and feel raw emotions about that particular thing or subject. I am able to stop and breath and think about something deeply to form a conclusion. I am able to get excited about small things like laying in comfortable bed, or taking a hot shower. These are things I never did before. I need to continue to remind myself of beauty of this way new way of living so I don’t travel backwards. ______________ Instagram is an interesting place when it comes to gaining likes, exposure, and getting your photograph in front of as many eyes as possible. There are many tricks to it and one of them is posting at a certain time of the day. I used to not care and was just in the mindset of content content, no matter what time. But I have been trying to post during the evenings for a while now. I was shooting @stephan.mp3 tonight and the shoot was running late, and I was starting to miss that “window” of time. We stepped outside to shoot next to this light up glass. I was getting anxious about the time and of course those last few shots turned out to be my favorite shots. And they actually fit this pre-written caption more then the original photo I was going to post. So I ran to the train, stopped for a second to piss in an ally and ran home to edit and post. I have missed that window of time, but fuck it. I love these shots so much and it was worth it. There is a lesson in there somewhere. _____________ F I L T E R [double-exposure]. ______________ Model(s): @stephan.mp3 Styled: @justdash110 ______________ - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/rafael.avcioglu/p/Bu2Z0sJhAus/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=htcyasirgetk

[rafaelavcioglu]

Many have said, “there’s beauty in the struggle.” But don’t get to used to the struggle, or you may never get out. This is something I try to remember whenever I feel like I am at my absolute breaking point. I physically stop, close my eyes, take a big deep breathe, maybe 2 if I need it, and even if I don’t feel like it, I try to crack a smile, which usually gets me laughing a bit at how ridiculous the situation that I am in truly is. This goes back to the topic of control. There is a lot we cannot control and there is no point in letting the things we cannot control suck our energy and push our buttons. Get frustrated sure, that’s understandable. Maybe even let out a scream if you just can’t take it anymore, but then get over it and move on. There is so much that I have learned over the years through the stressful and unfortunate times. It’s really helped me to appreciate the times when things are going smoothly and I am present. Whatever it is that I am going through, I know it will pass. Maybe not soon. But eventually. And I can rest on that thought alone. __________________________________ Had an awesome time collaborating with my best friend @shotsbysyd yesterday. We worked with two incredible talents. @graciedrinkwater & @holalalalola . So much fucking amazing content to come from this shoot. Stay tuned. __________________________________ 🌹BEAUTY IN THE STRUGGLE 🌹 __________________________________ Model(s): @graciedrinkwater __________________________________ - - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikon (at Somerville, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuFFAU4hcg0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nitngvkmt1f1

[rafaelavcioglu]

When you find yourself in a sticky situation and you cannot get out. When you feel trapped in your head and everything you do frustrates you even more. Take a breath. It’s out of your control. Move on. Move forward. ______________ We often get worked up or get down about things that we have no control over. And most things in life are out of our control. Or we had control and somewhere along the lines we lost control, so at that point it’s best to leave it over to the powers of the universe. Whatever happens happens and is meant to be. The only thing we can do is move forward from there. One of the most valuable things I have learned this year is how little amount of control we have. This doesn’t mean, just lay on the couch and wait for things to happen, or that your dreams will come true without you putting in effort, it just means that you don’t have to control everything or freak out when things might not be going to “plan”. Even little things like spilling coffee on your shirt, or the train running late. It is much easier for me these days to take a deep breath and just go “this was meant to be this way and it’s out of my control”. I used to get mad at the side walk crack that I trip on. “whose going to fix that side walk! Wtf!” My new shoes are scuffed. But these days It’s just..oh well. Move on. Move forward. It really has removed a layer of stress that was constantly eating at me when I thought I had total control over everything I did, but also everything everyone else did. ________________ GET UNSTUCK ________________ Model(s): @hailielena ________________ - - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikon (at Somerville, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt17XpSBSnL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=n22xmf774nc4

[rafaelavcioglu]

“You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when realize how seldom they do.”-DFW _____________________ My perception is that everyone thinks I’m playing around. My perception has convinced me of some crazy things. And it’s all in my mind. Constantly thinking that everyone’s watching my every move. That I’m not doing enough. That I’m not good enough. That I will never “make it”. Maybe there are some people who think I’m just having a ball, playing with cameras. That this is just a silly, fun, hobby of mine. And if so, you’re seriously mistaken. Photography is my life. My obsession. My love. And it’s the number 1 thing I’ve sacrificed everything for. I think that a lot of these thoughts that some would consider to be thoughts of self-doubt have pushed me to continue to strive for something beyond myself. Something better. Something shocking. Something impressive. I guess there is a lot of me that creates from this place in my head. I have worked a lot this year to create from a different place. A place of happiness and confidence? A state of free flow? It’s happened from time to time. I think I create with a confident attitude and maybe lingering feelings of self-doubt when I’m shooting but when I’m in post production it’s game time and it’s time to make something worth sharing with the world. A bit scattered, I know. I’m on a cramped hot bus on the way to New York as I type this. Hope this photograph finds you all well. I felt it fit best on its own. A triple-exposure with different color gels and a speed-light. ___________________ PERCEPTION ___________________ Model(s): @hailielena ___________________ - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikon (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtY8iG2BKlT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qcwclgb7vkd8

[rafaelavcioglu]

If you’re a parent and have a teenager living in your house, or if your a teenager who has parents, you may have had a conversation about feeling invincible. Feeling like you can do anything and nothing will hurt you physically or mentally. Some of us learn quickly that we are not invincible, for others it takes some time. Some of us were put down by others and told we couldn’t or weren’t capable of doing something. I still find myself pushing the limits of what’s possible today. I look around and observe the great adventurers of the past, and present. I watch them break records, surprise the world and do things that most people said were not humanly possible. What am I capable of achieving? I could name a whole list of people I deem my hero’s that I’ve watched and read about. They inspire me to shoot beyond myself. Maybe, we aren’t invincible, but I don’t think some of us understand how much humans are capable of achieving. How far we can truly push ourselves. How far our breaking point is in comparison to when we give up. I know that not everyone wants to push those buttons and test those limits as much as I do. But I think it’s worth it to dream a little bit bigger than you are. Give yourself a little more credit, aim a little bit higher, and travel a little bit further. Never place a limit on what you think you are capable of achieving. The possibilities of things accomplished are endless. Surprise yourself. Break through that comfortable shell. Make “impossible goals” and run towards them. Hold yourself to a higher standard of living. _______________ DREAMING BIG IS WORTH BEING EXHAUSTED. _______________ Model(s): @the_amina_n _______________ - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikonphotography (at Boston, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtMvW7zgmkO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ppcmsfruniz3

[rafaelavcioglu]

I’m usually one to post, scroll a bit to check up on the homies work, and get some inspo and get off Instagram. But yesterday I actually stopped to read @christopher.james caption. He tends to have a unique and youthful perspective. So when he writes I read. The topic of creating work for Instagram was discussed. Or the difference between Instagram work and real editorial work. What gets featured, and what people are most visually attracted too on social media. And what photographs actually make an impact, and tell a story. What gets likes, features, and grabs the attention of the masses on IG. If you look at the big feature feeds its a lot of the same pictures. And I’m not saying that a bad thing, I think it just depends on what you want or what your goals are. I have always tried to create something different. I have always aimed to tell a story and deliver a message with my work. I do want to please my followers and grow on Instagram cause I think it’s important, but I also have to do the work that I like to do. And create how I want to create, regardless of if others like it or not. It’s my creative expression. I think it’s an easy trap to fall into making work that is the exact same as everyone else. Not just for photography but for all art forms. But that’s a different game than the one I am in. I’m in this for the long run and I want to look back years from now and watch my portfolio, creative expression grow, morph, and evolve over time. I don’t want to look back and go “wow. I haven’t changed. And all of my work looks the same.” That would bother me. What do y’all think about all this? ______________________ CREATIVE GROWTH ______________________ Model(s): @mollyk.d ______________________ #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #nikon (at Somerville, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtHm2agBO6d/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ypxj4pebuhym

[rafaelavcioglu]

Sitting, waiting patiently before making your next more can be just as important and powerful as getting up and making a move. Don’t confuse the act of moving with the idea of moving forward. They are two very different things. I do talk a lot about getting up off your ass and making a change. If things are not going the way you want them to go, then what are you waiting for? Time to work right? But I do not think I can stress this enough, sometimes we have to be patient and wait. It's kind of contradicting that idea of movement to see progress but being patient and calculating your next move, or not jumping at the first opportunity that knocks is also very important. I have had to be very patient this year and learn to go against all the things I had previously thought were signs of moving forward. It all pays off in the end. Work, success, progress, can take many different forms. __________________________________ Happy Belated Birthday @sydneyspiess . Not many people your age are as determined and dedicated as you are. Keep up the hustle 🤟 _________________________________ PATIENTS IS A VIRTUE _________________________________ Model(s): @sydneyspiess _________________________________ - - - - #portraitrainbow #modelsphototop #portslike #humanedge #tonestoday #portrait_universe #postemotion #collectingportraits #makeportraitsnotwar #makeportrait #portraitstream #makeportraitsmag #portraits_mf #hinfluencercollective #postmypicsticks #of2humans #metonthehub #majestic_people #profile_vision #discoverportrait #postthepeople #2instagoodportraitlove #portrait_shots #portrait_perfection #expofilm #photographyislifee #theweekoninstagram #777luckyfish #pr0ject_uno #nikon (at The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs1rsTDBhqO/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=avs9fzbx5f9b