In 2018, President Barrack Obama's official portrait for the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery "America's Presidents" exhibition was unveiled. Called "President Barrack Obama", it featured the former president sitting on a chair in front of a hedge full of different flowers. One day in 2021, I saw another painting by the same artist, Kehinde Wiley, in Portland. The painting was called “Indio Cuauhtemoc: The World Stage, Brazil,” which he painted in 2017. It wasn't until 2023 that I got a subconscious inspiration to recreate this look on photos. Though there's also the chance that this was all inspired but that one Homer Simpson Hedge Gif haha! Idea: put the subject in center, maybe ask them to put on a serious look, in front of a mostly green shrub or hedge, and bonus if it has flowers.

Definitely the first time I had this idea show up in my head. We were in Waimānalo for a beach day and I had asked Jackie here (and Rachel) if they wanted to go take some pictures. Saw the lighting on the hedges, a eureka moment, and here we are.

Roll 47 - Canon A1 - 50mm 1.2 - Fujifilm 200

Rachel at Waimānalo moments after.

Roll 47 -  Canon A1 - 50mm 1.2 - Fujifilm 200

Kareena on our first photoshoot! I guess this is the first one I can find.

Roll 35 - Canon A1 - 50 1.2 - Lomography Color Negative 800

Jocelyn on cool film.

Roll 40 - Canon A1 - FD 50 1.2 - Lomography LomoChrome Turquoise (200)

Natalie on a walk hang in Mānoa a few months before Roll 47.

Roll 43 - Canon SureShot Zoom S - Fujifilm 200

Waiting with Ariane for a hike to open up and saw these jungle geraniums (ixora coccinea) on the side of the road.

Samsung Galaxy S23 - 1/60s - f/2.4 - ISO250 - 7mm (69mm)

Raja 

Roll 56 - Canon A1 - FD 50 1.2 - Fujifilm Superia 400

Arlette by Peace Lily plants in Honolulu Chinatown.

Roll 49 - Canon A1 - FD 50 1.2 - Fujifilm Superia 400

On a trip to Maui during Thanksgiving weekend with the Shovan-Butuyans.

Roll 74 - AE1P - 50 1.2 - Fuji C200 

On a walk hang with Malia in Pālolo valley.

Roll 107 - AE1P - 85 1.2 - Wolfen NC400

Arlette in Milan, Italy.

Roll 83 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Fuji 200

Frances in Vinci, Italy. Introduced some foreground in this one.

Roll 87 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Lomo 800

Liz in Pālolo Valley after coffee. Black and white mango tree, why not?

Roll 70 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Ilford XP2

Liz in Pālolo Valley.

Roll 70 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Ilford XP2

Erin outside of Treehouse Film Lab, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Roll 95 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Fuji 200

Liz around Lēʻahi, on an afternoon walk.

Roll 107 - Canon AE1 Program - 85 1.2 - Wolfen NC400

Arlette in Waikīkī, on her farewell tour.

Canon R8 - 1/60 - f/1.8 - ISO3200 - 35mm

Lauren outside the Pālolo McDonalds.

Canon R8 - 1/30 - f/2.8 - ISO1250 - 35mm

Jesther on the way to Pisa, Italy.

Roll 87 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - Lomo 800

Will on the way to brunch in Seattle, Washington.

Roll 117 - Canon AE1 Program - 50 1.2 - CatLABS XFILM 100

Einny outside an In-n-Out in California.

Roll 118 - Canon AE-1 Program - FD 50 1.8  - Kodak Colorplus 200

Einny at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ.

Roll 122 - Canon AE-1 Program- FD 50 1.8 - Fujifilm Superia Premium 400

Gaby at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ.

Roll 122 - Canon AE-1 Program- FD 50 1.8 - Fujifilm Superia Premium 400

Anthony at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ.

Roll 122 - Canon AE-1 Program- FD 50 1.8 - Fujifilm Superia Premium 400

Morgan in Waikīkī by the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Canon R8 - 1/80 - f/5.0 - ISO800 - 35mm

Angeline on a photowalk on Monsarrat.

Roll 128 - Canon AE-1 Program - FD 35 2 - Lomography 100

Kasia outside her house after a photoshoot of her art.

Canon R8 - 1/60 - f/5.6 - ISO160 - 35mm

Rachel at Kakaako on a photowalk with expired film.

Roll 126 - Canon AE-1 Program - FD 35 2 - Vibe Max 800 (expired)

Heather after a beach walk and a friends photoshoot.

Canon R8 - 1/500 - ISO200 - FD 85 1.2L

Alyssa after a beach walk and a friends photoshoot.

Canon R8 - 1/500 - ISO400 - FD 85 1.2L

Staecy at Ko Olina after trying to look for dolphins at Electric Beach.

Canon R8 - 1/320 - f/5.0 - ISO100 - 35mm

Eva Rose in Budapest. 

Canon R8 - 1/160 - f/8.0 - ISO100 - 62mm - RF 28-70 2.8

Karen on the way to hotpot.

Canon R8 - 1/80 - f/4.0 - ISO800 - 50mm - RF 28-70 2.8

Grace by kiawe at an unnamed hike.

Canon R8 - 1/250 - f/4.5 - ISO100 - 46mm - RF 28-70 2.8

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