Before and After: Kala Rath — LooksLikeFilm

10 Questions: Zalmy Berkowitz

Zalmy Berkowitz's artistic vision describes rhythm and movement amongst the chaos of life’s candid moments. His film work makes you fall in love with analog all over again.

10 Questions: Bob Sala

Meet Bob Sala. You might have come across his work - cinematic 60s-70s ambient stills that remind you of your mother’s childhood (or for some, your own). His (portrait) images go beyond making a fashion statement on a particular era; they tell a story of society and culture.

10 Questions: Vittore Buzzi

Milan based photojournalist Vittore Buzzi's photography is fuelled by the search to understand and accept reality - which translates into an exceptional eye for capturing moments and stories.

 
 
 

Print your favorites

 
 
 
ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Artist of the Month - Kate Whyte

Before and After: Kala Rath

Kala Rath Photography

Kala Rath Photography

Kala frequently pulls on the maternal/paternal heartstrings of many with her work. All of her images get positive responses and even though her work is very niche, the scope of variation in how she captures is very broad yet very stylised. I couldn't pick just one image to feature, so here's a few! 

A little about Kala and her work:

I am a Northwest Arkansas based motherhood photographer specializing in maternity, newborn and breastfeeding photography. I love my images to express raw emotion and connections while maintaining minimal processing. I want people to feel what I see when I capture photographs. When I am not working, I can likely be found spending time with my husband and our husky, Lizzy, cruising in my Challenger. :)

I haven't always had "this" look or style. In fact, it was just last year that I did a major overhaul and did a full rebrand. I used to be very technical with my work, lighting and posing. I did studio newborns and posed them in shapes known as "taco" and "froggy" etc. I had a major change of heart at the end of 2013 and realized that it was those pure emotions I captured of mom and dad with their newborn in between setups that made my heart happy. I love to see the way a mother looks into her new babies face while she is sleeping. I love watching dad staring at his wife who has just become a mother in the most tender expression you have ever seen him look. I love being in their home where they are building memories. But I am not going to lie, It was honestly the most terrifying thing I have ever done - to throw away a business I had spent three years building to change everything when I had no idea if it would even work. All I knew is where my heart was. My current work may not be as technically "perfect" or as "good" measured by standards of the type of work I was doing before, but my work is exactly where I want it to be now. It is a reflection of me and my heart. I photograph with my heart first and my eyes second.

I shoot with a 5d MKIII. While shooting indoors, I likely have my 24-70 or 50mm on and while outside it is usually always my 135 and occasionally  the 24-70. As far as my processing....very very minimal. I will generally make minor adjustments in Bridge while adjusting the exposure, shadow and/or highlight sliders and my go to film is Fuji160, Kodak BW400 Contrast + Fade (and remove grain) and Agfa Vista 100+ or +cool. I try to keep consistency with my processing, but I have a tendency to both shoot and process with my emotions. I just use what suits my mood first. I will give it a couple days and see how I am feeling and sometimes I end up re-doing everything all together. I just see where my mood takes my work overall. 

Baby In Crib

5D MK III, 24-70/2.8 - shot at 24, 1/100, 3.5, ISO 800.

Baby In Crib - Agfa Vista 100++ - Kala Rath Photography

Baby In Crib - Agfa Vista 100++ - Kala Rath Photography

Baby In Crib - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Baby In Crib - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Breastfeeding Mom

5d MKIII, 24-70/2.8 at 57mm and 3.5, 1/60, ISO 40.

Kodak BW400CN - I brought the exposure down to -.70 and shadows -37 then removed grain. 

Breastfeeding Mom - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Breastfeeding Mom - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Breastfeeding Mom - BW400CN - Kala Rath Photography

Breastfeeding Mom - BW400CN - Kala Rath Photography

Laying down nursing

5D Mk III, 24-70/2.8 shot at 46mm and 3.5, ISO 400, 1/100.

Applied Fuji 160, brought highlights completely down and that's it :)

Laying down nursing - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Laying down nursing - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Laying down nursing - Fuji 160 - Kala Rath Photography

Laying down nursing - Fuji 160 - Kala Rath Photography

Mom holding baby in peach orchard.

5D MK III, 135/2.0 at 2.0, 1/6400, ISO 200.

Mom holding baby in peach orchard - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Mom holding baby in peach orchard - SOOC - Kala Rath Photography

Adjusted highlights and applied Agfa Vista 100+.

Mom holding baby in peach orchard - Agfa Vista 100+ - Kala Rath Photography

Mom holding baby in peach orchard - Agfa Vista 100+ - Kala Rath Photography

Website: www.kalarathphotography

Blog: www.kalarath.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kalarathphotography

Instagram www.instagram.com/kalarathphotography

Share