I’m always making photographs, especially when there are no assignments or commercial projects to shoot. Those times between gigs are a good time to grab a model or a friend, hit the streets, get creative, and try out new ideas. I may make some amazing images. I may fail miserably and make nothing but crap. But what would I be if I didn’t even try?

A couple of weeks ago I asked Lauren, a model I just met, to meet me out on Elizabeth Avenue. We spent the better part of the afternoon walking around and being completely free-form with locations, poses, and ideas.

© Armando Bellmas

© Armando Bellmas

After a while I started to get really loose with the ideas. Lauren on the ground, sun towards the lens, flat on the hot asphalt, this may be good, it may suck, who cares, let’s try it.

© Armando Bellmas

© Armando Bellmas

Not really my regular style. I like these shots, though. Maybe put them on the blog, maybe on a personal or experiments section of the website. Whatever. Sometimes I shoot the vision, sometimes the flight of fancy. Who knows where any of it may lead? The familiar path, a road less traveled, or a dead end? You never know.

© Armando Bellmas

It was a creatively charged afternoon. I couldn’t wait to get home to look through the photographs.

© Armando Bellmas

As long as I keep shooting my vision and refining my signature style, going off the grid a bit visually and creatively — and knowing the differences and similarities between each — is something that I will always look forward to doing.