I want to capture yoga, and those who practice it, in all its forms. That's why I'm announcing the "I Am A Yogi" Instagram celebration.
Whether you're a CEO, serving a life sentence in prison, living with cerebral palsy, living with breast cancer, a full-figured human being, a burn victim, living with HIV, living at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, 95 years old, or are just plain human, I invite you to post a picture on Instagram — just one per person, please! — and say a little something about yourself. Use the hashtag #iamayogicelebration and tag @robertsturman any time through the end of September. You could inspire me to do a shoot with you.
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Cami Cote, the model featured in the following photos, helps me kick things off by describing what drove her to do this incredible shoot with me:
"I wanted to do this project to inspire people. I intended to make a powerful statement by demonstrating that even though I am a full-figured woman, I am strong and capable. I practice and teach yoga. This path isn't easy; it takes dedication, hard work and love. Yoga has changed my life in every possible way for the better."
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A dedicated yoga practitioner himself, Sturman's work has increasingly focused on capturing the timeless grace and embodied mindfulness of asana. His portraits, whether set in the lively streets of Manhattan, the expansiveness of Malibu's beaches and canyons, the timeless elegance of Walden's New England, or the bleakness of San Quentin Prison, remind us that there is beauty everywhere. In Sturman's own words "I often think of Rumi: 'I can't stop pointing to the beauty.' That feels right to me."
If you'd like to explore how to make strong yoga photos, click here.