By Nashwa Bilal, 18

My name is Nashwa Bilal and this is my “Fantasy” series. I started to take an interest in fantasy and surreal photography after discovering the work of one of my favorite photographers, Margarita Kareva. Her work is often inspired by Russian folklore. I wanted my photographs to have the same sort of fairytale feel to them, and for the models to look like characters from a storybook. I’ve used composites a fair amount for this series and I had to learn many different Photoshop techniques outside of the classroom to achieve my results. My photographs are a combination of both my photography and editing skills.

Archer

I began every piece by deciding on a color scheme first, since color is probably my favorite element. The inspiration for each picture came from many different places such; location, a prop, or even another photographer. The series also reflects the two most common themes in my photography: people, and aspects of nature. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as a photography student. Art is a big part of my life and a form of self-expression. However, photography isn’t really something I see myself pursuing in the future. It’s more of a hobby or a way to occasionally challenge my creativity.

Raven

Roses

Dragonfly

Angel