Behind the Lens - Kerani Arpaia

Kerani Arpaia is our next Behind the Lens feature. Kerani was also the very first winner of our photo challenges! So let's discover and marvel in some of her favorite photographs together!

Welcome to the second issue of Behind the Lens, a series that shines the spotlight on the talented artists of our Nordic Lens community. This series delves into the work and perspectives of one member at a time, offering a unique glimpse into the diversity of our community.

In contrast to traditional interview formats, Behind the Lens empowers artists to showcase their creativity and share the stories behind their favorite photographs.

After all, who better to narrate the tale than the person behind the lens?

What is Behind the Lens?

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At the heart of Behind the Lens is a simple concept: Community members share their favorite photos and provide insights into why these images hold special meaning.

This opportunity allows us to explore the depth and richness of our community through the lens of its creators.

Those featured in the series have the freedom to choose works that resonate deeply, whether they're recent creations, all-time favorites, personal or professional, or a combination of all four. This flexibility ensures a genuine representation of each artist's journey and evolution within the community and beyond.

There are limitations to it, however—they must do it in 5 photos or less. This adds a personal, authentic, and intriguing touch. It compels them to choose and encourages them to be as mindful as possible about their favorite photos.

Behind the Lens is not your average interview series as it is consciously kept as personal as possible to preserve authenticity, the focus is solely on the photographers and their photos.

This fosters a more personal connection between the community and its members, allowing us to appreciate the richness of talent within Nordic Lens.

By offering a platform for members to share their favorite photos and personal insights behind them, Behind the Lens aims to inspire, connect, and deepen appreciation for the community's exceptional pool of talent.

Unlike the bi-weekly photo challenges that highlight the best submissions, Behind the Lens celebrates the authenticity of individual expression.

Our feature for this week is Kerani Arpaia, whose work embodies the beauty and rawness that we strive to capture in this series.

So let's welcome Kerani and have her introduce us to her favorite photos.

Kerani Arpaia

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I’m Kerani, a fantasy artist, photographer, and fiction writer from Portland, OR.

I often think of myself as more of a painter with a camera than a traditional photographer. My art is heavily inspired by mythology, literature, and classical paintings.

In all my work, I seek to create an intimate feeling of magic and dreams.

See more of Kerani’s work:

You can find more of Kerani’s amazing work on her website, on Instagram & TikTok. She also takes commissions; however, these are waitlist-only, and she only does a limited number of sessions each year.

Kerani’s Favorite Photos

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Just before her 30th birthday, my friend Holly found out that she needed to have essential brain surgery. Before she went through that harrowing experience, she asked me to do a shoot with her to help her feel connected and empowered in her body.

We explored different versions of femininity through the shoot, inspired by renaissance paintings and Greek goddesses.

This is one of my favorites.

When she was five months pregnant, another close friend of mine was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Though the cancer was deemed treatable, she'd have to go through six months of chemotherapy immediately after giving birth to her first child.

We did a Persephone-inspired shoot together to try and visualized the contrasting emotions she was feeling from this experience. 

My Hugin and Munin shoot!

I love the shapes and the tones of this image, and the movement in their limbs. It feels like visual poetry. I studied Norse mythology in college and have always felt a resonance with those stories.

I had the idea for this shoot back while I was pregnant, but wasn't able to actually pull it together until last year.

This piece is titled "Come Sail Away" and it was by far the hardest edit I've ever done. It was inspired by W. B. Yeats' poem The Stolen Child.

To make the image, I took two shots: one with Cassie and the forest, one with a small model ship held in front of my camera. I then combined the photos together in photoshop, masking layers here and there until it looked like the ship was naturally part of the scene.

It took me close to five months to edit and I'm so proud of how it came together.

Cassie and I took this photo during the same shoot as the ship image.

It was September 2020, on the only clear day before the wildfires would layer a blanket of smoke over the Oregon sky for 10 days. There was this wisp of smoke that kept moving across the sun and giving all the colors this orange glow.

I love how it looks like a painting and the way the light falls across her face. 

Thank You Kerani!

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Kerani’s approach is professional, fairytale-esque, and very fantasy-esque. I love this approach not because it’s professional, but because of the endless results you can get from it.

Kerani is definitely a creative person, and her work embodies that fully.

Behind the Lens aims to showcase the authenticity of Nordic Lens members, whether it's through unfiltered photos, professionally edited works, or nostalgic memories and Kerani nails every bit of it.

I want to provide a platform for community members to express themselves honestly, personally, or professionally, revealing what makes them tick.

I am incredibly grateful to Kerani for accepting my invitation and for continuing this series so beautifully.

Her work is inspirational, and I can't wait to explore the creativity of more Nordic Lens members through Behind the Lens.

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Don't forget to subscribe to Kerani’s publication, Girl With Antlers, and be sure to give her a follow on Instagram and TikTok.

See more of Kerani’s work: You can find more of Kerani’s amazing work on her website. She also takes commissions; however, these are waitlist-only, and she only does a limited number of sessions each year.

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The next issue of Behind the Lens will be published on March 24. To find out who the next person is, you'll have to wait and see.