Summer heat hits differently at 7 a.m., but Shawnie didn’t flinch as we hiked down the trail I discovered the week before. The quiet hum of East Atlanta’s outskirts greeted us as we followed the winding path, just me, my camera, and Shawnie—The Pivot Pixie herself.
We reached the river just as the sunlight broke through the trees, painting golden streaks across the water. The river splashed against smooth stone, creating a rhythm that felt alive. Shawnie, already in sync with nature, bared all to the breeze, letting the moment take her. Her lean, melanated frame glistened under the sun, and her short blond cut made her high cheekbones look even sharper.
I captured every shift in her stance: the curve of her back as she leaned against the rocks, the way her ruby-red lips caught the light. She looked fearless—free. We didn’t even need to talk much; our creative rhythm flowed naturally, like always.
We’ve shot together countless times, but this one hit different. I was feeling a little nostalgic and experiential. Along with my digital camera I brought a film camera as well. For a 21st century shooter this is a bit of a dare; an attempt at pure visual artistry as you never know what you’re getting until later (we have it so easy these days.) This collection features the film images. I will share the digital feature as well. I look forward to seeing which ones you like better.
Shawnie and I are already plotting the next shoot when our schedules calm down. Until then, this session by the river will stay on my mind—a reminder of why we create in the first place.
Spencer Charles
Spencer Charles is a multi-disciplined artist from Newark NJ, currently based in Atlanta GA. His creative journey began as a child with dance and music. He started learning ballet, tap, and jazz at the age of 4. He started learning classical and jazz piano at the age of 10. At the age of 18, he moved to Atlanta, GA to attend Morehouse College on a music scholarship, but quickly changed his major to English as he found a new passion for journalism his freshman year. Outside of campus, Spencer spent his time writing about the underground music and art scene in Atlanta for various blogs and online magazines. Journalism introduced Spencer to the world of photography, as one of his internships required him to purchase a camera.
Pangea’s Nature Stroll Series… The moments are unique and timeless. There is a symphony of scents and sounds as well as visions that intertwine to create and extraordinary body of stimuli. When you are there, you can’t help but be inspired by God’s design. this was the backdrop for the beautiful women who have all taken part in this extraordinary rich series of images that are still never ending. Momentary strolls that were reflective, imaginative, provocative and creative led to some revealing moments in which beauty both inside and out was exposed.
