Juice Revolution

A few weeks back while scrolling through my instagram account, I came across a post by Mishka Patel where she credited Juice Revolution for helping with her energy levels. I was intrigued.

Upon doing some research I found out that Juice Revolution is a South African company started in 2012. They offer juice cleanses and deliver direct to your door.

Having tried juicing at home, the concept of juicing was not foreign to me.

The thing that appealed to me with Juice Revolution was that they do all the "work" and put together your entire cleanse for you.

I reached out to Juice Revolution and was contacted by Fiona Stander, the driving force behind the brand. Fiona's passion is evident from the outset and I knew I was in good hands.
She asked various questions about my lifestyle, my eating habits, what I do in life and my reasons for considering a juice cleanse. (more about these in my next blog post)

Fast forward to now, Sunday the 25th October 2015. My juices have arrived, they are sitting in my freezer, after being blast-frozen and couriered to me overnight. They come perfectly labeled and bottled. I receive an additional package which contained my herbal teas, daily supplements and a program booklet. This booklet is well laid out and contains all the relevant information you would need to start juicing with Juice Revolution.

The packaging which housed my precious juices

Tomorrow I start my 5 day super juice cleanse. Five days of only consuming liquids. Five days of no coffee. I will be keeping a day by day "juice journal" which I will be sharing on here with you.

I am both nervous and excited to embark on this journey.
My greatest challenge, in my mind, will be the no caffeine for the duration of my cleanse.
I have not had coffee for the last two days to try and prep my mind for the next five days. I have also cleared out the beans from my coffee machine.
I can do this!

My 5 day super juice cleanse

Best news: For the duration of my juice journey, Juice Revolution have given me a discount coupon code to share with my followers and readers.
Should you wish to purchase a juice cleanse all you need to do is use the coupon code; leefolkard upon checkout to redeem 10% off your purchase prior to delivery.
The coupon code is valid until November 7th 2015.
So join me as I juice my life right!

Find out more information about Juice Revolution here and here.

Follow more of my Juice Journey on snapchat: @leefolkard (I will be live snapping daily on here)

Celebs de-glamorized with a Polaroid for Vanity Fair

We love seeing celebrities in their natural states, with minimal make-up and without the bright lights that make them seem illuminated from within. The 2014 Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue has captured celebs in just this way and has showed them to us like we have never seen them before.

Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue is one of the most anticipated editions of the magazine every year and this year, the magazine managed to get a few celebrities on board who were willing to bear their true faces for the camera. This edition will include images of 20 of the biggest names in Hollywood without make-up, airbrushing, complicated cameras or special lighting. Basically, these are photographs of artists as their authentic selves posing willingly.

Respected American artist and photographer, Chuck Close, also a painter, captured the up-close and intimate shots of the celebs using a 20-by-24 inch Polaroid camera. Apart from these celebrities being brave in showing their true selves to the world, Close also showed immense pluck in shooting for the world-renowned publication using a Polaroid camera.

The subjects of the shoot were provided with five non-negotiables. They were to have no staff and arrive alone, possibly with a friend; they were to allow three hours for the shoot; they had to style themselves yet leave off make-up; they had to be satisfied with the simple coffee and snacks on set; and they had to get to the studio without the help of anyone else.

A few of those fearless enough to accept the task were Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, George Clooney, Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Bette Midler, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Bruce Willis, Jessica Lange, Sean Penn, Martin Scorsese, and Robert DeNiro.

The issue of Vanity Fair was released on the 11^th of February and has the world amazed at the sincerity and courage of these stars who deserve a great deal of respect for agreeing to be shot in this way. These images are rare for their genuine quality and for capturing subjects that were daring enough to put their aesthetics on hold in a world where they are idolized for it.

Location vs. Studio Shooting

“Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer.”

-       Ansel Adams

Once upon a time, only the elite few made it into the realm of professional photography, and these professionals almost always had a studio. However in the digital age we currently live in, you can find a photographer on practically every street corner. But not all these photographers have their own studio. Some people question the professionalism of those photographers known as “on-location” photographers. But here are just a few ways on-location photography can be more powerful than studio shots.

A studio setting often creates a bit more anxiety, tension and a feeling of being trapped. It doesn’t matter if the session is for kids or adults, getting your photo taken can be stressful. There’s the worry of how you look, a new place, a person you don’t really know, whether your kids are going to behave, and so on. But for some reason meeting at a location you choose and often outdoors seems a lot more relaxed and a lot less intimidating.

This reduction in stress makes an on-location session much more fun than a studio session. Another benefit of on-location photography is that it gives you a chance to pick a location that holds meaning for you. It puts you in a picturesque location that will trigger an emotional connection every time you look at your photos.

Of course there’s also the benefit of natural props. In a studio you’re most likely sitting on stools or standing on boxes to create this perfectly organized group of people. But in an on-location session you’ll be utilizing the things that are present at your location. It may a tree, a bench, a little cafe table, or maybe it’s just the ground. Using these natural pieces makes your photos seem more like they framed a moment in your life. They weren’t posed; they were a spontaneous capture of your life.

While studio photography will always be a beneficial option, and sometimes a far better option than an on-location shoot, for those who prefer to maintain complete control of their session, on-location photography is becoming a much greater factor in professional photography sessions. Whether it’s for family photos, senior sessions, or portraits, you just can’t beat the natural beauty and simplicity of the great outdoors.

Megan Jeanes : Project Exposure Q&A

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
I think I would still be 18, enjoying the phase of both working hard and playing hard.

2.If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Working in the creative/arts industry would make me rich in happiness

3.If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
To remain hopeful and to believe that everything happens for a reason

4.What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
I write my 'o's backwards
5.What are you most grateful for?
The people in my life
6.Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
No
7.What do you do in life?
I am a student and I try to give as much love and happiness as I can and I try to take full advantage of my potential.

8.What did you enjoy most about your Top 10 shoot?
I enjoyed the fact that it was all based on my decisions

9.Which is your favourite part of the winning prize?
The fully conceptualized shoot would be fun to me.

10.Why should you win Project Exposure?
I have the confidence and I'm easy to work with.


Please note: All answers were copy pasted from direct messages sent to each candidate via facebook.

Kay-Leigh Richards : Project Exposure Q&A

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
23,I'm young enough 2 b adventurous ,out going & know how 2 have fun,yet mature enough 2 make responsible decisions & take responsibility

2.If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
Work that would involve fashion & people,that's where my passion is.

3.If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
Believe in yourself & your abilities.
4.What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
Communicate,I have a way of talking you people..communication is the simpliest solution to many problems yet most people don't know how to.

5.What are you most grateful for?
The morals & values my parents have instilled in me since birth,they have kept me grounded & humble.

6.Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
No,the gift of life itself is far more precious than physical beauty aswell as fame.
7.What do you do in life?
I'm a simple person, I love to eat, so most of my activities outside of work involve food, movies & outdoor activities. Trying something different each time.

8.What did you enjoy most about your Top 10 shoot?
The actual shoot,it was my first time being part of a shoot,so it was all very exciting(even though I was so clueless)and the excitement when I saw the first pic was priceless.

9.Which is your favourite part of the winning prize?
It would have to be the shoot! After my top 10 shoot,I definately love the experience & would love to do it again!

10.Why should you win Project Exposure?
I am an ordinary girl, but I represent an extraordinary community. Before entering project exposure I didn't have the confidence to put myself out there,always feeling intimidated by the next girl. And when I got the chance with my top 10 shoot I gave my best and "worked it",I took into account what the judges were looking for & the shots came out amazing.

Please note: All answers were copy pasted from direct messages sent to each candidate via facebook.

Sholene Ramdass : Project Exposure Q&A

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
If I did not know how old I am, I would think that I am 18 years old. This is actually how old I am now, but I have always thought that 18 is the perfect age to be. Everything is new and unexplored, and youth is at its best. All the confusion and the complication that comes with being 18 is just a part of the beautiful experience. So I would think that I am 18 years old because I see life and the world with the eyes of a girl who still wants to know things, do things, and experience things.

2.If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
If happiness was the national currency, the work that would make me rich is travelling. To travel is to see all the grandeur that God has created and entrusted to us. Travelling makes me unexplainably happy and joyful. To see something beautiful; whether mountains or the ocean or to drive a road in the middle of nowhere that is deserted, gives joy to my soul. Isabelle Archer said in the novel "Portrait of a Lady", "A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads one can't see - that's my idea of happiness." I couldn't have said it better!
 
3.If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
"Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

4.What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
I know that I do life differently than most people. Most of us have been blessed with the gift of sight, but not all of us truly see. I believe that I see the beauty in all things, the most mundane or the most magnificent; this ability has given me the joy of living life in another dimension. I savour every moment, every feeling, every conversation; because I appreciate how beautiful and amazing this life that God has blessed us with is.

5.What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for life. Even in all its imperfections, it is stunningly wonderful.

6.Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
For all the physical attractiveness and fame in the world, I wouldn't reduce my life expectancy. There will always be someone more beautiful than you in some way or the other and the world will grow tired of you and your fame can fade, but true happiness is more meaningful than these superficial things.
7.What do you do in life?
I am currently a student at the University of South Africa studying for a BA Degree in Languages, Literature, and Creative Writing. I have many dreams for my life and by the grace of God I will be able to achieve them. One of them is to be a published writer and this will hopefully happen soon.

8.What did you enjoy most about your Top 10 shoot?
 I enjoyed the early morning of my shoot on Umhlanga beach. It was such an incredibly beautiful day! I loved how relaxed and easy the shoot was and how at ease Lee Folkard made me feel. It was one of the best shoots I have been involved in because of this. It didn't feel like I was competing against others, it felt as if I was just having fun and getting to explore what I could do with the theme.

9.Which is your favourite part of the winning prize?
My favourite part of the winning prize is is the concept photoshoot by Lee Folkard as I have enjoyed the mini-shoot so much I know that this shoot would be amazing. Even though it would be hard work, I think it would be amazing. But the prizes are also quite amazing. It is such a great opportunity to be a part of Project Exposure!

10.Why should you win Project Exposure?
 I think I should win Project Exposure because I believe that what the judges are looking for is someone who is natural and at ease in front of the camera but also someone who realizes the importance of understanding a bit of photography and what looks best on camera, of working well with others expecially the photographer himself and others involved in the shoot, of punctuality, and of being able to be a Jack of all trades - i.e. being able to do your own hair and makeup well and choosing an appropriate attractive outfit; all of which I think I embody. I think that I also have an X-factor quality, something that just makes me different and makes people want to connect with me and this comes across in my pictures. But above all, I think that my sincerity and humility also come across in my pictures and that is a very important quality.


Please note: All answers were copy pasted from direct messages sent to each candidate via facebook.