Project for Blue Yoga Nyla | Personal Work | Karen E. Segrave

This project was personal.

Some of my clients may find it surprising that in addition to being a photographer, I am also a registered yoga teacher.

I’ve been practicing yoga for over 20 years. In 2018, I wanted to deepen my own practice and knowledge base. I received my 200 hour RYT teacher training in May 2018 from Blue Yoga Nyla in North Little Rock, Arkansas. When I’m not on location working or editing, I’m on the mat myself and I teach at BYN four days a week.

Among the countless things I love about my yoga home, is that Blue Yoga Nyla strives to bring yoga to those who need it, regardless of their ability to pay or experience level. All of the morning classes, Monday through Friday, are Pay What You Can. Our studio also serves a large population of senior adults, many of which are on a fixed income. 

The senior adults who practice at the studio hold a very special place in Stacey Reynolds’ heart, BYN’s owner and founder. Many of the seniors who practice at the studio come on a weekly basis. A few have been practicing with Reynolds for over 20 years. Last summer, she decided to do a calendar focusing real seniors with their real practice. The money raised from sales is slated to offset the costs of the pay when you can Classes.

When I heard of her plans, I immediately stepped up to volunteer the as the photographer. 

In addition to the main calendar imagery, I photographed two of the senior-focused classes: a chair class and a floor class. 

The photos here are members of our senior community who practice at the studio faithfully. They are not models and they are not paid talent. They are real people who are full of life, young at heart and proof that with a consistent yoga practice, the aging process is not something to be feared, but embraced. Each of the men and women prove that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

If you want to learn more about Senior Yoga or any other classes offered at Blue Yoga Nyla, check out their website or e-mail the studio for more details.

Commercial Interiors | Project with Evo Business Environments | Karen E. Segrave

I once again have the opportunity to work with EVO Business Environments on two recent projects for the Arkansas Federal Credit Union. The first project was photos for their IT headquarters located in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Every other IT department I’ve ever been in was closed off, dark, boring and completely devoid of any atmosphere. AFCUs redo was just the opposite.

A warm and inviting foyer seamlessly flowed into the main work room that features open air cubicles, a common sitting area, and privacy work stations for phone calls.

My favorite part of the building was completely random, abstract and unique wall murals and graphics located in just about every work area. The murals were not directly part of Evo’s redesign. They were found by the VP of marketing for AFCU. My favorite (third in next series) was the gorilla in the main space holding up a bright, pink stick mask.

My last project of 2019 with EVO was AFCU’s newest branch located in Hot Springs. This new construction location boasted a very non-bank look.

Tons of natural light, neutral tones and a bright and airy common space flowed into the teller counters that weren’t your typical bank vibe. 

Several offices were off to the left and featured a farmhouse glass doors on a metal tract and with privacy diffusion panels

Architectural Exteriors | Coulson Oil | Arkansas Commercial Photographer

For the first half of this year, Coulson Oil was my lucky charm.

I worked with them very closely taking sunset architectural photos of a selected few gas stations around Arkansas to provide some of the artwork for their new corporate headquarters. You can read more on that project by going here.

After construction was completed, I was asked by Evo Business Environments to come out and photograph the interiors. You can see that project here.

The architect for Coulson Oil’s new corporate headquarters was Arkansas-based Fennell Purifoy Architects. Their design intent was to create a classic and modern office that looks forward to the company’s future with new technology and better workplace space planning to meet their needs.

The use of perforated metal sunscreens, clerestory day lighting of interior corridors, maximization of north and south exposures, aiong with the reduction of glass facing east and west are incorporated into the design.

Natural slate and exposed steel framing can be found throughout to provide a maintenance free exterior that will stand the test of time.

Four separate trips at sunrise and sunset were needed to achieve the various photo for Fennell Purifoy’s portfolio.