We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Sony Brand Ambassadors to submit their most meaningful images of 2023, and as always, they brought the creative heat! This week we'll be counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the submitted photos along with the story behind each one. See Part 1 of 6 below featuring creative and on-location portraiture from Kesha Lambert, Cristina Mittermeier, Zabrina Deng, Katrin Eismann, Endia Beal, Chris Orwig, Monica Sigmon, Jeremy Cohen, Lizzy Gadd, Greg Noire, Shauna Wade, Max Boncina, Jude Allen and Kyle Huber. We have plenty more coming your way – stay tuned to Alpha Universe this week as we continue to feature our most meaningful images from 2023.

We're counting down to the end of the year with a selection of the most meaningful images taken by our Sony Artisans and Brand Ambassadors in 2023.

Kesha Lambert

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master.

"I captured this image as a part of a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the harmful and potentially life threatening impact that chemical hair relaxers have had on Black women. This is my favorite image not only because the project shed light on an important issue, but also being a part of the predominantly Black women-led creative team for this project was inspiring."

Cristina Mittermeier

Photo by Cristina Mittermeier. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.

“I got to fulfill a photography dream by being in my home country of Mexico for the Day of the Dead. Sadly, I was caught in Hurricane Otis in La Paz, and I thought the shoot was over. When the skies cleared the next day, there were 42 sunken boats on the beach. This was a perfect opportunity for me to make a portrait of La Llorona, a legendary character that haunts the edge of the water searching for her dead children. I love knowing that I was probably the only photographer who had this serendipitous opportunity.”

Zabrina Deng

Photo by Zabrina Deng. Sony Alpha 9 III. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/6.3, ISO 640

“This photo was part of the fashion editorial shoot where I was invited to try out the new Sony Alpha 9 III. For this shot, I was planning to showcase three generations of people sitting together to play Mahjong, socialize and have a good time during a very festive season. I used my Sony HVL-F60M Flash with a purple gel for the backlight, and another Sony HVL-F60M Flash as my main light through a large umbrella diffuser to light the main subject in a purple dress. Then I used a Roto Neo3 LED light with yellow temperature to create mixed background lighting and give it a bit of a cinematic look. I also used a smog machine to add a bit of a haze to the environment, to make the backlight more prominent and to separate the subjects’ dark hair from the background.”

“This is one of my favorite images I took this year because I got to take it on the game-changing Sony Alpha 9 III camera. I was able to feature the richness of our neighborhood as well as these humble yet beautiful people of San Francisco’s Chinatown. These are real people who live and thrive in Chinatown and partly what makes the community awesome. The models are real people which consist of: Calvin, a retired art director (guy in the black coat); Victoria, a parking lot attendant; Wilma Pang who is almost 90 years old and also cantonese opera singer/street performer; and Celine a waitress who works in two different restaurants. Growing up in San Francisco, I have so many fond memories of spending time with my grandmother in Chinatown and although she has passed away, I was able to channel my grief via creating something vivid, colorful and charming, as my way or remembering her.”

Katrin Eismann

Photo by Katrin Eismann. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/3.5, ISO 100

“This image represents the best of 2023 – the creative collaboration with talented model Nefan J Deng and fellow photographer Travis Keyes. The image came together very quickly as we worked with one light to create a sanctuary within the recesses of the bunker-like structure. The image took me out of my comfort zone and therefore expanded my photographic confidence.”

Endia Beal

Photo by Endia Beal. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/50-sec., f/5.6, ISO 800

"'Safe Spaces' is a series of photographic diptychs that foster empathy across racial, cultural, and social divides at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. As one of the last private liberal arts institutions in the nation to integrate African Americans in 1964 and women in 1972, the university strives to reconcile with the past."

"From 2021-2023, I was the Practitioner-In-Residence at Davidson. I met with more than 100 students, on campus and via Zoom, for group conversations and one-on-one listening sessions. Drawing from my experiences as a black woman who attended predominantly white universities, I recalled feeling isolated on campus. There were spaces that I was not welcome, or I was afraid to go. Therefore, I asked the students the following questions about their occupation of space: What is your space of comfort on campus? Where do you feel seen and heard? Where can you be yourself? Where do you choose not to go on campus?"

"I connected with students and gained insight into the social dynamics of campus life. The conversations revealed that most students gravitated to individuals who were similar, and in turn, they spent the majority of their time in the same spaces with the same students. Thus, for the series, I paired students with someone they did not know. Then I asked them to switch places and be photographed in each other’s space of comfort. I wanted the students to reimagine campus life through someone else’s eyes."

"The paired students were present for each other’s photo shoots and later wrote about their experiences. In some cases, one person’s space of comfort was the other’s place of discomfort. Despite the discomfort many students experienced while being in another’s space, their exploration of the unfamiliar often led to the realization that we are more similar than we may appear on the surface. My work often uses art to bring about awareness, which is the first step toward change."

The photograph of 'Rin and Sadie' was one of the first photos in the series. This project was a collaboration. I appreciated their vulnerability and openness to meeting someone new and learning about each other's safe space."

Rin Caption: "As an occasional reclusive introvert, I consider my room my safe space away from everything that can harm me. I see it as the one place I can go free from worry or societal pressure. By inviting a peer into that space and also taking up her space I was put out of my comfort zone. I thought about how I needed to shrink myself in her room, making sure I didn’t disturb its sanctity. I worried my space might feel undesirable to others. But, despite my general anxiety I tried to be vulnerable and allow the process to flow naturally."

Sadie Caption: "Going into this project, I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but one thing I didn’t predict was how strange and a little uncomfortable it would feel to be photographed in a stranger’s most private space: their bedroom. I had no connection to Rin before this session, we were both going in blind. It felt natural to open my room to Rin, it was a place I was comfortable in and comfortable having other people in. I assumed it would be the same visiting her space, but that wasn't the case. Our rooms were opposites, mine was decorated with plants and natural light while hers had an elaborate PC gaming set-up and was lit entirely by neon pink lights. This drastic change in scenery, coupled with my general awkwardness while being photographed, threw me off my balance and forced me to embrace a world that was not my own, it wasn't easy. What was grounding was getting to know Rin, even just briefly, and seeing her exist in her space, as naturally as I exist in my own."

Chris Orwig

Photo by Chris Orwig. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 85mm f/1.4G Master. 1/3200-sec., f/1.4, ISO 400

“This last year I was invited by my alma mater University California Santa Barbara, to give a presentation and capture portraits of a select group of performing arts students. It was such an honor to have an opportunity to give back to the school that has given me so much. This portrait of Kristin Hoj was captured with natural light just inside the theater door.”

“This is one of my favorites of the year because of its simplicity, authenticity and soulfulness. For me, there is something special about the presence and timelessness of this moment that makes it feel almost painterly.”

Monica Sigmon

Photo by Monica Sigmon. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master.

"This little girl was giving me a run for my money at this session! She was running around, playing coy, basically doing the opposite of everything I needed! I was patient, got her attention, and then captured this image. I wish I could take credit for putting her little hand up like that, but she did that all on her own...and then she ran off again!"

"I have several reasons I love this image so much. First, I just the sheer challenge of the session and being able to come out of it with such a great portrait of such a cutie. Second, I am obsessed with this expression. It only lasted for a split second, but thanks to the super fast eye-tracking and focus, that's all I needed. Third, Mom was totally shocked that we got this image because she only heard the chaos from behind the set! Fourth, it became the hero image of the new portrait line we launched this year: Gilded. We've been using it everywhere and everyone has just fallen in love with this little girl!"

Jeremy Cohen

Photo by Jeremy Cohen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/1.8, ISO 640

“I was hired by a client to photograph Derrick Rose, an iconic basketball player and former MVP. This was not just any photoshoot though, it was specifically to photograph Derrick playing chess in his home. Derrick is obviously a competitive guy, so I wanted to emulate a POV moment of him waiting for the viewer to make their next move. I rearranged some furniture in the background so I could fill him in the empty space of the white walls.”

“As an avid chess player and huge basketball fan….this was a dream photoshoot for me. After the shoot, I got to play Derrick in a game. I feel so grateful that photography has led to such full circle life experiences like this one.”

Lizzy Gadd

Photo by Lizzy Gadd. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/640-sec., f/1.2, ISO 100

“After witnessing a massive calving of the glacier, I came back to this scene a few days later to see the damage, and found hundreds of icebergs that had washed up on shore, grounded in big pools of water that the calving had created a few days earlier. I had this image idea in my head, and during the quiet hours in the middle of the night (during the midsummer never-ending light in the north), I waded through through the calm, ankle-deep water to reach this grounded iceberg, and to rest upon it for this self portrait.”

“This image carries meaning to me because I wanted to capture something that depicted a sad sort of beauty, a connection to our Mother Earth, but with the bittersweet undertones of knowing there may soon be nothing left but stories. I witnessed this glacier shrinking at an alarming rate, the ancient ice breaking off and melting before my very eyes. For me, this image is how I visualize my relationship to nature, in several ways: slightly eerie, sad, and holding on to whatever is left. Yet, still seeing the beauty, seeking these calm moments, and replenishing the restful energy that only nature can give us. Resting in hope.”

Greg Noire

Photo by Greg Noire. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 

"I captured this shot at Austin City Limits 2023 in Austin, TX. I had been trying to connect with Simz since 2017 to photograph another one of her sets, and it finally happened this year. This is my favorite shot of the year because it reminded me of why I fell in love with music photography in the first place. The goal has always been to capture tight, compelling photographs that tell a story of emotions within a still image, and this photo of Little Simz reinforced that intention."

Shauna Wade

Photo by Shauna Wade. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/1600-sec., f/4, ISO 100

"This shot was a literal 'spur of the moment' shot. It was taken at Kando. The model was in between shoots and I was inspired by her outfit to capture a type of retro mood. A couple minutes later I got this beautiful portrait. This is my favorite image this year because everything about it reminds me of my passion for photography. From capturing the photo to editing it. After taking a break, it only re-sparked my passion to do what I love most."

Max Boncina

Photo by Max Boncina. Sony Alpha 7C II. Sony 50mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/1.4, ISO 200

“The morning light was backlighting those mountain pines perfectly. I then asked the lighting assistant to shine his artificial light on the model and he didn’t disappoint. It all came together seamlessly. I made sure to incorporate that striking and thought provoking chandelier. Lastly, I placed the camera on burst mode and then just clicked away!”

“I love portraits. Not only are they challenging to capture yet incredibly fulfilling when achieved. In addition, this portrait was taken during Kando, a place and time where we celebrate Sony. Furthermore, it was photographed with the brand new Sony Alpha 7C II, which had literally been announced globally, minutes before this capture. As a result, we had all been given one to try out. So somehow, in a year in which I had traveled to some of the most epic locations (an abandoned Soviet era ghost town, White Sand Dunes National Park, Northern Italy, Sahara Desert, etc.) this humble portrait was my most meaningful photo."

Jude Allen

Photo by Jude Allen. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 13-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000

“I set up my Sony Alpha 1 on a tripod with a 10-second countdown timer, then ran to where I'm standing in the photo. I had my friend fly his drone that I rigged an LED light panel onto, and also put my headlamp behind me to light underneath the structure. I also directed my friend to fly the drone up and forward to create a light trail.”

“I was fascinated by this structure when I found it while doing research for my trip to Armenia. It is a leftover iron fountain from the Soviet Era. I just think it has this really cool retro futuristic vibe to it and it looks like something out of a Sci-Fi movie.”

Kyle Huber

Photo by Kyle Huber. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/10, ISO 100

“Back in September, I was given the spontaneous opportunity to photograph @Samoblamo wearing his astronaut suit while standing on the famous Hollywood Sign. As if that wasn't cool enough, I convinced him to meet me at the Griffith Observatory afterwards for a bonus round. This is one of my favorite locations in all of Los Angeles and it felt like the perfect backdrop for an astronaut to be exploring. We made our way around the observatory, taking advantage of the iconic architecture, beautiful weather and classic telescopes along the way. Inspiration comes to me in many forms, but this particular combination of subject and location created something magic.”

“As I reviewed my work from the past year, this moment stood out to me as the most special. I've lived in Hollywood for 13 years now and I'm still amazed by the random opportunities that come my way. I remember saying "Only in LA" as I was photographing an astronaut walking amongst the tourists at Griffith Observatory. Although it was tough to select just one portrait from this unique shoot, I feel like this photograph creates the best story and captures the essence of our imagination. I love how his space suit matches the scene and how his helmet compliments the round shape of the dome. It's collaborations like this that remind me why I love being a photographer and why I love surrounding myself with fellow creatives.”