by Derek Banks
Welcome to my World……..
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Derek Blanks and I have been blessed with a God given talent that many consider unmatched! It has been said that a photo shoot by any other name is just not the same but I invite you to experience a session with me firsthand. From illustrations, graphic designs, and paintings to photography , I view myself as a conduit for “still imagery”.
I was born and raised in Mississippi, where my talents were acknowledged at an early age, prompting my enrollment into various special arts programs and later acceptance to the Maryland Institute College of Art, where I studied fine arts and commercial illustration. My love and respect for southern hospitality lead me to Atlanta, where I have become a prominent and dedicated artist, illustrator, designer, photographer and overall lover of all things art!
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Hard work , dedication, and faith have ensured that my client roster ranges from A-list celebrities to housewives. The reality is that I go into every shoot with the goal of having even the most experienced models finding themselves reviewing their images as though they are looking at someone other than themselves.
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I consider my works of art tangible illusions. I use my subjects to illustrate an underlying story and meaning. The Alter-Ego concept is an intriguing, yet awe-inspiring photo collection that I created featuring astonishing imagery of many much noted and prominent figures ranging from the music, film/television and fashion industries respectively. Featured on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, BET’s the Mo’Nique Show, and several other media outlets, my Alter-Ego strives to present a refreshingly new, innovative and captivating glimpse into the altered and often, imaginative states of such fan favorites as Academy Award-Winning Actresses Mo’Nique and Jennifer Hudson; the legendary Chaka Khan, SWV, Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Monica, LeToya Luckett, Hill Harper, Columbus Short, Terrell Owens, Rockmond Dunbar, Lance Gross, Cedric the Entertainer, Brian Michael Cox and many more.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that is true, then when it’s all said and done I want my legacy to be that my body of work spoke volumes!
