No Boundaries
Nailah Howze
March 29, 2021
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Who is Cloud Nai? What does Cloud Nai like and love? What does Cloud Nai aim to achieve?
There are no limits or boundaries to who I am; I am and do it all. I love capturing people’s beauty and energy through my lens. I love bringing people together to enjoy life in the present moment through my Face2Face events. I love music so I sometimes make my own when I feel like it. I love supporting others, especially other women of color, on their journeys. I hope to achieve everything that I set my mind on, whether it’s directing feature films or owning my own company. |
Photo: courtesy of the artist |
What defines your work?
Black lifestyle. Just us doing us, being us. Living and surviving while Black.
Why is photography the best medium to showcase your artistic universe?
Who said photography is the best medium? It’s just one of the many mediums that I use to express myself and what I happen to be most known for at the moment because that’s just the direction my life has led me.
Who are your favorite characters to photograph? What do you attempt to capture in each image?
I love capturing Black women. We are the blueprint. I didn’t see much of myself in media growing up so I’ve taken it upon myself to capture the beauty, strength and realness of Black women like myself.
What are some essential elements of photography that cannot be substituted or fulfilled by other artforms?
The most essential element of photography that can’t be substituted by other mediums is the fact that it tells stories in singular, frozen moments in time. One photograph alone, a snapshot of one specific moment, can tell an entire story.
Black lifestyle. Just us doing us, being us. Living and surviving while Black.
Why is photography the best medium to showcase your artistic universe?
Who said photography is the best medium? It’s just one of the many mediums that I use to express myself and what I happen to be most known for at the moment because that’s just the direction my life has led me.
Who are your favorite characters to photograph? What do you attempt to capture in each image?
I love capturing Black women. We are the blueprint. I didn’t see much of myself in media growing up so I’ve taken it upon myself to capture the beauty, strength and realness of Black women like myself.
What are some essential elements of photography that cannot be substituted or fulfilled by other artforms?
The most essential element of photography that can’t be substituted by other mediums is the fact that it tells stories in singular, frozen moments in time. One photograph alone, a snapshot of one specific moment, can tell an entire story.
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What do you do to ensure that your body of work has distinguishing features?
My coloring. I make sure every single photo has unique colors. I always edit photos while listening to music, and whatever I’m listening to tends to affect how I edit.
Who are the artists whose works fuel your desire to search for more and challenge yourself?
Dana Lixenberg. She is a Dutch photographer who was behind the Imperial Courts Project. I think it’s incredible how this woman from the Netherlands came to the Imperial Courts neighborhood and poured her heart and soul into learning about and connecting with its community, and giving them a voice. If you see her work, you can see how she has influenced mine.
We have an ongoing campaign titled #BeatTheBlues dealing with ways to prioritize mental health. What do you do to #BeatTheBlues?
I #BeatTheBlues by taking a break and saying “no.” I take time to reset. I love the water, so I go to the beach to relax. I listen to music. I spend time with my close friends.
Do you sell your photography? How do you stay connected with art collectors or companies to support yourself as an artist?
I sell my photography as requested. Right now, I am working on a new line of merchandise featuring my photographs, and that will be available to the public in the near future.
Share with us a recent moment that made you feel hopeful about tomorrow.
Seeing myself in Barnes and Noble on the cover of a magazine. I’d been wanting to land a magazine cover shoot, and I never thought my first one would be a self-portrait of me. That made me feel like I could do anything.
Good luck Cloud Nai!
My coloring. I make sure every single photo has unique colors. I always edit photos while listening to music, and whatever I’m listening to tends to affect how I edit.
Who are the artists whose works fuel your desire to search for more and challenge yourself?
Dana Lixenberg. She is a Dutch photographer who was behind the Imperial Courts Project. I think it’s incredible how this woman from the Netherlands came to the Imperial Courts neighborhood and poured her heart and soul into learning about and connecting with its community, and giving them a voice. If you see her work, you can see how she has influenced mine.
We have an ongoing campaign titled #BeatTheBlues dealing with ways to prioritize mental health. What do you do to #BeatTheBlues?
I #BeatTheBlues by taking a break and saying “no.” I take time to reset. I love the water, so I go to the beach to relax. I listen to music. I spend time with my close friends.
Do you sell your photography? How do you stay connected with art collectors or companies to support yourself as an artist?
I sell my photography as requested. Right now, I am working on a new line of merchandise featuring my photographs, and that will be available to the public in the near future.
Share with us a recent moment that made you feel hopeful about tomorrow.
Seeing myself in Barnes and Noble on the cover of a magazine. I’d been wanting to land a magazine cover shoot, and I never thought my first one would be a self-portrait of me. That made me feel like I could do anything.
Good luck Cloud Nai!