Beauty Behind The Back

By: Ginita G.K.

Hello lovely!

Welcome to my first zine: Beauty Behind The Back! The first volume in a series of my 35mm film photography. I tend to show family and friends my film and occasionally post the pictures. I’ve never really done anything special with my pictures. I’m extremely excited with this project!

Photography is always about what’s in front of us. You don’t shoot pictures behind your back (duh). You need to be present and focused on the subject matter ahead; literally and figuratively.

Beauty Behind the Back is a zine focused on how the back can be just as beautiful as the front. We don’t need a face to

understand feeling or atmosphere. Our body is our biggest show. Why can’t we appreciate the back?

I’ve always loved showing my subjects their pictures from behind because they can see how I view our time spent together. Of course, they can’t fully feel how I feel, but they can see how I see them. We as humans can only see from our own perspective. There’s a beauty behind the back (roll credits) that I wish would be appreciated more. So come appreciate it with me :) Bye for now,

[July 2022]

Drop Top

Jasmine and I had gone to visit Julian and he could finally take us for a ride in his car. I’m usually the driver, so being in the backseat is a rare treat I’ll instantly hop on. It was my first time in a convertible car. It’s a lot louder than they make it seem in the movies. It was also my first time seeing him drive. He did fine, don’t worry. I had the backseat all to myself as we drove around that summer afternoon. One of the highlights of my summer.

I had taken a week trip to Takoma, WA to visit Kevin for his birthday. He turned the big 23, whoop whoop! I had been to Takoma once when I was 15 but this was different because we were now both adults in a new city together. He’d shown me the wild berries and plums in the backyard. I kinda felt like a nature girl when eating all these wild fruits. We talked and caught up on each other’s lives while walking through the neighborhood. It was a peaceful stroll together that was a great introduction to Washington again.

[September 2022]

Takoma Catch Ups

Fun Fact!

When my brother lived in WA, someone busted his car window by my cousin’s house. Small world!

New State=New Food. It’s a basic rule for traveling. No we will not go to McDonald’s, we have that in Maryland. I found Lucky’s on Tik Tok. Kevin and Uncle Darryl are pretty easy going guys so they agreed. It’s a simple burger place but damn were those burgers good. This was our last time eating there before I left. They’ve gone back several times since. Glad I contributed something to Washington!

We were just starting to get a little looser with social distancing during quarantine. We had all missed each other and wanted to hangout. Not without masks of course. It was nice to be outside again and just relax with my friends instead of being in the house and scared. We’d come right around sunset and left after sundown.

Fun Fact!

To my surprise, Zemyah became the video game master. He didn’t even show any interest in the Switch when we first got it for him. But now? He’s a little pro! The kids always want to play on the Switch with me when they’re in town. Even when they’re in Kenya, we call and try to get a couple Mario Kart and Smash games in. I was trying to finish my film so I took a picture this picture of Zemyah in his element. This picture always warms my heart. I can’t wait to show him how cool he was.

Zemyah loves this stage in Smash! It’s his current fave!

Cool Kids Take Snack Breaks! Cool Kids Take Snack Breaks! Cool Kids Take Snack Breaks!

Carson and Grayson had both started soccer. Carson didn’t seem to care much for it, which I expected. Grayson was in his own little world the entire time. It was almost hilarious how much the boy didn’t care for soccer. They’re so stinking cute though, I can’t even be mad at them. Here’s Grayson trying to adjust himself so he could eat his snacks. I don’t think he’s much of a soccer boy but it’s still so cute seeing him in uniform.

Fútbol

We went on a family trip for Yasmine’s 20th birthday. Our parents were starting to loosen up about COVID so we traveled to Destin, FL. This was my first time seeing blue water in the USA. That day we saw dolphins in the distance, a seahorse by the rocks, and a gigantic log of shit in the water. I still can’t get over the blue crisp water. It felt cool to finally be able to explore places with my cousins. It was just the four of us at the beach together. I’m still so happy I got to capture this beautiful scene.

[May 2021]

Blue Water Destin

Lined

• Hippocampus erectus • 2-6 inches • Vulnerable species

• The only seahorse that lives in the Chesapeake Bay!

• Mostly eat brine shrimp & minute crustaceans • • Average litter of 260-1000 eggs •

• Average weight of 7 ounces •

My cousins and I got quarantined in together when COVID first started. We stayed in their house in Georgia for several months. We were stuck inside together despite being near plenty of stores. Our parents started freaking out when we were outside for too long, even getting scared when we took pictures at the gazebo by the house. So the one time our parents let us go shopping, we had to make it count. Only Lord knew how long we’d be stuck inside. It was so

Social Distancing Stay The Hell Away

[June 2022]

A lot of my friends and I spent the night at Glory’s uncle’s new house. While still a little high from the night before, I woke up to see Glory in the kitchen. Who would’ve thought Glory could make washing dishes look so angelic? A naturally good host and a naturally beautiful view in the morning. How sweet *wipes tears*. What kinda makes me smile is that this was the last picture of the roll. It was taken on a cheap little Kodak plastic point and shoot. What a glorious morning indeed.

Glorious Morning

[May 2022]

Back Out Again

One thing the three of us would do in college is randomly hop in my car and go somewhere. Whether it be Walmart, the spot, or a new food place outside of town; it was always the three of us making our way to my car from our suite. Senior year was about exploring and ending my time in Charlotte strong. Sophomore and Junior year got taken because of COVID. Senior year was about embracing these final times all together. We tried our best to make due with what we had. Little money, an old Honda Accord, and a girl on line. This was taken after they finally freed my girl. We got to finally freely go back to what we knew; fucking around.

“Can you put on Beating Down Your Block?”

[July 2020]

To The Park We Go

It was a typical cousins trip to the park. Fourth of July. The adults were all in their little circles while we were left to find something to do. We took a little walk together to Watkins Mill. Paul didn’t want anybody he knew to see him. All my kids were starting to get bigger than I last remembered.

I have never really been a huge horror movie fanatic. I get scared pretty easily so I steered clear. Jaaven and Jewel introduced me to horror and Halloween classics in college. We were finally back together senior year so it was mandatory for them to check out Mad Monster Con. Who better to go as than Chucky and Tiffany? Me on the other hand, I went as Ginita. I didn’t have a costume. They both ate their costumes up. They even got people asking for pictures at the convention! This was right before leaving New Res. Jaaven looked so cool.

[August 2022]

Chucky’s Day Out

Lola, Kukua, Vero, Ginita. What a random group. We had just finished eating brunch in Old Town Gaithersburg. We literally all looked at each other and decided to go eat some more. What else did we have to lose? Nobody was doing anything else that day. To DC we went. We hung out by some graffitti spot that had a cute view of the water. I guess this is what our twenties is: exploring and doing whatever. 10/10, would hang out again.

[June 2022]

Moves After Brunch?

Thank you for reading my first Zine! I hope you enjoyed it or at least enjoyed the aesthetics of it all. For those that have a physical version, I want you to know I greatly apperciate you a lot!! I designed all these stickers myself to go with pictures.

Thank You I Love You ♥