8 7 RIPE II all images copyright protected ©Alexa Garbarino 7 8 I’ve been working on the series “RIPE” off and on for many years. I began by photographing friends in my studio and mostly in silhouette. It was only when my best friend got pregnant and I convinced her to pose in the tropical foliage of her back yard that I really felt the work come to life. The dozens of women I’ve photographed since that day are deciding where and how they want to be portrayed. These women opted out of my safe, stark studio and literally took to the streets to celebrate their ripe bodies. I will be publishing my “RIPE” series in a book of the same name. Please contact me if you have any questions about the project.