We recently connected with Cynthia August and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Cynthia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The best way to make a project meaningful is to approach it with what is meaningful to you, and try to work through that lens whenever possible. When I was wavering between creative careers in my 30’s, someone much smarter than me said I should take some time and try to strip my creativity down to it’s essence – really figure out the core impulse of why I do what I do.
That was a super helpful piece of advice. After thinking for a long while and looking over my work up to that date, I realized my artwork followed a philosophical pattern – I always try to create an environment of excitement, wonder and empowerment for a person to experience. Have you ever watched a movie, or a play, or seen a piece of art and then felt super energized – as if you could do anything? That’s my prime motivator. I want you to feel powerful, and joyful when you participate in my work either as a person being photographed, or a person seeing an image I’ve created.
Once I understood this part of my core values, I placed it at the very front of my work vision. Now it serves as a north star when I’m creating. It never steers me wrong!

Cynthia , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Lux et Umbra is the creative work of Cynthia August, an award-winning artist currently based in New England. Cynthia’s conceptual, magic realist style reveals moments of communion with the numinous: Nature in its majesty, or a Higher Power, or some epiphany within the Soul. Cynthia has her BFA from Syracuse University and her MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

“The portraits I take explore the place where our inspiration and determination meets our ultimate purpose. It doesn’t matter if the photograph is for advertising or art. The person, the path and the passion are always the most important story, and the way into creating the best image.

I came to this calling later in life, after decades of storytelling for theatre and film, and that shows up again and again in my work – from choosing locations and clothing that is descriptive, to working with my subject on their motivation and engagement of the camera. There’s drama even in everyday pursuits if your life lights you up. Getting to see other people’s light is a tremendous gift. That’s what keeps me tied to the camera on the daily.

I am dedicated to making creative spaces for people to manifest powerful visions of themselves.”

After a career as a theatrical designer, Cynthia began to explore new avenues when she left NYC shortly after 911. She started her photographic path in 2010, by picking up a camera to do a favor for a friend, and fell in love with the way photography blends cinematic reality with classical art composition. During her tenure as a commercial photographer, Cynthia found herself sneaking off to explore the conceptual and fine art sphere, using Old Master styles and allegorical themes to compose portraits in nature. Since then her magical images have been exhibited in the United States and Europe.

In 2019 Cynthia created Lux Et Umbra, adding portrait commissions and editorial projects to her fine art works. In the Fall of 2021, Cynthia began to offer workshops and retreats based on her portrait style and philosophy. In 2023, Cynthia will begin to hold sessions on her 65 acre retreat in Maine.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

If you are a creative, and a business owner, and a long-term life participant, you’ll 100% have moments where it all goes to hell. I don’t know how resilient I personally am, but I do know that the way through tough times is to keep going. There is power in contributing daily to your passions, especially when it is hard. But make sure you frame ‘working on things daily’ the right way, but cause you can’t be at level 11 all the time – you’ll burn out, and nobody wants that for you. There are many many ways to move forward that may not seem like forward motion at first glance. Thinking days count. Days of rest count. Incubating ideas counts. Feeling the feelings counts, as long as you make the feelings productive in the long run. (i.e. Get mad, but don’t get even. Just get better.) I’ve had days where all I’ve managed to do is answer the easiest emails and order office supplies from my laptop in bed. Still good! Stay with it. You’ve got this. Just keep going.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Oh boy. I know this is going to sound cliche, but learn to trust yourself. You might be one of the lucky ones who has always had a strong self-conviction, but if you are like me, you’ve been doubted a bunch by people and it has resulted in you doubting yourself. To the furthest extent that you possibly can, ditch that doubt and work to develop a warm relationship with your inner compass.
I grew up in a family that was not creative. In fact, my parents really feared my creativity. Even though they loved me dearly, my artistic core was alien to them and so they were deeply wary of it. To their credit they did not try to change or discourage me, but their fear got absorbed into my soul at a very young age, and so I began to self-censor those creative ideas early.
It took a very long time to be brave with my work. I still struggle with what others will think, and have to remember to just trust myself.
So I encourage all the young creatives I mentor to quiet those voices and just go on instinct as much as possible. They deserve the freedom, and we as viewers deserve their truest expression.       

Contact Info:

• Website: www.luxetumbraart.,com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_light_in_august
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiaaugustimages/

Image Credits
All images copyright Cynthia August Lux et Umbra Art