I was recently involved in a “Portraits” art project that
dared to delve beyond skin deep, looking for the true meaning behind the image.
As a photographer, the goal is always to create beauty but a meaningful image
should do more to draw the viewer inside. It should reveal a real person filled
with palpable emotions. I selected just a few of my favorite past images that communicated
honesty, pure of heart and soul.
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| Hollywood Noir |
Dark secrets, mysterious figures, and spine-chilling
intrigue. Do you really see what is laid out before you, or is there something
hidden, veiled behind the shadows. Living life under cover of darkness while dancing
in and out of the light creates a perfect camouflage. A simplistic yet
effective layer of protection from those we don’t want to let in. Why is there
is a hesitation to reveal our true selves? It is human nature to want to hold
tightly to what we cherish most: our true identity. Shadows create the ultimate
mask.
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| Multifaceted |
The
teenage years are always complicated by divisive outside forces. The struggle
to develop into a strong, independent soul is often a battle fought deep
within, hidden from view. Getting to know someone well is never easy,
especially when they often don’t even know themselves. During quiet times, if
you look very closely, the two sides fighting to create one beautiful person
will reveal themselves in a single instant.
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| Speculative |
It would be nice to believe the old saying that “the eyes
are the window to the soul” was true. However, I'm not convinced this is always
the case. Do we really claim to know what others are thinking simply based on a
picture? Are we, as the viewer and not the confidant of the model, simply
projecting our beliefs upon someone else? I've worked with this model countless
times, yet I'm still not certain what was going on behind the curtain in his
mind. I am personally just grateful for the opportunity to capture the
charismatic expressiveness of it all.
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| Sanguine |
Living in
the here and now, being present for every moment we are given; these are
lessons adults can learn from children. A butterfly floating along on a breeze
is fascinating to baby. A dog licking their face can send a toddler into fits
of laughter. The sound of a child’s giggle is contagious and evokes a smile
from even the most cynical adults. It is essential that we capture these
memories and hold onto them forever. The twinkle in a child’s eye is pure joy
and exuberance that radiates from within, reminding us all of the simple beauty
that surrounds us.
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| Devoted |
Photographing
animals can be tricky. Imagine the situation from their point of view. A
stranger comes in and suddenly wants to be their best friend. That in itself is
reason enough to be wary. Then, the stranger produces a large unfamiliar object
that makes noise while flashing a bright light in their eyes. The desire to run
away can be overwhelming. I understand this fear and do everything in my power
to make the setting one that encourages playtime while creating a bond of
trust. When I am confident that the animal believes my intentions are pure, I
start shooting and the magic begins. What made this moment special were the
deep penetrating feline eyes. I felt as if I was looking into an old soul. She
was not looking back at me; instead, she was looking right thru me.
