Melancholy Lust

This one turned out a lot different then I originally planned. I was going to do a portrait where my wife appeared in it twice but after shooting for a bit this started to develop instead. I really enjoyed how it turned out though, I had to spend quite a while making sure that every detail was right. The background colors were an experiment. In this I'm attempting to do more then just single color backgrounds so I can diversify my work. Also there is a lot of play with the skin tones to make them contrast from each other. My wife's skin tone in this is very pale and brings thoughts of purity overshadowed by a morbid feeling. I believes this plays well with the overall aggressive sexual part that I play in the picture and helps provide this image with its dual meaning. The background also fuels this duality with its brightness sounding an otherwise dark scene.

Here is another image from this photo session that I enjoy even though I don't believe in fits in the series at the moment. This was actually a test shot from the shoot to get the lighting worked out but it ended up turning out really well. I ended up using it to test some new techniques that I'm developing. I may work more on this one later and repost it as a self-portrait in this series.

The Harlequin at Play

I know its been a while, but I was finally able to get this one done just yesterday. Things have been busy lately and I just didn't have a chance to get it done any sooner.

Right now I'm playing with the idea of double portraits as a way to some multiple personalities. I enjoyed the idea of the Harlequin because to me he's a prankster and at the same time can be very serious. However serious he may become though he's always playful and enjoys pranking and showing off, even at his own expense. This image displays that dual personality and evokes feelings of curiosity and sadness that are both present within the character. One sad lost in a bitter emotion but another side of the same individual is unable to understand the feeling and is even of the verge of interrupting what should be a private moment.

This work shows a vibrant display of colors that remind me of works by Gilbert and George*. I struggled with this one to keep the colors clean while trying to give them a depth that draws the viewer into the image.

I enjoyed doing this picture a lot and I am also working on a triptych using some photos from the same shoot. I also plan on experimenting a bit more and will post the results as I finish them.

*some images on the the Gilbert and Geaorge site may be offensive to some people, view with care and not at work