Portraits

These photos are part of a series I've been developing over the last 5 years. All the models in the photos are friends of mine from the transgender community. I used to be a visual artist and a painter, and I've always been interested in trying to bring some of the elements that traditionally augment and support the depiction of the human form in figurative painting into my photographs. In these works I'm trying to create surface tension, mood and atmosphere using some of the devices that are typically deployed in figure painting as a means of creating compelling compositions. In my case, these include the use of vintage patterns, colour, texture, fabric, and certain types of clothing. Through my use of these devices, I am attempting to create images that are both beautiful, intense and painterly in very specific ways. I feel strongly that these art historically informed portraits of trans people are somewhat unique in that sense. I do think that the ways of representing transgender subjects is still very much a work in progress and I hope these photos contribute a little bit to the emerging dialogue.