The Model and The Photographer

My work asks questions about who is being photographed and what is being exposed. Is it a portrait of the model or the photographer? What is the balance of power and agency in these sessions, which frequently involve models who are younger, of different races, ethnicities and gender-identities? The images explore desire, intimacy, consent and the nature of being touched from a queer perspective. While these images can potentially be seen as problematic, the photographs are about connection and consent. There is a gray area, to be sure, but one that is rich and revealing. The models are fully engaged in the process and their input is encouraged and respected. The pictures also speak to the process of aging. Older queer men often feel invisible and undesirable in a culture where youth is valued quite highly. This work is a layered portrayal of coming-to-terms with aging, body image and my own struggle with body positivity.   The reflected images in the mirrors reveal fracturing, repetition and the dichotomies that are inherent in the work. Sometimes the model or I can be seen more than once in an image, sometimes only the fragment of a body can be seen. The relationship between model and photographer is an exploration of what is revealed and what is being concealed. Do we ever truly see ourselves in what's reflected in a mirror? Our feelings are powerful, elliptical and ephemeral. We catch a glimpse of who we are and then we are gone.