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I am not a photographer or a narcissist, but a performance artist with a camera. I want to push the boundaries of what I define as self and other by playing with ideas of identity, gender, archetype and the myriad ways in which they can be represented. I am inspired and fascinated by all of the subtle variations in mood and character that human beings are capable of. I can more deeply explore these moods and emotions by physically transforming into them for a moment in time.
Self-portraits are inevitable, because I am the only one capable of accurately expressing the images that take shape in my mind. However, I have a hard time identifying with my work as "self" portraiture, because all of these characters and personalities are their own. I just try to give them life for a moment, acting as a screen for them to play on. In the same breath, they also represent loosely fragmented aspects of my own personality, inspirations and affinities.
I work entirely with available and improvisational lighting. All costuming, styling, makeup, photography and post processing are self-created. I shoot digital, yet prefer a more traditional photographic aesthetic over heavily digitized post processing. All effects are created in camera other than adjustments in tones and the occasional texture overlay I sometimes use to give an "aged" effect to period pieces.
My background is in creative writing and the spoken word, and I find a powerful link between the written word and the wordless image. The still image is without words, yet is capable of equally as much poetry. There is a paradox there that is quite beautiful, and I love being able to work with it. In a good session, that collaboration will be tangible in the finished work.
My heroes are saints, rabblerousers, eccentrics, sages, poets, hippies, misfits, old folks, children, madmen, Goddesses and drag queens.
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