Sunday I got to work with this lovely young lady again in my (almost) complete studio. It’s a small black-box room with a picture window that allows for these high-contrast B&Ws.

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to shoot. This is largely due to performing in a comedy troupe and a shadow play of Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I found a couple more gems from Italy (backwards) and have a shoot tomorrow and one Sunday (forwards). It’ll be good to get back to work.

I made a few photos while in London in October during my trip to display some of my underwater photos. Check them out ; )

These are definitely not selfies. Normally I’m averse to self-portraits for myself (totally fine if others like doing it) unless there is reason or humor for it. I seem to have started a tradition of birthday self-portraits and this year I shared them on Instagram (MRP_Visionaries). I did this partly because it struck me as meaningful work; the release or exposure of pent up emotions. It also may have made one person feel like they’re not alone in their personal struggles.

I wasn’t going to share here / FB except that it seems counterproductive to share in one area and not another. This is some of the sort of work I’d like to do; help people release and cope with their metaphorical demons (if real demons, call a priest).

I also wanted to share because I’m not sure I expressed myself properly with the series. The final image is meant, as perhaps some interpreted, not as a post-life image but as a post-crisis image. I’ve re-edited and toned down the blow-out here and I think it improves the image but that I still didn’t quite succeed on the message. 

So why post it? Because as part of growing as an artist (if I may flatter myself a moment) is to realize where one’s message may have failed. I think the over-editing of the first version was not only a technical failure but also perhaps an artistic one. Also the pose will take the viewer immediately to prayer and on reflection (get it?) maybe I should have used a pose slightly less associated with a monotheistic religion and something slightly more universal or meditative.

In either event the point of the series was to get some raw emotions out, but also to show that it can get better if we get through the rough patch. I have been very fortunate in my life to have relatively few of these, but it can still be hard to remember that it is only the PAIN that I want to end. I still have work to do even if I don’t know for sure what that is.

In honor of the season I’m reposting this series from a couple of years ago.

Check it out : )

Day of the Dead

I was on a whirl-wind tour for nearly two weeks in Italy in September. I saw a lot of amazing places and things, though it was very crowded and not ideal for perfect photographs. I still managed to find a few gems in the new gallery. Italy (2018)

From 24-October to 28-October these nine images are (were) on display at the Bargehouse Gallery in London (at the base of the Oxo building). Some people even wanted to talk to me about them. Thank you to everyone who came out for the show; there was some really neat work on display.

When we were in Italy one of our stops was at Giuditta Brozzetti where we met Marta who told us about old-style weaving. They work in an old church and in the afternoon the light was streaming in from the windows at just the right angle and intensity. As the group was heading out I asked Marta if I could do a quick portrait. She agreed and the above are the results.

Sometimes people say yes…

You can find the homepage here:
http://www.brozzetti.com/en/

I’m still working through my photos from Italy and managed to find a few gems. So naturally instead of sharing them at this point I’m going to put in another of my “holy sky” compositions because clouds are still relatively rare in Arizona. I love high contrast cloudy skies so long as they’re few and far between. It always makes me think of the heavens opening and the light of the future shining forth.

Show closes tonight!

Sold out!

But you can see more moments on my page.

Scorpius Dance Theatre – A Vampire Tale