shirtless man looks out from porch

New Muse Blake

shirtless man twisting his body and looking back
Twisted Blake

Vaccinations complete, ready to move on! After such a long pause, I’m back behind the lens with new work and a fresh face to photograph. This post features a new Ohio model who I had the good fortune to meet and start his portfolio with some amazing images.

nude man from side, running with arms thrown back
Flight
nude man in profile with yellow ceremonial hat holding sword and pointing
Achilles

I quickly discovered that my model, Blake, had a theatre and dance background. He brought such a diverse layer of both physical and emotional presence to each and every shot. It was completely enthralling to have such an emotive individual before my camera.

shirtless man stares down at the viewer from overhead cupboards in abandoned house
Escape
nude man with back to camera crouches in doorway of old house with hand extended up on frame
Eventuality

His ability to look beyond the scene and bring his own personal interpretations made these shots successful. It was as much a mental connection as it was a physical connection.

I have worked with actors before and sometimes they can have a tendency to overact, not realizing that the vastness of the stage does not translate well in the smaller scale of photography. Blake had a great sense of this and was able to maintain a state appropriate to the situation keeping an intimate quality that draws the viewer in.

nude man with eyes closed reclines in tree in front of old house
Serenity of Home
nude man with back toward camera standing in hallway of old house
Last Glance

I was very fortunate to meet this young man. He is a quiet and sweet soul. There’s a sense of the “hometown” embodiment that makes working with non-professional models more appealing. Honesty with a dash of modesty.

Of course, I could be totally wrong. But it’s my interpretation of the nature of the individual that makes the images. And in this case, they’re quite spectacular!

shirtless man sitting back, looking up at sunbeam
Inspiration
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