Model Spotlight / Photo Series: "Sloane"

"SLOANE"

As a photographer I am always looking for new subjects. In my twenty-one years as a professional I have photographed many different subjects and have focused on more than a few distinct fazes from nudes, walnuts, speakers, jell-o, undersea turtles, to my series detailing the migration of native snail species.

This being the case I was shocked when Sloane walked through the door of my studio. I was immediately so caught up by Sloane's energy and sadness as a subject that I felt as if I had never really taken a picture in my life. Look for a full length book of nudes coming out in coming months, also featuring Sloane.


This photo captures everything about this series that I had hoped for. The vacant eyes filled with suffering, the hair--so fine and curly seemingly at war with the supple mouth and lips. Sloane is a man whose features lend themselves so easily to film that I found I needed to do very little to create the most compelling photography of my life.







Here the shadows over Sloane's eyes recall the sadness and abuse that he had suffered through as child. The curly hair and cherubic features belie the suffering of the subject.







The confident, almost military body language and arm position is not only hostile, but inherently masculine and strongly erotic.








Sloane: a man adrift.








I am particularly proud of this picture because I was able to coax a real smile from Sloane. Also, the body language is particularly upbeat. I remember Sloane saying, "I am really a happy guy!" I only believed him after seeing this print.

The darkness of this shot really brings out Sloane's inner turmoil. The way that Sloane is positioned in frame shows how robust but nihilistic a presence I was working with.

Here the focus is on Sloane's eyes and eyebrows. The shadows covering the eyes recall a young Brando or perhaps and old Nicholson.








Here is a nice shot of Sloane with his mouth in a sort of half-frown, half-smile. Notice the lighting on his chin and neck accentuating his muscular bone structure.