Photography
Creative Photographers
A portrait is more than just capturing features. It's a window into the soul, a visual dialogue between artist and subject, an exploration where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. The approach to portrait photography is based on the desire to push the boundaries of the conventional, explore new perspectives, and infuse each image with a unique narrative force.
Playing with light, contrasts, and textures to create compelling atmospheres. Sometimes, a glance captured from an unexpected angle, a movement suspended in space, or a bold staging are enough to transform a portrait into a work of art. A creative portrait creates an image that captures attention, intrigues, and tells a story.
This portfolio is an invitation to discover extraordinary portraits, where each shot is an encounter, a frozen moment that defies expectations. Dive into a world where portraiture becomes a visual experiment, a play between reality and imagination, and where each face reveals much more than what the eye perceives at first glance.
“A photographic portrait promises to delay or deny our mortality, magically freezing a moment in time. My work takes that moment and peels back the curtain, exposing thoughts, fears and dreams. Its exaggerated theatricality demands your attention. Tales are told through the eyes and the orientation of head and body. Subtle changes in color and light create an atmosphere from another time and place.
“I prefer to shoot my photographs simply, with basic studio lighting. These digital images form the skeleton of my new reality. Light, shadow and colors are manipulated to set the stage. Layered textures combine with my still life and landscape photos, antique documents, images from NASA and myriad other objects conjured for the occasion.
“My goal is a contemporary portrait with references to painting, history and environment.”
This image evokes a pictorial composition inspired by classical paintings and theatrical settings. The dark, mystical atmosphere is accentuated by dramatic lighting and texture reminiscent of Renaissance or Baroque paintings.
In the center, a figure dressed in white, wearing a miter, appears to embody a figure of spiritual or religious authority. His expression is impassive, almost divine, reinforcing a sense of hierarchy or judgment. On either side, two hooded figures in white robes appear to be playing ritual roles: one in a prayer position, the other in a more submissive posture.
Ritual of shadow and light
The two nude male models add a dimension of vulnerability and tension. One sits on the floor, his gaze lowered, while the other balances on a chair, his body stretched out toward an invisible presence.
The reflection in the painting in the background introduces a disturbing mise en abyme, giving an impression of repetition or echo between the visible and invisible worlds.
The image explores themes such as power, submission, spirituality and the sacred, in an aesthetic that fuses religious symbolism and iconography with a contemporary approach to staging.
The fusional element between the two brothers is manifested by their almost symbiotic posture: lying side by side, stretched out towards the woman, united in a single impulse. Their naked bodies and similar hair reinforce this impression of twinship, as if they formed a single being with two heads, animated by a common fascination.
This image can be interpreted as a metaphor for shared desire, where individuality is erased in favor of a collective quest for female attention. There is also an almost mythological dimension: the brothers recall ancient figures, seeking to seduce or capture an elusive muse.
Exhibited at ImageNation Milan since 2021, Nicholas Fols & Siermond are two young Italian photographers focused on fine-art. Disturbing, melancholy, tormented and extraordinarily perfect subjects are immortalized in a suspended, almost surreal atmosphere, where everything seems delicate and ethereal. Their photos are modern fairy tales full of magnetic charm, endowed with such extraordinary beauty that they seem unreal.
Pasquale defines himself as a Visionary of the Unconscious.
The main sources of inspiration for his works are the mystical images that appear in his mind during sleep and the Freudian instincts of life and death (Eròs and Thanatos) that hover spasmodically in his mind.
The models convey the artist's sense of unspoken narcissism. Immerse yourself in the enigmatic atmosphere of his projects.
The Shadow of the Wind
This photograph exudes a dreamlike yet melancholic atmosphere. The subject, a man wearing a long, dark coat, stands in a misty, wild setting, reinforcing a sense of solitude and mystery. His partially uncovered torso, combined with his dramatic gesture in the air holding a flowing black veil, evokes a quest for emancipation or an intense inner dialogue. The color palette, dominated by cool, desaturated tones, accentuates the poetic and cinematic mood. The use of the veil creates an interesting visual dynamic, perhaps symbolizing a desire for escape or a struggle against invisible oppression. The image seems to be part of an editorial and artistic aesthetic, reminiscent of conceptual fashion productions. It captures a raw and timeless emotion, inviting the viewer to reflect on human fragility, freedom, and the relationship with the natural world.
Jean-Claude Lussier, sensitive to the beauty of the image, has been able to defend his place in the fashion photography industry in Canada since 1984. Self-taught and passionate, he continues to work today in photography by adapting to market realities, while respecting his artistic visions. If the ways of doing things have evolved over time, the desire to create and refine aesthetics remains an immense source of inspiration for Jean-Claude. The studio experience at Jean-Claude Lussier has always had the mission of achieving the highest standards of quality, practicing inclusive and sincere values.
Having practiced his craft in his studio in the heart of Plateau Mont-Royal for 30 years, he has now opted to relocate his activities to downtown Montreal in order to develop a studio space that can be converted into an art gallery to exhibit his archives and his upcoming works. By favoring large-format printing and framing selected works, the images integrate environments and take on new dimensions.
Venetian Collection
This photograph from Jean-Claude Lussier's "Venetian Collection" is distinguished by a baroque and dreamlike aesthetic, blending mystery, theatricality, and timelessness. Its sepia-toned black and white treatment, with a grainy texture and worn effects, recalls old photographs or engravings from the past.
The image features a figure dressed in historical costume, adorned with an imposing headdress, evoking the nobility and splendor of 16th-century Venice. His piercing gaze and inclined posture give an impression of frozen movement, like a theatrical scene suspended in time. The tilt of the framing and the presence of stripes and visual overlays create a reminiscent effect, as if the image were a distant memory or a spectral apparition.
The diffuse lighting, with its softened contrasts, merges the contours of the subject with the surroundings, accentuating a ghostly and enigmatic atmosphere. This stylized approach evokes the Venetian carnival, where illusion, mystery, and the duality of light and shadow play a central role.
Lussier thus manages to capture the essence of a timeless and theatrical Venice, where splendor and mystery intertwine in a poetic and nostalgic vision.
This photograph by Frank A. Gardso captures a scene imbued with sensuality and softness. The tight framing highlights the model, whose intense expression is accentuated by soft lighting that sculpts the contours of her face. The bright red strawberry immediately catches the eye, contrasting with the warm tones of her skin and adding a sensory dimension to the image. The interaction between the mouth and the fruit evokes desire, temptation, and pleasure, reinforcing a symbolism of the awakening of the senses. The neutral, blurred background refocuses attention on this intimate scene, while the choice of a male model playing with traditionally feminine codes questions notions of gender and identity. The overall effect creates an elegant and intriguing atmosphere, where the photograph becomes a dialogue between the viewer's gaze and the subject's intensity, oscillating between innocence and passion.
Film maker
Mask Collection
Frank A. Gardso has composed a collection of portraits of shirtless men with their faces hidden behind masks to question identity, vulnerability, and the perception of masculinity. By concealing the face, he erases the individuality of his subjects, transforming them into anonymous, almost universal figures. This artistic choice questions the way in which society often reduces men to their physical appearance, obscuring their personality and emotions.
The mask adds a dimension of mystery, forcing the viewer to imagine the models' story and emotions. It can also symbolize the social pressure that imposes a specific role on men, hiding their fragility. Finally, this series explores the line between strength and vulnerability, highlighting exposed bodies but concealed identities. Gardso thus creates a powerful work, where the absence of gaze challenges and encourages reflection.
Troy Schooneman, a renowned talent in the field of contemporary portraiture, offers a body of work that delicately balances traditional fine art photography with the innovative potential of digital and AI technologies. Capturing the essence of his subjects, Schooneman's work explores the complex emotional tapestry of masculinity, societal expectations, and inner turmoil. Although he never received formal artistic training, Schooneman's passion for European artistic heritage—particularly the Renaissance, classical sculpture, and the work of masters such as Auguste Rodin—inspired him to pursue art as a hobby. Despite his career as a lawyer, his dedication to his craft has resulted in a captivating body of work that has attracted the attention of galleries and art collectors across the United States and Europe.
Schooneman's fine art photographs, created between 2013 and 2020, demonstrate his commitment to restoring the male nude to a place of artistic reverence. Drawing inspiration from the symbolism of the male form in classical art, his work focuses on depicting his subjects in a way that evokes the timeless beauty and vulnerability of the human experience, without resorting to unnecessary sexualization. The depiction of the male nude in fine art was once considered the noblest of artistic endeavors. In ancient Greece, the male physique represented a powerful symbol of Greek civilization, power, and superiority.
This fascinating image plays with the boundary between flesh and stone, between life and stillness. It depicts a young man whose appearance evokes both a statue and a living being, thus merging the human with classical sculptural art. The tender and melancholic posture of the model, who seems to allow himself to be enveloped by the marble figure behind him, suggests an intimate dialogue between past and present, between memory and the moment.
The gray hues on the skin evoke the erosion of time, as if the flesh itself were turning to stone. The weathered background and soft colors reinforce this dreamlike and romantic aesthetic. A certain nostalgia emanates from this scene, a reflection on love frozen in eternity or perhaps the difficulty of escaping a frozen past.
This photograph expresses a duality between strength and vulnerability, playing on texture and composition to evoke a form of emotional confinement. The model adopts a defensive posture, her face partially hidden by her arm, as if seeking to shield herself from outside gaze. Yet her bare torso and half-open shirt convey a tension between exposure and withdrawal, between the desire to assert herself and the fear of revealing herself.
The textured effect, which gives the illusion of a cracked surface, reinforces the idea of a body trapped, frozen in a material worn by time. This crack could symbolize an inner flaw, a personal upheaval, or an ongoing transformation.
The image thus oscillates between reality and illusion, suggesting a fragmented being, torn between presence and erasure, in an atmosphere imbued with mystery and melancholy.
Flickr Portfolio
Thomas Edwin expresses himself with controlled subtlety, relying on fluid gestures and nuanced expressions. His gaze, often introspective, exudes a quiet intensity that effortlessly captures attention. He favors natural poses, playing on delicate movements and controlled relaxation that confer an impression of refined spontaneity. His interaction with light is essential: he uses it to emphasize the softness of his features or create subtle contrasts that reinforce the depth of his expression. His charisma is based on a calm and magnetic presence, evoking a timeless elegance and a discreet artistic sensibility.
Exhibition 2019: Boys Boys Boys
Instagram
Uzochukwu began with self-portraiture and evolved into nature portrait photography. His photography combines post-production and intimate portraiture, frequently conveying images with an aura of isolation suspended over his body in physical manifestations of smoke, clouds, water, and fire. His surreal images feature, for example, blue skies that become walls, crystals that float in the air, volcanic sand that becomes a comforting shroud, or blood that transforms into a mask. His work has often conveyed his observations on race and homosexuality. At Unseen Amsterdam, for example, he previewed a series of photographs using the image of humanoid aquatic creatures, equipped with fins, tails, or sharp teeth. Uzochukwu has stated that these works express “what it means to be called black,” to have an oppressive notion of race imposed upon them, and yet thrive.
For more than 40 years, David Vance has enjoyed a successful career photographing advertising and editorial assignments for Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Interview, Men's Health, Rolling Stone, Tennis, Uomo and Harper's Bazaar, Italia.
Among his clients are Revlon, Rolex, Sony, Atlantic and Island Records, Time-Life, Doubleday, Coca-Cola, Panama Jack, Kodak, Lions Gate and Miramax films.
One of his first assignments was photographing the cast of the original Broadway production of "Oh! Calcutta." Celebrity portraits include Bea Arthur, William Baldwin, Steven Bauer, Toni Braxton, Gloria Estefan, Daisey Fuentes, Andy Garcia, Hal Holbrook, KC and the Sunshine Band, Sophia Loren, Ricky Martin, Johnny Mathis, Luciano Pavarotti, Iggy Pop, Steven Seagal, Eli Wallach, Dionne Warwick and Lil' Wayne. Sports figures include Billy Bean, Chris Evert, Mitch Gaylord, Greg Louganis, Dan Marino, Don Mattingly, Johnny Mitchell and Mary Pierce.
David has published 12 books of his work Visions, The Ultimate Book of Nudes, The Woods, David Vance/Photographs, Attractions, Timeless, Heavenly Bodies, Erotic Dreams, Jungle Fever, Timeless Bodies, Men and Gods and Masculine Beauty, and Emotion.
An alumnus of Rochester Institute of Technology, David continues his international work and maintains his studio base in his hometown of Miami.
Desirée Dolron is a Dutch photographer known for her painterly, introspective images blending documentary and fine art. Her Xteriors series (2001–ongoing) features staged portraits reminiscent of Dutch Golden Age paintings, with moody lighting and a timeless, ethereal quality. In contrast, Exaltation (1991–1999) documents intense religious rituals, exploring themes of devotion and suffering. Te dí todos mis sueños (1999–2003) captures everyday life in Cuba with a soft, melancholic aesthetic, while Gaze (1996–1998) presents intimate portraits of people with closed eyes, evoking introspection. Dolron's work is marked by meticulous technical precision, a deep understanding of light, and a balance between control and spontaneity. Drawing from both classical painting and photography, she creates images that feel both contemporary and timeless, often exploring spirituality, silence, and the human condition with a dreamlike yet hyper-real clarity. Her fusion of historical and modern influences makes her a unique voice in contemporary photography.
Claude Gauthier
Claude Gauthier is a fine art and portrait photographer whose work focuses on the human body as a central artistic subject. His photography is deeply rooted in the idea that the body is a "masterpiece of living art," capable of expressing emotions and telling stories beyond words. His images celebrate the beauty and diversity of the human form while challenging societal perceptions of nudity and sensuality .
Gauthier's portfolio includes portraiture, bodyscapes, urban scenes, and conceptual works. His series Hidden Faces explores emotions through body language, emphasizing gestures over facial expressions. His exhibitions, such as Danse Imaginaire and Porteurs de Masques, demonstrate a commitment to capturing grace and movement.
His approach is characterized by technical precision and artistic sensitivity, creating images that evoke intimacy and reverence. Through his lens, Gauthier immortalizes moments of vulnerability, strength, and aesthetic beauty.
