I use the lens to transport us into a realm reminiscent of fairy tale and myth. Inspired by the dramatic lighting of Italian churches and the hues of stained glass, my images depict visceral figures emerging from darkness. The subjects often appear as shapeshifting creatures, created from amalgamations of fragments of classical sculpture and warping facial features. Creating these scenes in the tangible world, without the aid of digital manipulation, I intend to invite viewers to rethink our assumptions about what is real and what is constructed, challenging us to question the very nature of photographic truth in the digital age. While AI can make fiction appear real, my goal is to achieve the opposite: crafting real-life photographs to resemble fiction. I intend to maintain an element of mystery in my work, leaving the viewer to create their own narrative behind each piece akin to the experience of 'reading' a damaged fresco in which our imagination fill in the gaps of what has since eroded. Each piece presents a portal into a world that lies just beyond the veil of the known.
