23 Mar 08
Usually I don’t post this many pictures of one shoot of a single person because there’s often a lot of redundancy, but Paige has a thousand expressions that must be captured and shown to the world.
There’s a complexity in her face that betrays the layers and layers of her character. By turns ebullient, hopeful, playful, and uncertain — every frame is different. I feel like I could write an essay on her look alone.
Best viewed on large and on black, of course, so click the pictures. Commentary at full size.
It’s her eyes that catches my full interest. They look as if the entire world is captured there, the sunbeaming black core in the middle resting beautifully like Earth surrounded by the playful and billowy waves in the many colours of blue. Amazing photographies of an extraordinary looking lady.
For me it’s in the lips that catch my full interest, because most of the expression and personality comes from there with Paige.
I agree about the eyes though. Certainly one of the advantages of using a softbox; the reflection of the light source isn’t as distracting as with the shape and spines of an umbrella. It lets the eyes come through, and as you say, it’s as if there’s some microcosm there waiting to be discovered.
Lloyd and I were discussing feminine beauty over a beer on Saturday afternoon many weeks after we first saw this entry and agreed that we wanted many more pages concerning Paige.
Such luminosity is a tribute both to the delightfully beautiful owner of such expressive eyes and lips but also to the talent of the photographer who can explore their promise with only a camera lens and an all-seeing eye [with apologies to Tolkien for stealing his phrase].
Unfortunately, Paige has moved out of town, and my access to her is now gone. I’m grateful to have had the chance to capture her with the lens at least once.
One of the nicest compliments someone ever made about my photography was concerning Paige. She remarked that she was surprised to see Paige in such a way; even though she looks like this, she doesn’t normally look like this.
Some people have that hidden beauty, the potential of which is waiting to be explored. When they’re unaware of it themselves and you can show them (as was the case with Paige, who had to have a glass of wine to calm her nerves before the shoot), it’s very satisfying.