Vitality is a study of life, joy, and motion. It is in response to the portraits of models in endless magazines made to look as though they mourn their own vitality, standing stock-still and vaguely bored. These images are also made as archival evidence that, as Phil Ochs said: “In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty.”

These portraits were made under studio lighting on medium format, high speed, black and white negative film, and medium format, colour positive film. The materials are chosen for their ability to capture truth over fact.

I asked my subjects beforehand to work out their clothing and thoughts in front of a mirror. How does it fit? Do you wear the garment? Does it wear you? Does it hang soft and gently from your body? Or does it cut a fearsome arc through the air before you?

They were given minimal direction beyond the initial concept for their scene, allowing me to react to their natural movements and occupation of space and time.