Real Boy - Aesthetic girl


  • Photographer
    Davy Priestley
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Date of Photograph
    2013
  • Technical Info
    Film Photography

Davy Priestley has a deep interest in people; he is deaf and understands how it feels to be in a minority group so from this background he has investigated the world of Transgendered people capturing relaxed images of their everyday lives and creating compelling photographs with the use of low- lighting to achieve a natural, aesthetic look. His positive attitude towards and close involvement with the models make his imagery stand out as both real and honest. In 2010, He started interviewing and photographing transgender women (male-to-females) about their journeys of self-discovery. He found the thought processes intrinsic to what kind of men they were striving to become, and what was informing their choices, were the stories he wanted to tell. He turned his lens to transgender women to photograph and document their thoughts on femininity and how societal pressures may have influenced their views on womanhood. In shooting the portraits, Davy chose to take a formalist approach. The more he learned about the complexity of gender issues, the simpler he wanted the images to be. The stark studio, sans props, does not allow him to judge the subjects by their surroundings. They stare back at you, returning the dominant gaze, asking to be recognised, and confronting the viewer with their presence. He wanted each person to be seen simply as a human being, no different than you and him. Davy believes a successful artist never “captures” a moment but actually “releases” it to others. With his photography, (Colour, black & white and Polaroid) He strive to transcend the documentary nature of the format by the sheer force of the experience. His work is both reflection and expression in that he do not aim or plan a shot, but instead allow himself to be found within it as it happens. He works freelance on location and in the studio for portraiture and assisting Mark LeBon who, along with Helmut Newton, Christer Stromholm, Nan Goldin, Todd Hido, Gregory Crewdson and Jürgen Teller have been strong influences in his photography. Davy has obtained B.A. (Hons) in Photography in the summer of 2013.

Story

Davy Priestley has a deep interest in people; he is deaf and understands how it feels to be in a minority group so from this background he has investigated the world of Transgendered people capturing relaxed images of their everyday lives and creating compelling photographs with the use of low- lighting to achieve a natural, aesthetic look. His positive attitude towards and close involvement with the models make his imagery stand out as both real and honest.
In 2010, He started interviewing and photographing transgender women (male-to-females) about their journeys of self-discovery. He found the thought processes intrinsic to what kind of men they were striving to become, and what was informing their choices, were the stories he wanted to tell. He turned his lens to transgender women to photograph and document their thoughts on femininity and how societal pressures may have influenced their views on womanhood.
In shooting the portraits, Davy chose to take a formalist approach. The more he learned about the complexity of gender issues, the simpler he wanted the images to be. The stark studio, sans props, does not allow him to judge the subjects by their surroundings. They stare back at you, returning the dominant gaze, asking to be recognised, and confronting the viewer with their presence. He wanted each person to be seen simply as a human being, no different than you and him.
Davy believes a successful artist never “captures” a moment but actually “releases” it to others. With his photography, (Colour, black & white and Polaroid) He strive to transcend the documentary nature of the format by the sheer force of the experience. His work is both reflection and expression in that he do not aim or plan a shot, but instead allow himself to be found within it as it happens.
He works freelance on location and in the studio for portraiture and assisting Mark LeBon who, along with Helmut Newton, Christer Stromholm, Nan Goldin, Todd Hido, Gregory Crewdson and Jürgen Teller have been strong influences in his photography.
Davy has obtained B.A. (Hons) in Photography in the summer of 2013.

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