One of the many perks of working on FH is learning about and getting to know people and places in the world through art. Whether I intend to or not, when I profile an artist I usually end up, through their images getting to know about not just their technique and intent but as well a bit about their culture and of course location.
Artist Mike Ross lives and works in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is located in Noord-Holland, Netherlands. Noord (North) Holland is located on the North Sea in the North West part of the country. For many reasons Mike's work has similarities to many of the artists whose work I admire from the North West part of America. I think some of it may be location and weather but there are color tones and almost a damp feel I associate with the North West.
Now I know that the North West of the US, like Holland, have beautiful warm sunny days, beautiful beaches and spectacular architecture. Somehow however, it often seems the photographers in these area, especially ones who focus on exterior location work are drawn to area's with more character. Beaches are incredible, but really if there was ever an overused location for the male form it would be the beach.
When you think of character you think of experienced, worn and usually old. There is something beautiful about setting something young, alive and vibrant somewhere old and dying. There is a mutual exchange of energy giving the a bit of character to the young and a bit of life to the decaying location.
In my recent profile of Gregory Lindeblom's work body and architecture are one and the same. With Mike Ross' pix, the architecture acts as a womb for the body, surrounding it providing it warm, energy and in some ways, protection from the elements slowly destroying it.
'All these images have and tell their own story. Some just because it was a first off for the Model (or me) and some because of the location and fun and sometimes stress we had to get the picture. Not all locations are private and accommodated a relaxed atmosphere where we peacefully and quietly could do the work. We sometimes we had to hit and run to get it done and get ourselves out of there.'
Mike Ross
Check out much more of the work of Mike Ross:
On ModelMayhem
On DeviantArt &
His Official Website HERE:
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