The Man Without A Face: Rick by Brian Gorman

'What is the story you really want to tell?'



It has been said, that the eyes are the windows to the soul. As a result, New Jersey photographer Brian Gorman is always conscious of his subjects eyes and face in the creation of his images. On his Model Mayhem page Rick states clearly, 'Due to my full-time work situation I need to limit my modeling work to faceless images.' So...when shooting Rick, Brian faced a challenge. Fortunately, Brian says that Rick is one of the most creative people he has ever worked with. Rick helped teach Brian the value of working with constraints and how they challenged him with each shoot to further push his creativity.



There first shoot in 2008 and was a chance for Rick and Brian to become familiar with how each other worked. Although you wouldn't know it when he is in front of the camera, Brian reports Rick can be quite shy but the photographers philosophy is the best pictures are the ones models want to create. By the end of the shoot, it was clear artist and model would work together comfortably.



'We shot a little more than a year later. I knew that I wanted to get beyond cropping at the neck and shooting from behind. Rick suggested a “peek-a-boo” shoot, focusing on those times that—intentional or not—things are revealed that would usually be concealed.'

'I am a photographer that moves a lot during the shoot. I am far out, and close in. I am above my subjects, even with them, and down on the floor shooting up. In planning for my next shoot with Rick, I decided to focus primarily on close-in photography. This led me to suggest the idea of an “Intimacy Series” of Rick with another man. Both Rick and Pedro (whom I have also shot several times) were excited about this approach. They were both comfortable working with me, so I was able to move in and around them as they explored—and expressed—an intimacy that is sensual and sexual and genuine.'

Brian's first partner David was an artist who paid his bills by working in a photo lab. He is the one who taught him how to open his eyes, and to see the world differently. I believe that as artists, we do see the world differently; successful artists are able to help others see the world as they do. David encouraged Brian to buy a good camera and take lots of pictures, which he did. After they broke up, Brian moved to New York. He shot around the city for ten years, but his favorite place to take pictures was the Heritage of Pride March down 5th Avenue each June.

'As I took more and more pictures, my passion for photography grew. In the late 1990’s I began to take classes. First I went to The New School for more technical training: how a camera works, black and white darkroom, etc. Once I felt that I had that under my belt, I took several courses at The International Center of Photography under David Armstrong. He is a contemporary of Nan Goldin; you can see his influence in my work even today.'

'For more than a decade now I have worked on my Portraits in Pride portfolio. And, I have diversified my work, photographing in the straight community as well as the LGBTQ community. For me, the challenge is always to capture the essence of the person—or people—that I am shooting, regardless of sexual orientation, nationality, race, age, physical shape, or anything else'.

'In my most recent shoot with Rick, I suggested double, and even triple, exposures. Back in the days of film, I used to love to explore capturing two or more images in a single frame. The process is different in digital, but the concept is the same. You need to know the story that you want to tell, and then choreograph the subject in the frame. Tattoo Shirt, also part of this shoot, required me to shoot Rick clothed, and then remove his clothing while he remained motionless.'

www.briangormanphoto.com

www.bodyscapes-briangorman.com

www.portraitsinpride.com