'A mask tells us more than a face'
Oscar Wilde
There is nothing more synonymous with Halloween than the mask. When it comes to masks and Halloween, the images above are two of my all time favorites. A frightening Halloween mask, and an incredibly hot naked body. The erotically horrifying trick or treater was captured by
Photography by George, and I first discovered the image a few years ago, and immediately got in touch with George about featuring it on the site for Halloween.
Growing up in the 80's, most kids in my neighbourhood wore masks at Halloween. Although there were dozens of different characters available for purchase, there were a few obvious favorites. Although masks for Frankenstein and the princess were close seconds, the devil, the witch and the scary clown were most likely to come knocking at your door. I wore all three during my time trick-or-treating having the most fun I think, being a sneaky little devil.
Many
FH readers are familiar with the many masks, and the many persona's captured by George. I featured his work as a
life model and I've featured his
naked ambition of a photographer of the male form. I've also featured many of George's shots featuring masks, mostly of animals. Some of my favorites have included George's work with naked models with
Rat, Hippo and
Lion masks covering their faces and heads. For this piece however, George sent images with masks connected to All Hallow's Eve.
Most of the shots in this series were taken by George himself, but in a few them, he slipped on the mask himself. In addition to being theatrical, with just a dash of fetishism, George's work is all about pushing boundaries, both visually, and for the models themselves. Many of the models George has photographed in their mask feel the need to keep their anonymity.
Just like for most at Halloween, or for a theatre production, the goal of a mask is to disguise. For some, the reason is their job. Not every career nor every boss is open to their employee's posing fully naked. For others, the reasons can more complex. It might be a relationship, or just a bit shyness. For some though, it's just the thrill of anonymously posing naked. Regardless of the reason, when in the mask, they're allowed the freedom of expression and to show sides of themselves that their face often won't allow.
The Witch by Jesse Merrell
Photography by George on Instagram