RMark Photo: A Slip of the Mask 🎭

'Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.'

Oscar Wilde

Casey

There's a wogynous ell known Halloween catchphrase that says 'Come as you aren't.' I've even used it before on the site.  It basically means that most people dress up on Halloween to be someone completely different than who they actually are.  The total opposite of the character they portray in their daily life.  Over time, I come to see this as a privileged way of thinking.  For most straight people, especially little kids, picking out a costume is a relatively easy task.  Sure it may be difficult to decide, but you have the option to slipping into almost any character or persona you want.

For someone in the LBGTQ+ community, choosing a costume can be more of a challenge.  It's a challenge however, that be both risky and exciting.  I wasn't one of those people who looks back, and realizes I knew who I was at a young age.  For me it was a process, and one I didn't fully accept and embrace until I was in my early twenties.  For me, choosing a Halloween costume, was about dipping a toe into the water, and risking exposing a side of myself I kept hidden most of the time.

It wasn't as obvious as dressing as girl, it was more nuanced.  I was never really drawn to wearing women's clothing, not in any real way.  I did however, add androgynous element to my costumes.  I remember one year going as 'burglar', and insisting my burglar needed to wear my mothers long wig.  I added elements like long flowy fabrics to my vampire, and or course make-up, tall boots, and a chic, glittery mask.  Little feminine add-ons I hoped would go unnoticed.  

Richard

Although I wanted them to go unnoticed by others, they were very important to me.  I remember walking home from a party one night wearing my glittery mask, high heeled boots and a long flowing Vampire cape.  I loved the click of those boots on the sidewalk and feel and  sound of that long cape flapping in the wind as I walked.  It was one a great feeling, and one that for many years, I only experienced on Halloween.

I was thinking about those walks home after seeing some of the Halloween themed visuals that Roger (RMark Photo) posted on his BlueSky page.  I've featured many of Roger's holiday visuals before, but I think his Halloween shots are some of my favorites.  I've featured some of his mask shots before, as well his cowboy, superhero and his Village People themed series.

Elo

Some of these mask shots are from Roger's work with models I've previously featured on the site. Some, like his work with Casey, are from  more recent creative collaborations.  Some of you may remember Casey from my previous piece featuring his work with Aktis Creative. (HERE:)  Hoping to feature more of Casey's work with Roger in a future post!

RMark Photo on BlueSky