'I've tried to shoot with Alejo again but Covid is shit!'
Covid is shit... no truer words. We've all heard, thought or said this ourselves countless times over the last last. Covid had impacted almost every aspect of how we live our lives. Although the arts may not be considered by some to be an essential service, it's the arts that so many of us, especially when the pandemic first began, that we turned to.
I know more than ever, I've depended on good movies, especially classic films that I've collected and enjoy watching a second or third time. I dove into my favorite sit-coms, listened to my favorite songs and sought out familiar websites that bring me comfort. Discussion boards with community feels, Leslie Jordan's videos on Instagram and stimulating visuals that for moment, have the powerful ability to distract.
I understand that in the scheme of things images of the male form may not seem that important in fighting a disease, but for so many people, movies, television shows and art, have done more healing than any doctor or therapeutic could possible prescribe or administer. Mark word's echo what I've heard from so many artists and models, Covid is shit. The pandemic not only put a halt to shoots, it also shut off the creative outlet so many use to deal with the day to day grind of life.
The good news, is many photographers and models have begun to shoot again. Masks, social distancing, and trying to shoot primarily outside is now the norm. Although Mark's plans for a second shoot with the exquisite Alejo were put on hold, I'm hoping maybe they'll still be able to create together again in the future.
'I love tattoos and the minute I saw Alejo I asked if he'd model. He had never done a photoshoot – but agreed on the spot and I was shooting him an hour later as I was only in Spain for a few hours that day'
I too love Alejo's tattoo's, and spent some time enlarging the images to get a closer work at the artwork and canvas on which it's located. Alejo is Colombian and I noticed his tattoo's are all organically based, birds, fish, insects and animals. Alejo's body is like an artistic expression of his native Latin American culture, including the colors of the Colombian flag.
As eye-catching as Alejo's body art is, it's his actual eyes, which most forcefully, commanded my attention. Alejjo's beautiful brown eyes and hypnotic gaze connects directly with both Mark and his camera, and those of us enjoying the visuals captured. If Mark and Alejo manage to schedule a second shoot, I'll be sure to ask Mark about sharing them with you all, and a follow-up on the site.
