There are no limits to the ways people can be photographed. Sometimes, the picture tells a story even beyond the person being photographed. It may even say something about all of us. It’s not always necessary to offer a direct likeness of someone. A stilled and even ambiguous moment may capture something unique and captivating. I like portraits that are suggestive. My idea of flattering a subject is not necessarily to make them look like a magazine ad or a model. It is to imbue their portrait with character.

I look for individual and expressive gestures, for backdrops and locations that can deepen the sense of who we are. Often, the least expected environment or pose can bring out the most striking side of someone, capturing and creating instants of openness and authenticity. The truth of a portrait lies both in what it represents and in the possibilities it offers.

At their most imaginative, portraits can be theater, playing with masks and personas, revealing dramatic character, telling a visual tale.

Much of my photography represents a commitment to my peers in the gay community and to continued visibility as we age. The photos stem from an interest in and attraction to those around me. Intimacy, curiosity, desire and sometimes even a healthy discomfort or fear guide me. I am looking at and getting to know these men . . . and they are looking back.