Derek takes us behind his lens
Derek Blanks got the idea of starting the alter ego portraits after his first project with daughters of men, where he photographed successful African American women with their fathers. He decided to try something new and show the interaction between one subject in a single photo. Showing a different side of the celebrity that hasn’t necessarily been seen by the public, making it interesting to everyday people.
How do you seduce your subject and capture their sexiness with your lens?
I think what helps, is they get comfortable and whenever the subject is comfortable they can kind of relax and show that three dimensional side of themselves . My goal as a photographer is to make sure that comes across on camera and make them feel comfortable and at ease.
What is your favorite body part to photograph?
I’m intrigued by the face anyway so I personally love to have something very striking and beautiful in front of my lens. I think females lips are nice, soft and full. It’s always sexy and attractive.
Why is it important for couples to take nude photos together?
It’s important for me to capture that moment and if I can be around a couple where they forget that I’m present I think that’s when I am able to get the most natural reaction out of them. I think intimacy in portraits is important especially when its done tastefully. And artistically, it symbolizes unity and strength. Christian Johnson
The ultra-talented photographer Derek Blanks, was so inspired following the completion of an extraordinary photography project featuring accomplished women their fathers, and the relationship between them that he decided to venture out on a limb and take his art up a notch. The creator of the critically acclaimed Alter Ego portrait series turned his eye and his camera lens to to focus on celebrities and depict the interaction between varying personal aspects in a single subject. The celebrated portrait series exposes the rarely seen side of celebrities and offer a glimpse at their lives in and out of the limelight.
–christian johnson and roz edward
How do you put your subjects at ease and capture their vulnerability? I think what helps, is they get comfortable and whenever the subject is comfortable they can kind of relax and show that three dimensional side of themselves. My goal as a photographer is to make sure that comes across on camera.
What is your favorite part of a subject to photograph?I’m intrigued by the face anyway, so I personally love to have something very striking and beautiful in front of my lens. I think the female lips are nice, soft and full — it’s always sexy and attractive.
Why is it important for couples to express intimacy in pictures? It’s important for me to capture that moment, and if I can be around a couple where they forget that I’m present. I think that’s when I am able to get the most natural reaction out of them. I think intimacy in portraits is important especially when its done tastefully. Artistically, it symbolizes unity and strength.
