“Dear Heart” — a term of both affection and respect, most commonly used during the late medieval and renaissance periods, appropriated here for the Muses whose talents, skill, and daring have contributed so much to my own development as an artist.

I see this gallery changing every four to six weeks, as I rotate through the wonderful models with whom I’ve worked.

Sensual Leigh is an astonishing woman. I’ve worked with her twice, and the quality of the work that she’s shared with me has always been both consistent and remarkable, whether it’s an emotive portrait or evocative glamour.

To travel, either near or far, and to document; to record that which is true in the moment, the intimacy, or the portentousness; the joy, or the tears —

To record, so that it isn’t forgotten.

In December of 2021, Jason Mehmel, the Artistic Director of Calgary’s Sage Theatre, asked me to do the promotional work for their world premiere of renowned playwright Clem Martini’s “Cantata — Rumours of My Crazy, Useless Life.”

We would start work later that month with Jason generously acting as a parts model — that’s his hand, used in the original poster — with more extensive work with the entire cast and crew in both March and April of 2022.

This was my first time ever shooting a theatrical production, so my jitters were legitimate, but it became one of the most demanding, exciting, and fulfilling shoots that I’ve ever done, and a selection of the photographs taken would eventually see print when a hard copy of the play (alongside a second work by Clem Martini, “The Extinction Therapist”) would be released by Durvile & UpRoute Books.

Forthwith, Cast & Crew:

Clem Martini, playwright; Valerie Campbell, actress; Brian Jensen, actor; Precious Akpoguma, actress; Rod Squance, musician/composer; Jason Mehmel, director; Emily Parkhouse, stage manager; Calum Maunier, designer.

The Art of capturing — or trying to — those ethereal, often hidden qualities that make an individual unique, filtered, invariably, through the artist’s and the viewer’s eyes.

If it works, it shows a moment, like a heartbeat, radiating through that moment and into the profundity of that ephemeral something that will last and be remembered, and maybe even treasured.

Spangle, a noun according to Merriam-Webster, is “a small glittering object or particle.” Something like a meringue, if I may be so bold, and the depth is to be found in the fruit and the whipping cream added, perhaps with a good cup of Viennese coffee.

Les Petits Plaisirs — small pleasures — these are photographs of various models from different times and they may be candids or “behind-the-scenes” or posed, but they don’t necessarily fit the convention of the presented gallery while still retaining the merit of presentation, and thus, here they are!

I hope that you find as much pleasure in their spontaneous joy as I do!

Two wonderful, magical models; one with whom I’ve worked before, another who was new to me, and in those few, short hours that we had together, the most incredible things were found!

This gallery is the product of a shoot that changed my life. Just a few months after initially working with Fearra and Lintendo, I was privileged to work with them again in May, 2021. The magic that happened, the trust and insights shared, the vulnerabilities explored, all profoundly impacted the way that I approached and viewed my Art -- I learned that the statement is not in the drama or the spectacle, but rather in the humanity of the moment, in the individuality of the gesture --

Lintendo tragically passed away just a few months later in October of that year, and although the tears of losing a friend dearly loved never lose their sting, she serves as an inspiration and a standard still, one that I will always hold close.

For my models, Fearra, Lindsey, you will always have a piece of my heart.

I met “Anonymous” serendipitously, and asked if she’d model for me, and even though she had never done this before, she said yes.

She was a complete novice, but only once before had I seen such confidence, and the graceful awareness and energy that she brought to the shoot was wondrous, and the epiphanies and magic that we found through the camera left me in awe —

So much so that, how could I possibly address her as anything else, other than “The Lady —”?

Production & styling by Fearra LaCome.

It’s taken too long, since my Anonymous Muse and I last worked together; too long since I felt the excitement of her vivacity, the daring and elegance of her posing, and the pleasure of both her conversation and her company.

She is a remarkable young woman, my Lady Anonymous, as this gallery well demonstrates.