Nestled within the boundless depths of cyberspace lies the awe-inspiring work of an enigmatic photographer whom I have known only as ManWomanBoy. I honestly cannot even fathom on where to start with this review except to say that I have a serious desire to hire him on set for some of my indie projects. He’s that good! He is not genre specific, he captures beauty and humanity with every shot.. an artist in the truest sense of the word. If it can be done, he does it! From the incredibly macabre to the innocence of a child, his concepts, ideas and expressive subjects seem to create a story using the most primal of human emotions.

His work is stunning, addictive and eerily haunting… It’s as if you are seeing in to the inner most depths of his mind, both afraid and strangely drawn into a  hypnotic compulsion to delve further. His work has a trance like effect offering hints of divination, tragedy, romance and suffocating realism. The most beautiful images captured by him, in my opinion,  can be found in his sets Flesh and Repeat, Big Girl’s Don’t Cry,  and Traveler. Each so very different from the next and yet equally thought provoking and profound.. I just cannot say enough about Mr. Decarlo, I am captivated, mesmerized, terrified, and entranced in the tragically beautiful little kingdom his work creates.

Aside from his photography, he also tattoos, paints, draws and does just about everything one can creatively do. If you have not already checked him out, please do so now at www.planetstef.tumblr.com , www.planetstef.com or the links provided in this article. Again I cannot accurately describe how blown away I am by his ingenious work.

Popularity: 7% [?]

One of the reasons that I am always on Flickr is this man right here, Rick Hebenstreit. His versatility is unmatched by any photographer I’ve ever seen. Be it images that possess a certain air of illusion, or his notorious figurine parodies, there isn’t a day that goes by that I am not caught off guard at the understated genius of his work. He has a unique ability to literally bring a smile to anyone who views his work. The aforementioned figurine parodies and the “There’s a Mouse in The House” set have made me laugh on even the roughest of days.

In addition to his comedic artistry, Mr. Hebenstreit subsumes the classic genres and effects while also encompassing the spectacle of a true visionary.  A first glance may invoke a curious eyebrow raise, but a deeper look reveals statements on everything from politics to fashion. That is the beauty of his work… almost like a parable, it confounds many and is most understood by those who do not proclaim to be experts.  With so many people vying for the most grandiose shots, it is always a pleasure to see that simple elegance still speaks volumes when done correctly.

Popularity: 11% [?]

What can one really say about Norman Reedus that has not already been said a thousand times over. He is an absolutely mesmerizing actor and a model whose looks elicit a fiery school girl crush from even the most apathetic of women. Yes, I am sure you’ve heard that all before, nary a day goes by that someone isn’t gushing over the sensuous Mr. Reedus.  What you may not have known though is that he is one of the few people who has  genuine artistic talent… which coming from my off the wall standards says quite a bit.

I stumbled upon his photography  while looking for information on the Boondock Saints sequel and I had to do a double take. From the start and noticed  his style … so dark marking (a full sense of the word) with beautiful tones and images of mysterious cold elegance. Every picture he takes has a great story without needing to be sustained by  images in sequence . I noted the faces and the lighting and how many of his subjects seemed to be those who were forgotten  by society, sort of like they were  always hiding behind the corner but not as a hostile presence, as polite observers.
The use of lighting, saturation and various effects give off an ambiguously haunting final product. For a second, you feel privy to some private underground world that others overlook… The faces of the background that those too preoccupied with their own lives fail to notice. I suppose a simpler way to say it is that his work has an almost voyeuristic quality to it and that fascinates me.

Very rarely will I take a second look at someone’s photography, let alone write about, however in this case I have to admit I am struck by it. If you haven’t already, stop by his gallery and see for yourself what has me so entranced. You wont regret it.

Popularity: 100% [?]