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: 9% [?]

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: 10% [?]