You Make Me Want to Be a Man

You Make Me Want to Be a Man is an ongoing portrait series of masculinity and sexuality, as embodied by my friends and lovers. This body of work stands as a resolute challenge to the societal norms entrenched within a culture often overshadowed by machismo culture. Moreover, it serves to reclaim the potency inherent in softer masculinity, which often remains obscured.

Each portrait delves into identity, desire, and connection through the intimate portrayal of both myself and others through queerness and vulnerability, while acknowledging the transient nature of existence. Steeped in the realm of queer experience, I navigate these portraits from the vantage point of my constructed sense of masculinity. With an unwavering gaze, my lens probes the confluence of private, individual identity and the yearning for profound intimacy with others. The tableau unfolds within the sanctum of personal spaces—most often the intimate chambers of bedrooms.

In its entirety, these images become a tapestry of identity and connection, reverberating with both universal and intensely personal notes. Each portrayal of men and masculine figures acts as a mirrored reflection—an embodiment of the tender masculinity that resonates with me, even as I aspire to embody it myself. Similarly, the glimpses into relationships echo a relentless pursuit—to be not just visible, but seen with a profound understanding and desired through the lens of another's heart—a testament to the intimate connection with the self as the ultimate form of communion.

The act of inviting others into vulnerability through the act of being photographed is my proclamation of the sublime beauty and strength I recognize. An inquiry into the very foundations of identity, the myriad expressions of desire, and the labyrinthine paths we tread in pursuit of authentic connections. Through my portraits, I extend an invitation to witness, ponder, and celebrate the myriad dimensions of masculinity and desire that thrive within these captured moments.