The next subject I’ve photographed for this photography series is Harvey Lee.
As we were all in the spirit of Halloween, Harvey donned the skull makeup and hat.
Because he’s modelled for other photographers before, this allowed me to capture his personality from a personal point of view.
Deep Down, I Feel Broken! 
The Stress is Too Much. I’m Aching Inside! 
The Pain I Feel Inside is Slowly Releasing! 
Please Give Me a Moment to Adjust to My Surroundings. 
I’m Looking in the Right Direction! 
I Wonder What the Future Holds.
There was some inspiration to this photo-set after I produced it, as I got a hint of Patsy Stone from Absolutely Fabulous because of her modelling career, who was also known for smoking cigarettes.
Meanwhile, I could see a hint of Rick Genest, also known as Zombie Boy, who was known for his iconic skull and body tattoos.
Rick Genest appeared in Lady Gaga’s (real name Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) music video, Born This Way, which debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for the issue dated the 26th February 2011.
Born This Way became Lady Gaga’s third Number 1 single.
Referring back to this photo-set, I felt like these photos of Harvey had genuinely captured his different moods, his body language and posture, and the way he carried himself.
His emotions symbolise and emphasise the vulnerability and pain he may have felt deep down in a sense he may have recently been through a difficult patch that may have affected his mental health.
However, there is a positive side, as he oozes curiosity and confidence in his personality, as Harvey isn’t afraid to show the entire world his true authentic self, and he embraces it by being himself around everyone.
I admire his energy and authenticity to be able to take control and to show the world he will not change who he is for anyone.
Harvey can always be himself knowing he won’t please others who expect him to be someone he’s not.
In conclusion, I can say that I’ve noticed Harvey has been able to communicate openly the genuine emotions he feels, as my connection to these photos reflect the way he feels and what he may be going through.
If you enjoyed this photo-set, please feel free to submit your responses below as I aim to inspire anyone battling mental health every day.
I want my photography work to make a positive difference to anyone who wants to get their voices heard and to find their voice.
Alex Smithson
Device Used: iPhone 7 Plus
Apps Used: Apple Photos, Instagram (Free), Depthography (Free)
Location of Photoshoot: Funhouse, Croydon, United Kingdom
Date of Photo-Set Produced: Thursday 31st October 2019
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