THE CONCEPT OF YING/YANG

This is a story about the connection between all of earth’s wandering humans.

Although we have our differences in mind, body and soul, we are all the same in that we are humans cut from the same cosmic cloth.

We started to build the series from a bare, almost naked styling and setting, resulting in photos that radiate tender togetherness. In the course of the day things slowly evolved into a more distant loneliness.

WORDS FROM THE MAKE-UP ARTIST JULIËTTE DEN OUDEN

For this shoot, we focus on earth tones to let the models blend in with the environment. To do this Juliëte tells me she used ton sur ton colors – a term I have heard about myself many times but had to google the exact explanation. It means making use of different tints within the same color range. So, in this case, multiple hues of white and brown. She emphasized the two contrasting skin tones which both represent exceptional extremes.

ABOUT THE MODEL SANELE XABA

Shooting Sanele is not easy. His eyes lack pigment so they are very sensitive to light. Which makes it almost impossible for him to open them while looking into the harsh sunlight. But with his snow-white skin, he is the true image-makers dream to work with. And not only because of his appearance.

Sanele found a way to use his skin condition for the better. What used to be a point of bullying and discrimination, is now his strength in the modeling industry. He uses his looks to raise awareness about albinism and pushes the fashion industry to deliver more diversity to the public.

I ask Sanele how many times he has already done a “dark & light” skin tones shoot and all he does is raise his eyebrows and laugh. Of course.

But this story is not about origin in the sense of appearance. By choosing two extremes in skin color we emphasize the contrast (or distance) between the individuals. Yet the bodylanguage reveals an inseparableness.

Like Ying and Yang: two halves that complete wholeness together.

As a retoucher, it is unusual to be present at photoshoots. Which is a shame, because it makes the collaboration with the photographer so much more easy. During the shoot we were already able to check and adjust the lightning, pick selects and start retouching to speed up the whole process. It also made me feel more involved and able to sense the right atmosphere to convert into color grading.