With all the models on Model Mayhem, it sometimes takes something big in order to stand out above the crowd. Derrek is with out a doubt a stand out and I have been enjoying and following his work with many of my favorite photographers for quite awhile now. Derrek is a natural in front of the camera, and clearly accustomed to drawing the attention of those around him. With over eight years of acting and theatre experience, the 20 years old model from Santa Cruz has a strong and solid presence in front of the camera.
Derrek says modeling is a motivator to keep himself healthy and continue going to the gym. He has the ability to take on many moods and looks and a quick glance at his Model Mayhem profile shows a model both versatile and fearless. On a recent visit to the Bay Area, one of my favorite photographers to profile, David Gray from YogaBear Studio recently spent some time shooting with Derrek.
In addition to his images, one of the reasons I love and respect David's work so much is his innate ability to seek out, capture and celebrate the beauty in all of the men he photographs. David is not interested in using his camera to create, edit or manipulate beauty within an image. Beauty is secondary to capturing the core elemental essence of the men he shoots.
When I recently profiled David's work, I featured his iimages of Samuel both on a train and on a mountain. In his work with Derrek, he returned to the studio with classical poses and a focus on capturing Derrek's face, personality and extraordinary physique.
I always question photographers who appear to only capture men of the moment. By this I mean models who currently have whatever look, hair color or body type deemed acceptable by the masses. Although there is nothing wrong with it, they are shooting for others, an audience, and not necessarily for themselves. David Gray, like most of the photographers I choose to cover on FH, shoot men who intrigue, stimulate and interest the artist themselves. When this is the case, we know the person behind the lens believes in what is in front of it. The risk becomes that it ceases to become art, and simply becomes a job. When shooting what your passionate about, images become intensely more beautiful, interesting and most of all, personal to those who view them.
YogaBear Studio on FH
