“What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh no, it’s curved like a road through mountains.” – Tennessee Williams
I have always felt that there should be more to this career than simply churning out pictures of couples smiling at the camera. I’ve always made it my personal goal to make my couples evoke as much honesty and passion for each other in their photos. And at the same time I believe that my art has to make a statement about me as a person. In fact, Richard Avedon, a famous American photographer said: “My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph.” I agree. Every artist has to affix a part of themselves into their work. So when there is an opportunity for me to take pictures that will transcend the creative aspect and carry with it, a political statement, then the photographs I take becomes much more meaningful. Jason and Lewis’ relationship is truly significant as their journey in life and love is filled with challenges and obstacles. Due to the public stigma of being in a same-sex relationship or same-sex marriage, their partnership is still taboo. I feel that there is a shift happening now. So I admire them for coming out. Their bravery and openness is noteworthy. In all honesty, theirs is a love story that poets spend their whole lives writing about. They are two people madly in love while defying the odds in hopes that the world will one day accept them and allow them to have the same equal rights as any other couple. And for them to allow me to capture and document what is in their hearts is inspiring. I have no qualms about their same-sex relationship. Or any body else’s. Because I’ve been raised to respect others. All I see are two people in love. And that’s all there is to it.
