Trevor
Trevor is a man who sets his own course.
Whether it be running marathons or the gauntlet of his own transition, he flies free.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning.
I first photographed Trevor in October of 2008. It was with my digital camera and I was practicing photographing people, part of the preparation I undertook for the tattoo project. Trevor was kind enough to subject himself to a multi-location shoot on a fine fall day. He seemed comfortable in front of the camera, which put me at ease.
Ironically, it’s usually the other way around. The subject is often the nervous one, but I was new at making portraits and was somewhat timid about it. It was his relaxed nature in front of the camera that helped me find my rhythm.
I have several favorites from that set of over 200 shots, but will just post one here.
When TransMasculine Ink began in earnest, Trevor once again made himself available. We shot some images on a beautiful summer day in July, 2009. After conducting the interview over lunch, we went to the park in town and I photographed him in the shade of a gazebo so the brightness of the sun would not wash out the colors of his tattoo.
You will see in his body art a phoenix, the mythical firebird that is reborn from the ashes of its own destruction, a rather fitting symbol for a man who has remade himself.
The photo was perfectly fine, but the more I worked with it and looked at it, the more I wanted… well, more. For me, this photo was too much about the tattoo and not enough about Trevor. It didn’t really speak to me, and I’m the one who took it! In addition, the recording of the interview at the restaurant was unusable — the background noise of the people at the tables around us was too prominent.
Trevor agreed to repeat the interview and the photo shoot, but I had to catch up with him — literally.
He was in training for a marathon. I had to meet up with him on a Saturday in early August 2009, a day of the week allotted for a “long run.” At the end of 14 miles jogged under the blazing hot sun, he submitted himself to another photo shoot, which was repeatedly interrupted by the need to wipe the glistening sweat off of his skin with a towel. When we were finished, we conducted the interview in the mercifully cool foyer of a nearby building at MIT. To say that Trevor was a trooper that day is an understatement.
But it all paid off, both the running and the photography.
With regard to the running, Trevor completed that particular marathon, and then ran another. In the first two marathons that he ran, Trevor raised $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in memory of his aunt who died of cancer. I think Trevor is off running another marathon today, and he completed the Boston Marathon just 12 days ago. I don’t know how he does it– I can’t even run to the end of my driveway without sucking air.
Trevor says that he will be preparing for a marathon that he will enter in October if anyone wants to join him. (I will not be doing so.)
With regard to the photography, I am happy with the resulting photo. The more I look at it, the more I like it, although the sun makes his ink difficult to see. Still, the photo is about Trevor more than his body art. But I’m interested to hear what you think.
The interview turned out well too (the content more than the quality). We learn from him about his choices, the emotions of his coming out to family, and about his own comfort with himself and who he is, a trait that might explain his ease in front of the camera.
As for Trevor, in the interview, you will hear him talk about his tattoo, and how it represents the way he has taken his own course. In a way, his transition has been like the marathons he runs. And he plans to keep running, to keep flying free like the phoenix.
– Anderson
Interview:
Thank you Trevor, Thank you ATM. I like both the photos but I am more partial to the open sky one. The tattoo is very interesting. I always love to see how different artists interpret the phoenix. Do you intend putting more colour into the sun. Trevor?
Hey Trevor wish you the very best in your journey !!!!
May 7, 2011 at 3:46 am
Thanks J. Good to know — I go back and forth, but I think I agree with you about liking the open sky background better.
May 7, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Hi J,
I may add more color, I may not. I know it isn’t finished yet but I am not sure which direction I want to take it. I designed it and I’m not in a rush to finish it.
May 7, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Hey Trevor! Oh you designed it! AAh you got art sense. good to see that
Yeah actually the best designs need to percolate in your mind before you execute them. Better to go slow than to overdo. I’m mad for looking at different fonts in our Indian regional languages.My dad has the best handwriting in the Sanskrit script. he writes in a slant.You can do elegant things with the script. Good choice!
May 7, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Today, I want to comment on the first photo and add comments down the road. To me, the flag represents freedom. I like that it is a bit blurred in the background. This represents the freedom, that for many, cannot be. The placement of the flag is great. Out of reach, being too high and just a bit to the back, as well as out of his sight. It appears his freedom will not be attainable.
Trevor’s expression says “I found my freedom.” And since he is now free, he does not need the symbol to be focused and in view. The photo centers on Trevor, I like that. The flag, freedom, appears to be suspended above Trevor, like his guardian angel.
I like his expression. When I look at his eyes, I see a smile. When I look at his mouth, I see a flat expression, no smile, no frown, no emotion. When I look at his eyes and mouth together, he leaves it to me as to what the expression is and where his emotions are.
Keep up the good work and thanks to you both for your time and effort.
Mac
May 20, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Dude, you totally need to do this for a living.
Thanks man.
May 21, 2011 at 12:06 am
Anderson,
Didn’t know this was a career option.
Thanks, I am humbled,
Mac
May 21, 2011 at 9:33 am
What, art critic? Sure! I think there are people who get paid to critique just about anything, including books, movies, photographs, sculpture, paintings, music, singing, fashion, dancing (with the stars!), etc.
Here’s the skinny from Wikipedia:
Art critic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites. Art collectors and patrons often utilize the advice of such critics as a way to enhance their appreciation of the art they are viewing.
Typically the art critic views art at exhibitions, galleries, museums or artists’ studios.
Professional art critics are expected to have a keen eye for art and a thorough knowledge of art history. Knowledge, however, provides no guarantee that a critic will know if a work of art, an exhibition, or an artist will stand out in history as “great”.
The opinions of art critics has the potential to stir debate on art related topics. Due to this the viewpoints of art critics writing for art publications and newspapers adds to public discourse concerning art and culture. Some of today’s art critics use art blogs and other online platforms in order to connect with a wider audience and expand debate about art.
Many now famous and celebrated artists were not recognized by the art critics of their time, often because their art was in a style not yet understood or favored. Conversely, some critics, have become particularly important helping to explain and promote new art movements — Roger Fry with the Post-Impressionist movement, Lawrence Alloway with Pop Art as examples.
May 22, 2011 at 12:38 am