This portrait is the first processed image from a creative shoot hosted by Harriet SFX, themed around a post-apocalyptic world. The shoot featured three models, each bringing a unique visual identity to the concept. Mark, the subject in this image, brought intense expression and a rugged charisma that instantly stood out. His performance in front of the camera was more than just modelling; it was full character immersion, which gave me a solid emotional palette to work with during post-processing.

In creating this image, I focused heavily on texture and tone, emphasizing the raw fabric, weathered materials, and facial scars to reflect a lived-in, harsh world. The lighting and colour grading were carefully chosen to evoke both realism and stylized drama; there’s a cinematic grit here, balanced with a slight softness in the background to keep the focus on Mark’s expression. I wanted this to feel like a frame lifted from a story, something halfway between film still and fine art portraiture.

This shoot was an energising departure from the everyday, a chance to collaborate, experiment, and push visual storytelling into new ground. It reminded me how transformative photography can be when creativity and craft come together. I’ll be sharing more from this shoot soon, with each model offering a different take on this post-apocalyptic world. Mark’s portrait set the tone; intense, textured, and full of narrative weight.