feature: Marc Geller

For Marc Geller, what started out as a simple hobby taking photos of dogs at the local dog park, evolved into a regular practice of organizing photo shoots with models, often involving props, costumes, and body paint. The result was a series of cleverly-choreographed visual one-liners that kick-started "The Photo Project 14," so named for the year it commenced. Over the next couple of years, he simplified his aesthetic, shedding models of most of their accessories, and shifted his focus toward capturing personality and emotional connection through form and facial expression.

Though The Photo Project 14 has steadily grown more popular, it continues to remain a non-professional affair. Geller exhibits his work online, but he seldom sells prints and seems quite happy to keep the gig as a side-hustle to his decades-long career as an actor and director.

Geller's experience and talent as a director are blatantly apparent in his ability to evoke deep connections from his subjects and to extract unique elements of their character, a significance that distinguishes his work from that of other recreational photographers. He sees the relationship between the artist and subject as a "collaboration," central to the focus of what he captures. The results are undeniably engaging.

On his ideal model, he remarks "I like someone who brings a lot to the table, who doesn’t just stand there. Someone who is interesting, who has ideas and collaborates. There are a lot of people who are great looking and have unbelievable bodies, who think it’s enough to stand there and be pretty. Those are the people you generally only get one good picture from. I like people who are comfortable in their skin, who have a point a view and a sense of humor, a model that I can talk to and come up with ideas with. I want the model's personality to show in the pictures. Photographing a mannequin is not much fun."

Geller is currently organizing more of his sessions to include several models, hoping to deeper explore human connection among the interaction of numerous personalities.

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Marc Geller

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