Cara Philips
Phillips shot this series of work 'Ultraviolet Beauties' by offering strangers on the street a free portrait. The harsh UV lighting is intended to bring out every flaw and incongruity of the subject's face. Her inspiration for this series came from the images normally found in spas and doctors offices of peoples skin thats been tested using new medical machinery. Phillips wanted to create a series of images which functions where to "enhance and reveal flaws". For the images, she asked her subjects to close their eyes to create the sense of peace and vulnerability. The front profile pose leave the face open to close examination and gives the feeling that the subject appears unaware of their audiences scrutiny of their skin. This series of images is a retaliation to the traditional modern portrait which aims to eliminate every quirck and imperfection and favours a smooth, poreless surface; Almost creating identical complections of everyone who has been photographed. So instead of masking the 'flaws' of her subjects which distinguishes us from each other, these images are intended to reveal all the unique characteristics that are in our skin.
