OLD MASTERS INSPIRE THE BEAUTY OF YOUTH IN THESE INCREDIBLE PORTRAITS

BILL GEKAS

With homage to old masters painters, Australian photographer Bill Gekas captures the beauty of youth with a unique modern lens.

Self taught, Gekas began shooting and developing 35 mm film. His transition to digital photography enabled him to create more of the images that formed in his mind’s eye.

Inspired by Caravaggio, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Raphael, Velazquez, and other Renaissance painters, Gekas fuses historical references of light, props, and atmosphere with a more contemporary expression.

Gekas also draws inspiration from cinematography in foreign films. He is especially influenced by filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Lighting and color are particularly influenced by the Baroque style.

The result are portraits that are somewhat surreal, with their time warping atmospheric qualities.

We feel the tenderness of youth imbued with beyond-her-years wisdom.

It is no surprise that a lot of preproduction work is involved in Gekas’ shoots. Each photo begins in his mind’s eye, as he first works it out conceptually, then mentally configures each physical aspect and element he will need to achieve his vision.

Lighting, props, composition, wardrobe -- everything is in Gekas’ head before he pulls it all together. Every aspect of the post processing is also worked out ahead of time.

From initial concept to finished post processed shot, a typical shot can average a total of 8 hours.

Gekas always keeps a notebook where he sketches ideas as they strike.

Gekas’ daughter Athena has been the main focus of many of his images since 2010, when he started a project that showed her in a series that recreated old masters paintings. The project is ongoing and Gekas publishes new scenes regularly.

Gekas also accepts commissions. Check out his website for more images and information, as well as to purchase prints.

Read more about Beautiful Youth in 10 Precious Images & Ideas About The Beauty of Youth, Beautiful Baby Superstars Seen For The First Time Now, and Edible Pretty Young Things.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

Want more stories like this? Sign up for our weekly BN Newsletter, Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr. Join our BeautifulNow Community and connect with the most beautiful things happening in the world right now!

Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition. We run new creative competitions every week! Now, it’s even easier to enter with the new BeautifulNow App!

Plus check out the rest of our App’s beautiful features. It’s free to download here.

IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Arid.”
2. Image: by Bill Gekas. “At Night We Play.”
3. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Siblings.”
4. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Coastal Gatherer.”
5. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Spyglass.”
6. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Pears.”
7. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Cameo.”
8. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Andalucía 1881.”
9. Image: by Bill Gekas. “The Scholar.”
10. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Camellia Girl.”
11. Image: by Bill Gekas. “The Merchant's Daughter.”
12. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Field Day.”
13. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Feline friend.”
14. Image: by BN App - Download now!
15. Image: by Bill Gekas. “Cherries.”