Shadows and Sand – A study of texture, movement and sculpted light.

A monochrome editorial portrait series exploring the interaction of black sand, oil, muscular form and dramatic studio light.

Male model standing with crossed arms in a dark black-and-white studio portrait — A restrained studio portrait defined by controlled light and deep shadow.

Male model leaning forward in a dark frontal black-and-white portrait — A direct, low-key portrait with an intense forward-facing composition.

Male model posing with one arm raised in a black-and-white studio body study — An expressive full-length pose highlighting line, strength, and skin texture.

Standing male model with hands clasped in a textured black-and-white portrait — Sand, light, and shadow transform the body into a graphic studio composition.

Side view of a male model with one hand on his hip in black-and-white — A cropped study of body line, texture, and directional light.

Male model extending his arm as sand moves through the air in a dark studio — A dynamic studio portrait combining movement, texture, and controlled light.

Black and white portrait of a muscular man with dramatic patterned shadows across his body and the background wall — Bands of light and darkness create a bold graphic portrait.

Male model facing forward beneath abstract projected shadows — Projected light patterns turn the body and background into one graphic surface.

Three-quarter portrait of a male model surrounded by patterned shadows — Organic shadow shapes add movement and rhythm to a minimal studio portrait.

Full-length male model photographed with motion blur in a dark studio — Intentional softness gives the studio portrait a dreamlike, suspended quality.

Horizontal close-up of a male model pressing his hands together across his torso — A close editorial study of gesture, muscle, and reflective skin texture.

Male model seated with clasped hands in a dark monochrome studio portrait — A composed studio portrait balancing strength with a reflective mood.

Seated male model looking away in a low-key black-and-white portrait — Soft directional light shapes the figure in a quiet, sculptural composition.

Shadows and Sand

Shadows and Sand is a creative lighting portrait series photographed by Ken Jones in New York City, exploring the relationship between texture, shadow, movement and the male form.

Created with model Garrett from the men’s division at Major Models NYC, the series moves between tightly composed body studies, direct portraits and more atmospheric full-length photographs.

Black sand and oil were applied selectively to the skin, creating an uneven surface that reacts differently as the light moves across the body. The material catches highlights along the shoulders, arms and torso while allowing other areas to disappear into the dark background.

Light used as structure

Rather than lighting the subject evenly, the portraits use contrast to separate individual planes of the body.

Shoulders, collarbones, hands and muscle definition emerge through narrow bands of light. In several photographs, the subject nearly merges with the background, leaving only the brightest textures and edges visible.

This creates a sculptural effect. The body is not simply placed in front of the camera—it becomes part of the composition.

The darkest images require controlled lighting and careful exposure. Too much fill would flatten the texture, while insufficient separation would cause the subject to disappear completely into the background.

Sand, oil and surface texture

The combination of sand and oil creates a surface that appears alternately rough, reflective and metallic.

In the closer compositions, individual particles become visible across the arms, chest and hands. Wider portraits use the same material more subtly, allowing the model’s pose and physical structure to carry the image.

The strongest photographs balance the experimental treatment with recognizable portraiture. The viewer can still read the subject’s expression and posture, even when most of the frame remains close to black.

Projected shadows

A second lighting setup introduced patterned shadows across the subject and background.

These shapes function almost like graphic wardrobe. They interrupt the body, obscure portions of the face and create visual movement without adding physical styling or set elements.

The projected patterns also shift the series away from traditional physique photography. The emphasis becomes rhythm, geometry and the relationship between the model and the surrounding negative space.

Creative portrait photography in New York City

Ken Jones develops editorial portrait and model-test sessions around lighting, movement, styling and the intended use of the final images.

A creative test may be used to expand a model’s portfolio, explore a lighting concept, develop a visual treatment or demonstrate how an idea could translate into an editorial or commercial campaign.

Sessions may include clean agency portraits, fashion imagery, beauty details, full-length movement and more experimental photographic studies.